Hi all. Sorry, another belated input. [Sorry for late editing too – Ed J].
The weather has been so good, I have got stuck into outside stuff rather than computer.
I was going to start with the animal that is Knole 1, purring with satisfaction, however I am
compelled to allude to more of a roar - sitting at number 1 - league leaders in Div 3 - my word. It was gently acknowledged in transit to the match that promotion is not beyond mild consideration
even at this early mid-season stage of proceedings. I can see that the collective competitive juices will be flowing with a vengeance now and all efforts will be focused on retaining pole position even if the prospect of Div 2 competition could prove somewhat excessively challenging, particularly without ‘Wings’ [Sykes] at number 1 after September. So it’s teeth and claws from here on in, methinks.
Of course it will all depend on availabilities in this holiday period! Having said that, Mike and James were recently absent and Niall was not around this week - and yet the points tally this week was still 19-8 to the good.
Pete B filled the void at 5 and put in a most creditable shift in a long 5-set tussle. This match could easily have slipped away, but Pete held his nerve in a close 5th to win 3/2.
Mike looked like he might have a fairly straightforward one at 4 but Frazer’s unorthodox style belied a steely determination and very good eye for the ball. Mike was most definitely in ‘Duracel bunny’ mode and made intimate and regular contact with the four corners of the court with some amazing retrievals, enabled by playing conditions akin to a sauna. An "interesting" marking call at the end of the 5th could have challenged Mike’s focus, but if anything, to his credit, it provoked an energized response.
James was out of sorts against an oppo who, he conceded, was there for the taking. By his own judgement, suspect shot selection and, ultimately, shaky focus and confidence let Andy back in, an opportunity he gratefully embraced and converted to a 3/2 loss for Knole. (Still, only one point dropped though!).
David looked like he might have his work cut out against a clearly talented youngster , but Matt could not contain David’s early shot taking and unerring front court accuracy. It rolled out a fairly comfortable 3/1 win once David had settled into the task.
By the end of the second it was clear that there was only likely to be one winner in Pete S’s game (a strange turn of phrase to be sure since there can only ever be one winner in all squash matches - ho hum !), despite the dominant physical presence of Ross and his very clean hitting.
This match was by no means a "gimmee", as the score line might indicate, and all concerned had to work really hard for this excellent win and the superior "scram " that we enthusiastically enjoyed afterwards. I am pleased to report that I get well fed and watered without all this fulfilling exercise and sweaty competition.
Next week at home with Bexley 3 we shall have most of the dream team available and await news on Ben to fill the fifth spot. [Confirmed].
YES -- HOME game -- groupies welcome. This team is playing some great squash -- come and enjoy it!
Stay healthy. Best wishes to all. Mark Johnson.
[Editor’s note: Pete B was the only one to improve his ranking, as he was the only one to beat someone ranked higher than himself, and the others who won only won by a smaller margin than expected. So, no complacency.
It should also be noted that none of the teams we have played have had their full squads out – Guy Olby still to meet at Beckenham, Ted Jeal at Nuffield, Darren Heathfield at Bexley Park, and Gina Kennedy at Park Langley. So lots to fear in the second half.
Poultwood have a game in hand, rearranged against Cascades, and Park Langley suffered the absence of their # 3, who inexplicably didn’t show.]
