After being put out to pasture for a week, the Bulls returned home to face the mighty Beaconsfield 2nd team. Just in case you're unsure, I'm referring to the tribe lead by Gareth, not the Bears.
Intra-club team matches have become quite civilised affairs in the recent past and this was no different.
Trevor (aka Fox) started out against Heather Joy (actually a Bulls squad player but now a regular for the 2nds). I saw Captain Fielding's report on his game against Heather and I can imagine that was a battle of muscle v matchplay. Trevor has been accused of many things over the years but I can't imagine being over-muscled is one of them. Trevor started off with his usual tactic - a convivial chat during warm-up. I don't think Heather has yet realised the best response is to simply ignore him. She's far too well mannered for that. The first two games were very close. A battle between Heather's patient matchplay, a fantastic ability to seemingly dig anything out of back corners and ample stamina and Trevor's highly effective front court arsenal of drops, backhand cross court kill and attacking boast. Heather took the first game. As Trevor got his front court game dialled-in, the match swung in his favour. After Trevor took the 2nd 10-8, he went on to take the next two a little more comfortably, but not that comfortably. He ran better than he has all season. On paper, something of a mis-match in styles but a very entertaining game. Bulls 1 up.
Whilst Trevor was on court 4, Jim "Chicken" Cooper played Gareth. As I was marking Trevor's game, I didn't see too much of this game. I heard plenty of swearing. I passed Jim in the corridor between games appearing to be in a state of self-flagellation/admonishment any member of opus dei might be proud of. This was an effective self-motivational tool in the third game, Jim taking it 9-7, but didn't work at all in the other 3 games, which he lost. A bit out of sorts, we need our best points collector back next week. Bulls/2nds level. ok, where do we go from here then?
I went up against Antti. We have similar styles of play but I'm yet to develop antti's patience and stamina. A thoroughly enjoyable game (for me at least) but after a purple patch taking the second 9-2 and getting to 8-3 in the third the wheels fell off a little. Unfortunately, Antti sensed this and picked up the pace. I was a bit spent. He went on to take it 3-1. 2nds 2-1 up. That wasn't the plan.
In the time it took for Antti and I to warm-up, Toby did for our Koala chairman Mears on the other court. By all accounts (including his own), Kev played pants. I suspect Toby might say he played well and relentlessly pushed hard on every point. 2nds 3-1 up. Damn.
Finally, the match of the evening started. Our wheezing Camel faced the young buck Seb. I only got to see the last 2 games. By this stage, Nigel was 2-1 up. This really was a clash of styles. As far as I can make out, unless Nigel is playing Trevor, they both generally have a clash of styles. Being awkward and difficult to beat is a fine strategy. The Camel has perfected this to a fine art. A deft mixture of attacking boast, drops, lobs and a "love of the cold ball" can be highly effective. This can be totally infuriating if you just want to spank it. Seb, I sensed, wanted to spank it, at least most of the time. I think the Camel got to 8-4 up in the fourth and served for match ball, once or twice. However, after a couple of huge rallies (possibly exceeding 5 or 6 shots), the Camel looked exhausted. He then developed an affinity with anything " not in court" and succumbed to losing the game 10-8. Everyone then at the bar (including WKP turning 60 - happy birthday WKP) thought the Camel's run was done. Except, perhaps he, no doubt from prior experience of winning from impossible positions. You'll no doubt have worked out the Camel took the fifth, but only after a lot of heart, diagonal court sprints, errors, lets/strokes and general untidiness from two exhausted players. A great game, enjoyed by all.
So, the 2nds took the match 3-2, but it was close.
The Bulls are away next week to 1879. A relegation decider. Perhaps.
Pig
Intra-club team matches have become quite civilised affairs in the recent past and this was no different.
Trevor (aka Fox) started out against Heather Joy (actually a Bulls squad player but now a regular for the 2nds). I saw Captain Fielding's report on his game against Heather and I can imagine that was a battle of muscle v matchplay. Trevor has been accused of many things over the years but I can't imagine being over-muscled is one of them. Trevor started off with his usual tactic - a convivial chat during warm-up. I don't think Heather has yet realised the best response is to simply ignore him. She's far too well mannered for that. The first two games were very close. A battle between Heather's patient matchplay, a fantastic ability to seemingly dig anything out of back corners and ample stamina and Trevor's highly effective front court arsenal of drops, backhand cross court kill and attacking boast. Heather took the first game. As Trevor got his front court game dialled-in, the match swung in his favour. After Trevor took the 2nd 10-8, he went on to take the next two a little more comfortably, but not that comfortably. He ran better than he has all season. On paper, something of a mis-match in styles but a very entertaining game. Bulls 1 up.
Whilst Trevor was on court 4, Jim "Chicken" Cooper played Gareth. As I was marking Trevor's game, I didn't see too much of this game. I heard plenty of swearing. I passed Jim in the corridor between games appearing to be in a state of self-flagellation/admonishment any member of opus dei might be proud of. This was an effective self-motivational tool in the third game, Jim taking it 9-7, but didn't work at all in the other 3 games, which he lost. A bit out of sorts, we need our best points collector back next week. Bulls/2nds level. ok, where do we go from here then?
I went up against Antti. We have similar styles of play but I'm yet to develop antti's patience and stamina. A thoroughly enjoyable game (for me at least) but after a purple patch taking the second 9-2 and getting to 8-3 in the third the wheels fell off a little. Unfortunately, Antti sensed this and picked up the pace. I was a bit spent. He went on to take it 3-1. 2nds 2-1 up. That wasn't the plan.
In the time it took for Antti and I to warm-up, Toby did for our Koala chairman Mears on the other court. By all accounts (including his own), Kev played pants. I suspect Toby might say he played well and relentlessly pushed hard on every point. 2nds 3-1 up. Damn.
Finally, the match of the evening started. Our wheezing Camel faced the young buck Seb. I only got to see the last 2 games. By this stage, Nigel was 2-1 up. This really was a clash of styles. As far as I can make out, unless Nigel is playing Trevor, they both generally have a clash of styles. Being awkward and difficult to beat is a fine strategy. The Camel has perfected this to a fine art. A deft mixture of attacking boast, drops, lobs and a "love of the cold ball" can be highly effective. This can be totally infuriating if you just want to spank it. Seb, I sensed, wanted to spank it, at least most of the time. I think the Camel got to 8-4 up in the fourth and served for match ball, once or twice. However, after a couple of huge rallies (possibly exceeding 5 or 6 shots), the Camel looked exhausted. He then developed an affinity with anything " not in court" and succumbed to losing the game 10-8. Everyone then at the bar (including WKP turning 60 - happy birthday WKP) thought the Camel's run was done. Except, perhaps he, no doubt from prior experience of winning from impossible positions. You'll no doubt have worked out the Camel took the fifth, but only after a lot of heart, diagonal court sprints, errors, lets/strokes and general untidiness from two exhausted players. A great game, enjoyed by all.
So, the 2nds took the match 3-2, but it was close.
The Bulls are away next week to 1879. A relegation decider. Perhaps.
Pig
I suspect that young Seb 'spanks it' more than you think...
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