A select crowd witnessed the club's top four players battling for a Final spot last night - and very bravely they fought too. Especially Peter Sykes and James Hall (pictured below), who both put everything into their match for an hour and a half, in spite of physical difficulties.
Pete arrived suffering from a breathing illness and James a number of private infirmities (foot, cake and pasta-related, between you and me).
A ding-dong first game with James going 7-2 up but 14 hand-outs followed enabling a resolute Pete to claw back the deficit and just shade it 9-7. He was clearly in a hurry to finish the match as fast as possible. And a sharper exhibition of shot-making in the second helped him to a 9-0 game and a 2-0 lead.
In a typical Sykes gesture, though, Pete announced that he would need to win the third game or 'be finished'. No surprise then, that James sensed his opponent's weakened state and pushed harder, gaining parity by taking the next two 9/6, 9/3. Some slight disagreements during this period of play - both with the fair and consistent marker (Mark Johnson) and occasionally with each other - were signs of the increasing tension and the desire of both players.
A change of shirt for Pete seemed to help him gather strength in the 5th game as he jumped out to an early 3-0 lead - but again niggling disputes and the strain of a long five-setter began to affect the quality and smooth flow of play. James pulled back four points, before Pete edged ahead again to 8-5 and four match points. James was not to be outdone though and in spite of several incidents resembling handbags being flung, he regained parity at 8-all. Fortunately for the crowd, the marker and the players, 10 more hand-outs and some good rallies, ended with one of the best and cleanest rallies of the match, with Pete prevailing 10-8 (3-2).
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After a delay of an hour from the scheduled start, David Falconer and Niall Anderson were able to show off their skills - David sporting his Kent Over 50s team shirt and both wearing a fetching pair of blue shoes with olive green laces.
David proved too sharp for Niall, however. He ran out a comfortable 9-5, 9-2, 9-1 winner - without any discussions of the rules being necessary or sought.
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The FINAL will be on Tuesday 28th April at 7:30, provided that both Pete and David are well enough. Should be a corker.