Up For T'Cup

Having swept all comers aside, Knole Park 1 travel to the distant Cobdown (near Aylesford) next Tuesday for the final of the Priory Cup (Div 4&5).   Knole will be without the irrepressible Mike Wright (pictured below having marked a game to his obvious satisfaction), who is taking a well-earned vacation.  


CUP Quarter Final Div 4&5 - KP1 v Sydenham 1/4/2014

Hi readers

Our destination for the second round of the cup competition was, for a while, in flux.
Sydenham and Wells didn’t quite get their act together on the same night so the final outcome was a walkover for Sydenham after Wells indicated that they were not desperate to play anyway.  The Park Club [in the top half of the draw] seem now to be indisposed since they have no courts to play on!!!  The dream team at Knole are however very eager to move onward and upward !!

Since Sydenham were at the receiving end of a bit of a "lesson" from us at the end of the league four fixtures it was not surprising that we felt Knole 1 would again prevail - this attitude can spell danger since all these teams have some tasty performers and the level of play only has to drop a few percent to let them in..

Pete is negotiating some life changing stuff at present and we hope he will be back from Dubai to play the next round.  In the meantime his focus was somewhat fuzzy at Sydenham against the very impressive Tats.  Unfortunately for Tats the opportunities that presented themselves were really no more than a tempting "sniff" that never really looked threatening when Pete hit the gas. (win 3/1)

David had a most weird affair in which neither player got more than three points a game in a match that remarkably went to a 3/2 Knole win.  I opined in my last Knole v Sydenham report that David’s oppo must have thought he could actually play this difficult game of squash until he met David last time round.  Well, he DID actually play very for two games this time - but could not sustain the level.. This really was a game of four halves to coin a (modified) footy cliché.  We all really enjoy admiring the very early ball takes and fine front court kills and pace and direction changes that so disorientate David’s opponents.. 

James again brought his composure and improving technique to the party and was forced to redress an 8/3 deficit to win a hard second and nail his match 3/0.  With all the tweaks and nudges we are working on in training I am looking forward to seeing the "finished article" down the road a bit (if indeed it is right to think in terms of "finishing" improving since this is always ongoing and one is destined never to feel content since there is always somebody better out there).

Niall did the business against a scrappy opponent and derived little pleasure from a 3/1 win which looked inevitable from the first shot despite the game dropped.  Niall is due a satisfying outing very soon but in the meantime worthy wins tick the box for team duties fulfilled.

So, as it developed, this match proved to be rather more challenging than anybody had expected and Mike’s game at five was no exception and his capable opponent did enough to nick a game.  As is the norm for the maestro’s matches, it was replete with impressive court coverage and valiant retrieving (win 3/1).

A good evening was had by all I think, even by our vanquished opponents who are a friendly and sociable bunch.  Fish and chips also hit the spot!!

This cup progression looks very encouraging and maybe a "gong" has Knole’s name faintly etched upon it subject to further confirmation in the next few weeks?

Best wishes to all and stay healthy.  Mark Johnson, first team captain..
 
 

KP 2 v Bromley Lawn tennis Club 2 Div 6 CUP 1/4/2014

Sore from a relentlessly tough League season, Knole 2nd team were drawn against league champions BLT and were badly depleted by absences.  Result a predictable 4-1 drubbing, with only the wedding anniversary captain able to stem the tide.   (A brief but entertaining effort by stand-in 1st string Mark Fleming gave hope to the team until he declined match ball in the first game).

KP      1                  Bromley LTC          4     

KP      1                  Bromley LTC          4     

The good news is that all the absentees will not be cup-tied and will be available to bolster the 1st team's push for silverware, should they reach the semi-final or final in the weeks ahead.

Quick getaway

David Falconer was quickest off the blocks to win the first of the 2014 titles.  He beat Chris Shepherd-Barron 3-0 last night in the final of the Veterans (Over 45) Championship.

David's trophy - a vintage car on a plinth is currently missing, presumed retained by an earlier winner.  However, if David wouldn't mind making do with a photograph of the trophy, here is one we prepared earlier.

David, this is what you would have won

David, this is what you would have won

Semi Finals - Club Champs

In a first ever, the Championship semi finals were played on the same night, with a crowded balcony.    A new pair of shoes for James brightened up the night.

First up, Peter Sykes (4) v James Hall (1) - those are the seedings in brackets - James #1 as defending champion, Pete #4 as an unknown quantity at the time of the draw.   A year on, a bit of practice for Pete, and a pause for James to recover from Turf Toe, and maybe this should have been the final (we'll never know).

Pete lunging, but is the ball stuck to James's racket?

Pete lunging, but is the ball stuck to James's racket?

Anyway, the first two games to Pete - 9/5 9/5.  Both tight fought, with James playing the best squash than he has done since his injury, and with Pete doing nothing too flashy and just enough to edge them.   It looked like James would have a tough task to come back.

Then some really good play (and a change of shirt) brought James the third 9/4.  Peter looking a bit frustrated - maybe a crack or two showing.  James having to push hard, and once showing a slight hesitation on his sore foot.    Could he sustain the fightback? 

Will it be the flying Scot or the trying harder triathlon man?

Will it be the flying Scot or the trying harder triathlon man?

Pete's error rate increased, James up to 5/3 lead in the fourth game.  Then perhaps the wall was hit.  Pete gained a few cheap points, lets and strokes included, and the momentum was enough to extinguish the comeback candle at 9/6.     Great squash, and certainly worthy of the billing.

So to David Falconer v Niall Anderson.    As is his wont, David went off like a man with a train to catch; Niall started like a man who has had a tiring train journey.  The usual sharp backhand drops and aggressive quick reactions put David 9/0 up in no time (or was it still the warm-up?).   

David playing without a racket didn't help Niall much.

David playing without a racket didn't help Niall much.

David carried on the momentum to 4/1 up in the second before Niall started to show his own skills and a run of five points put him back in the match.   David, however, still had some of the first game's energy and drive and took the next five points on the bounce to give him a comfortable 2-0 lead.

The third game was a tight contest.  Niall determined and pushing hard, went 6/0 then 7/2 up and seemed to be on course for a long drawn out battle - perhaps having drawn the sting from the ageing maestro.

David having none of it took the next few points, and it was Niall briefly out of puff after one gut-wrenching rally.    So just a few balls later and David eased into the final 9/7 and will have a little left over in the tank for the next hurdle.

Good luck to both combatants in the final (coming soon to a court near you).

 

 

 

   

 

KP2 v Bromley Cricket Club 4 5/3/2014

Second team tried hard  - but no cigar

Bromley CC 4  (18 points)  Knole Park  1   (5 points)

Bromley CC 4  (18 points)  Knole Park  1   (5 points)

Sadly Knole's 2nd team could not produce the same rousing finish to the Winter season that the 1st team managed.   Typical of the night - and the season - was Chris Shepherd-Barron's effort in reaching a 1-all 7-3 lead with his opponent seemingly on the ropes.   However, Scott's ankle injury at that point intervened, and after the screams of agony had died down, Chris failed to win another point!

Peter Brightwell started well against young Ryan and took a hard fought first game in some style.  The error rate balance then shifted and Pete couldn't stay with the pace and accuracy of his opponent..

Gareth succumbed to a talented septuagenarian; and Jerry couldn't quite crank the knees into a fast gear as he was swept aside by relentless Steve.

At least Captain Jolly John was able to salvage a little pride with a steady win over opposing captain Paul.  But the champagne will have to remain on ice for another season.

Thanks to the many who fought for the team during a frustrating season.  Still, we can say that we provided solid support and occasional point-earning reserves for the 1st team to keep them in the hunt for Division 3 status.

 

 

KP1 v Sydenham 4/3/2014

Smokin' smokin ' smokin'

My word , what a night !!   I have been playing and watching squash for an eternity but rarely have I seen a group of players so focused on the job.
 

The task -- get 20 points.  The hope, that others would drop away and the second spot in the league would be secured.   And thus -- PROMOTION TO DIVISION 3 ASSURED ..

Job done -- but how !!!!!!!!.

There was a palpable enveloping sense of destiny and purpose that all but blew away our (very good) opponents.  This was not a red hot emotional rampage but more a super dry dissection of the
unfortunate opposition.   Their discussions on the balcony after their games said it all -- what could I do??  He got everything back; I couldn’t work out how to win a point, etc., etc…

So this is it in brief:

Pete v Tats: 9/2 9/2 9/2 .. and this guy is seriously good.  No doubt the symmetry of numbers appealed to Pete’s sense of order.

David v John: 9/0 9/1 9/0 .. This guy probably thought he was a pretty good player till he was given this lesson in technique and accuracy.

James v Paul: 9/0 9/3 9/1 .. Best I have seen you play champ.  The head was really screwed on tight!!

Niall v Dan: 9/4 9/3 9/0 .. and it would have looked even more impressive if more of those drops had hit the mark, but that observation is a mere detail on a night like this.. Well played..

I make that four matches with the loss of just 18 POINTS IN TOTAL..-- in double quick time.

After this stunning barrage it was inevitable that someone would want their money’s worth and keep the excited balcony on their toes.  Maestro Mike provided the five set graft that kept us all thinking..  Had the last two games not slipped relatively (and it is all relative!!) in Mike’s direction, it could have been a spectacle indeed to see him carve out a closer win, indeed we may have seen squash in a new light -- a compelling blood sport -- not, of course, that of his opponent, but his own heart laid out on court.   (This proved, fortunately, not to be required but it was looking to be a worrying possibility after the third game slipped ignominiously away).   [10/9 6/9 6/9 9/3 9/1 btw].

We must all hope that, home games at least, attract the sort of adoring crowd that attended on Tuesday .  Thanks for coming along ladies; there was undoubtedly a frisson of stimulation to the performances of your respective partners in particular and the whole team in general.  

It is clear that Pete’s contribution makes this team worthy contenders in Division 3 and it is great that everybody is so enthused by the prospect.  The healthy competition within the team will shortly reach its winter zenith in the club championships (semi-finals 11th March) which will be a great showcase for the best Knole can offer with the top four club players having reached their deserved spots..

The merging of Wildernesse and Knole has reaped obvious benefits for all and it is deserved and entirely appropriate that it has culminated in this team success.   Very very well played all and I look forward with the rest of you to some great summer squash.   Barry excelled himself in producing the Xmas dinner you desired and we should applaud our good fortune in having such a thoroughly convivial venue for our post match gatherings.

Stay healthy and enjoy the moment.   Best wishes MJ. 
 

kp v syd.jpg

[And by the way, our friends at Bexley kindly took the necessary 2 points off rivals Blackheath - in fact, they took 5!   So Knole finished comfortably clear in 2nd place behind the runaway Park Club] 

KP1 v Bexley 26/02/2014

Ambitions were sharp and the dream team was primed to seize maximum benefit from this fixture.  And indeed, maximum expectations did yield maximum 20 points.


Missing their number two, it was apparent that the expectations of the Bexley team were somewhat muted, in clear contrast to the competitive aspirations of Knole 1.  We have had courageous comebacks and famous reversals, stunning athleticism and awesome technical
demonstrations in this league -- none of these were necessary in abundance on Wednesday to subdue an outclassed Bexley side.  


The main challenge was to remain fully engaged with the lacklustre proceedings and after two games of total domination we saw some concentration slippage akin to a weary desert traveller being bestowed the grace of gratefully licking the condensation from a full tempting ice cold glass of lager, but not coming close to sampling the contents - I am sure John Mills would reluctantly allow me this clumsy allusion - whether the rest of you have any idea what I am on about (film buffs apart) is quite another thing! [Ice Cold In Alex – Ed].


Pete had his work cut out against their classy number one but it was unfortunate that Andy was not able to appreciate and respect Pete’s speed and athleticism, particularly around the front of the court.


I have no more significant individual comments to make, well played all, job done!!!  Repeat performance next week methinks at home v Sydenham Tues March 4th with the same dream team followed, hopefully, by a "Christmas dinner" to celebrate the success of our impressive Knole 1 team.

 
Groupies most welcome next week and I am sure that Barry will be able to keep all fed and watered ..


Best wishes MJ.. 

Untitled.jpg

So, with one match to go, KP1 need to get maximum points against Sydenham and hope that at least one of the Blackheath players slips up against Bexley on Tuesday.

table.jpg
Avoiding contact

Avoiding contact

The luge

The luge

Appeal for Waterfront

KP players will be glued to their screens in the late hours of Tuesday 25th and the next day, as they will Waterfront on to victory against league rivals Blackheath.  Only a superhuman effort by the Woolwich ferrymen will give Knole the chance to overhaul the team in the 2nd automatic promotion place when they travel to Bexley on Wednesday.

League.jpg

KP1 v Cobdown 18/02/2014

Great win boys and 17 valuable points to add to the haul. 


Peter B had a tough one, coming off several weeks working on his dissertation and very little squash to boot.  His opponent at five was not feeling generous and looked about as relaxed and in control as its possible to look in a club match, Pete by his own assessment, simply did not have the tools (on the night) but at least he didn’t have to pay for the lesson !!  (having said that it actually cost him £5 per point in match subs-- again, Pete’s own observation).  We have all had ones like this and we all  heartily commiserate however it should be noted that the general opinion on the way home was that his oppo would have had a close bat with their number 2 so it was a tough ask..3/0 loss.


Niall dominated his opponent who maybe distracted himself somewhat by engaging in a bit of banter during the proceedings. He might well have been better advised to concentrate on his grip and racket technique since that was very "interesting"; I was surprised he could actually contact with any forehands and produce serviceable returns such was his extreme "pan handle" grip … (and quite how the backhand unravelled was beyond me !!) 3/0 win.


James is getting right back into match mode and his opponent was in little doubt that he was going to lose despite pinching the first against the flow of play. Great retrieving, steady nerve and solid match play..3/1 win.


Dave was in unforgiving form and basically his oppo was thoroughly demoralized by the time it wound up for a 3/0 win to us. Nice one "socks"..


Pete Sykes really had his work cut out against a real fire cracker who seemed prepared to give the works.  The lesson here is that it aint over till the fat lady sings and the final score is nailed. Going 2/0 down against a guy who seems prepared to chase all and everything down could demoralize mere mortals -- hey -- but this is Knole first team and Pete is tasked to bring it home at one. Bearing in mind the match was already won it could have been
easy to step back but no, it got to 2/1 down not a 3/0 loss.. But hark the fire cracker had blown it to try and win in three and was not up to grafting to five -- and probably losing -- so he conceded !!. This was a somewhat disappointing finish to an enthralling match and whilst we were pleased to take the points it was a surprise that this number one should decide
to bail out without having any specific acute injury problem. 3/1 win.


All in all a very satisfactory nights work and a superior bit of nosh to round off proceedings.
I will leave the stats guys to evaluate the position we find ourselves in but well played all..