Grange 4 vs Dean 2

Happy to report this week on a maximum points haul for a Grange 4 team that looked awfully like the Barbarians team of last season (where have all the players gone?).

First up was was Pete Young who set the tone for the evening with a masterful performance of control that left his opponent finding unexplored corners of the court before capitulating in a heap. Despite receiving 22 serves across the three games, Pete conceded a miserly 5 points in a 9-1, 9-2, 9-2 victory. 1-0.

To provide appropriate contrast, Brian was setting up an epic on the other court. The first game was nip and tuck to 2-4 when too many errors saw the game start to slip away and it was lost 4-9. The second started in similar fashion to 3-3 until Brian began to get the measure of his opponent and started to pull away to level the match with a 9-5. The tide was definitely turning now and Brian began to imitate Pete by conceding just two serves in the third to bring up an excellent 9-0 bagel and lead the match 2-1. We sat back and waited for the clinical finish ... it didn't come. All credit to his opponent who after looking down and out in the third, quickly went into a 0-3 lead before Brian fought back to 5-5. Again his opponent dug deep and won 7-9 to tie the rubber at 2-2. Brian's face at this point is best described by that Scots pokey phrase 'He's no happy'. Was this to be (another) glorious Baba-esque defeat? But no, the Brian of the third game returned and instantly served to 5-0 up. He then conceded a couple before serving out for a 9-2 game win and a 3-2 rubber victory. A real Captain's performance. Follow that! (See Richard's game below)

I was next up and was pleased to have a game closer to Pete's than Brian's. I can't quite claim the mastery, but only conceded 9 points in 30 serves for a 9-1, 9-5, 9-3 win.

As Richard took to court, I was pretty confident of a win given the thrashing he gave me at the weekend. But, never one to keep it simple, Richard proceded to turn a 'Pete' game into a 'Brian' game. The first two games were over in a flash as Richard powered his way to a 9-1, 9-2 lead. but he found himself 0-4 down from the first serve in the third before clawing back to 5-5. We waited for the clinical finish. It came. But from his opponent who served straight out for a 5-9. The match was turning and the fourth delivered more of the same as Richard went 0-4 on one serve and 1-7 on the next before a bit of resistance saw 10 exchanges of serve before losing 2-9 to bring up 2-2 and the dreaded fifth rubber. Things looked pretty bleak when Richard went 0-5 down on the first serve and the volume of self-abuse thankfully reached a level only dogs can hear. But it seemed to work as Richard's obvious fear of the write-up in this match report proceeded to defend 8 serves without conceding as he clawed back the points one at a time to win the game 9-5 and the rubber 3-2.

Last up was Will who pretty much did the same. He took the first two games 9-7, 9-2 and was 7-2 up in the third as we phoned the pizza and got ready to head back to the club. But for some reason Walkabout-Will lost the plot and 7 consecutive points to lose 7-9. What to do? The match was won, the game that had appeared to have two minutes left could last another half hour, AND the pizza was ordered. I am pleased to say that the team stayed focussed (and sent someone to pay for the pizza) and cheered Will on in a tight 4th game that he won 9-7 for a 3-1 victory.

So, a clear sweep for the 4ths and a maximum 20 points. Back to the Grange for the usual pizza fare and some good company. (Report: Mike D, playing non-captain ;-)