The easiest way to sum up this display is that we were all collectively pish.
Peter Roberts began the night's proceedings at number 4 against Ian and quickly established a 0-2 lead. Skill, grace and quality are terms which no-one would ever use to describe this match as Peter managed to throw away his lead and eventually lose 3-2 by a determined display of continually running all over the court to hit the ball back to his opponent.
Next up was Colin at 3 against Adam. To be fair this turned out to be a gruelling encounter which swung back and forth in favour of each player. Colin seemed to have the shots but Adam chased around the court and managed to retrieve everything. Unfortunately Colin also went down 3-2.
Richard took the court at 5 and despite trying his hardest to lose, managed to take the first game. Often a slow starter, we though a victory would be assured once the second got under way however Richard seemed to be intent on passing the ball from serve onto his opponents waiting racket. It was a bit like watching Groundhog Day as the second game was conceded. Thankfully our man woke up a little and proceeded to close the match out 1-3 for our only win of the evening.
Mike Gore took the court at 1 and having seen him race through the first game quite easily I went off to warm up for my game thinking a 0-3 win was surely inevitable. Unfortunately Mike thought different and managed to lose 2-3. I don't really know what happened here as I didn't see it but I can only assume an alarming change in play from Mike's opponent must have occurred later in the match.
I was last on at 2 against Ron who has been a good friend of mine for many years. Unfortunately the old git won 2-3. Ron is the only person I know who can commentate on the game whilst playing. After taking the 1st game easily I stupidly let the second game go having been in command. From then on it was nip and tuck although my lack of fitness probably cost me in the end as the 5th was narrowly lost 7-9. We both crawled off the court knackered although Ron was still talking. I will now have to get my revenge on the golf course in the summer.
The first season for the BABA's has been a great success and thanks from everyone involved are due to Captain Mike for all the organisation and effort (If not the points). It is fantastic that we have used around 20 players and stuck to the ethos of trying to involve as many as possible. There is no doubt that had we played our strongest team every week that we would have been promoted (I think we have probably ended up 4th) but that would probably not have been in the spirit of the team. We can now all look forward to our end of season tournament on the 2nd of April and reflect on the season over a few drinks if we are all still speaking after the BMI Cup. (5pm start on the 2nd April should anyone want to come and watch a bunch of old fat blokes pretend to be sportsmen).
David Grieve (with no sick note this week!)
8 comments:
I would normally plead guilty to a charge of on-court commentating; but surely Grange players are used to that sort of thing from Mark & Christy?
Closest ESSA match I've seen, taken across all rubbers. Mike conceded 43 points, yet still won! I feel this could be a record.
List of players to avoid in future seasons:
1. Grieve, D - doesn't give up.
2. Williamson, C - too fit.
Absolutely right, Ron. I think Dave had tongue firmly in cheek when he wrote that. Grange has more players to talk you out of a game than most, Robin Pollok, Mark D(incomprehensible), Christy(incomprehensible) but the king of them all was Gerald Suggett(hilarious).
Ultra-close tie, yes. I suggest we settle it with racketball over the summer. Winner gets a season's free supply of Franco's pizzas.
"I think Dave had tongue firmly in cheek when he wrote that."
I know - and I'm not even contesting the "old git" charge.
;-)
Interesting to discuss attitudes to team selection and asking for postponements with Dave & Mike on Tuesday: both clubs are very much in favour of "play with whoever's available", rather than asking for a change of date.
We have used 18 players this season out of a relatively small membership. It seems that the right thing to do is get a team out on the scheduled date, which automatically brings more people into team squash.
Ron said... "It seems that the right thing to do is get a team out on the scheduled date, which automatically brings more people into team squash."
Couldn't agree with you more. Unfortunately not every club is in agreement and seem to prefer postpone rather than to sub up lower-team players and introduce new people to the lower leagues.
Any team who finish above WTN4 must be good!
Fantastic effort getting five teams out every week (snow permitting).
Watsons, Super Sports Club, Dean & Waverley are other clubs that stick to the schedule and don't ask for postponements.
Yeah, the 5 teams worked out well. I don't think during the snow that it was us who requested the 2 or 3 postponements. No big issue with those, as it was an exceptional week or 2 of snow.
There were at some other times, avoidable requests for postponements.
Erm, WTN do sometimes ask for postponements. There's no reason for our opponents to agree to postpone a match.
I'd rather say that we have, at times, asked for postponements than have someone else point this out.
The other clubs are pretty good at just getting on with it.
Richard
I can only say what I see, and that is that Grange have not had postponement requests from Watsonians, or the other 3 named.
The difficulty we have with postponements is that we have to book and pay for courts months in advance and for another club to request a postponement 2-6 days in advance is poor planning & does not take the extra court hire cost into account.
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