Match Report: Berks Summer League: Trojans v Greenacre 2nds

Match Report by Joe Budweiser:

The team was hopeful for a flying start, having consolidated two teams from last year's summer league and moving up into the Berkshire's third division.....onto the match.

First up, Guy Plunkett found himself down 0-2 in games before changing tactics and powering his way to a third game win. However, all that extra power used up any reserve energy he would need for the fourth game, leaving Beaconsfield with a 1-3 loss in the first match. Next, John Bullard drew the unfortunate circumstance of playing a current Scotland Masters team member, but fought well. Regrettably, he was similarly dispatched on a scoreline of 1-3.

Not looking good for the Trojans, team match score showing 0-2 after the first two matches.

I was on court next, putting in a reasonable performance for the first game only to capitulate at 7-9. I then lost my way and proceeded to only score six points in the next two games. Do the maths and you find that you can't win games much less matches by doing that. Overall team match to Greenacre 2nds at this point. Alex Speculand had a similar result in his match, losing a very tight first game 8-10 and then also yielding games two and three for a match score of 0-3.

Down 0-4 in matches, Phil Alexander was the team's last hope for some points and to retain a (small) bit of pride. And what a hope it was....Phil turned out an entertaining and whiteknuckle performance, sending his opponent the wrong way more times than I care to count. The match see-sawed with Phil winning the first and then the fourth to force a fifth game. Experience then ruled the day, as the crowd saw Phil take a very solid fifth game victory (completed with a nick for the final point!) to win his match and prevent a complete sweep by the visitors.

Final score:

Beaconsfield Trojans: 5 games, 1 match won
Greenacre 2nds: 14 games, 4 matches won

Overall winner: Greenacre 2nds