Ba'ba's home v Abercorn 2's(Thurs, Jan 27,'10)

With several members of both teams not deeming it that important to turn up on time, we started the night reshuffling the match order slightly to accommodate those who were delayed putting on their makeup etc.

Bill started at number 5 against another Bill (Lothian) or should I say didn't start as he gained only 1 point in his first game. Thoughts of the Bill nil scenario were however quickly dispelled in a dramatic turn around with our Bill going on the win the following three games 9-5, 9-6, 9-4.

Dean took the court at 4 against Bernard (Starkey) and memories of the first encounter with Abercorn drifted back as Bernard boasted his way to a first game win of 9-6 with Dean struggling to work out which direction the ball was likely to go in next. Either that or he couldn't see through his hair. Headband adjusted, Dean began to put things right and marched on to convincingly win the next three games 9-4, 9-0, 9-2 despite Bernard's best attempts to claim lets and strokes for shots he had already played and missed.

The reshuffle meant that Mike Gore was next up at 2 against Steven and whilst I didn't see much of this match it was a close fought affair with Mike winning in three, 9-8, 10-8, 9-4.

At the same time as Mike hit the court, I was on at 1 against Graham. Playing like an absolute Muppet the first game was conceded 1-9. I managed to rally in the second and level the match with a 9-4 game. Game 3 was another reversal with Graham winning 9-2 however I somehow managed to pull it back 9-6 in the fourth before closing out in the 5th 9-5. I'm not exactly sure how I won this match given my performance on the night however I can only put it down to not wanting to listen to Mike Douglas waffle on some rubbish about the "Captain's curse" if I had lost.

Brian took the court at 3 in the last match against Martin and as he raced into a 2-0 lead, 10-9, 9-5, I thought it safe to order the pizza in anticipation of a valiant clean sweep. Unfortunately Martin had other ideas and I was beginning to worry that our supper was going to be cold as he came back to win the next three games 9-5, 9-0, 9-4.

Despite Brian's efforts in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory a good 17-7 win keeps the Baba's ticking along nicely. It was also nice to note that someone at the Academy had found the on switch for the heating just as the winter is beginning to end. David Grieve (Victorious stand-in captain)