Grange 3 v Waverley 3 away Wed 10th Feb 2010

Chicken fajitas, cous cous salad and millionaires shortbread. All homemade by David’s mum. That’s up there with Roccos for best food of div 4 2009/10. And it came at the right time for we had probably burned more calories than ever before - both playing and spectating. It was an anxious time as the unbeaten run hung in fine balance, and Waverley very nearly had us.

At 5, Mark Dutton looked truly beat by Richard Nettleton at 2-0 down and trailing in the 3^rd, then made a progressive recovery to a neck and neck 5^th game. Both players had 3 shots at match ball. The most spectacular being Mark’s full stretch diving dropshot – every last ounce of energy employed for a sure fire match winner, but an it was just too far to reach and went an inch into the tin. A thrilling match, but it was Richard who closed out. 2-3.

Andy Whitelaw played the unusually talented Paul at 4. In the few points I saw, Paul was slamming volley drops from all over the court and had Andy working at an alarming rate. Those that saw the rest said this was the general pattern, and his team mates said he was on fire. A sterling effort by Andy to steal a game from the whiz kid, and come close in the 4^th 8-10. 1-3.

I didn’t see the no.3s, Alan Stokes and Damien Noades, but anyone watching must have thought Grange was in for a gubbing at this point. Having lost at 4 and 5, and with Al looking shakey at 2-1 down next door, Stokesy was now going to 5…. Never fear, the final score was 9-7. 3-2 to Alan.

Al played Allan Ramsay at 2. Both men truly knackered after a killer game 3, but Al seemed to survive a little better and won 4 and 5 to sneak it 3-2.

Patrick strode on at 1 against David. Grange were back in the driving seat as Patrick played hard but patient and finished in convincing style. 3-0.

Overall 17-12. A great night at Waverley.