Grange IV vs Hatton

This week, we were up against third placed, and already promoted, Hatton.

First up was Brian Sloan. The first two games were traded 9-7, 8-10 as Brian struggled to lug his strained groin around the court. The third was a tight affair to 3-3 and it was clear that Brian was trying to win without moving. That simply wasn't working and the third was lost 6-9. At 2-4 in the fourth, Brian accepted he'd just have to grin and bear it and closed the match out 9-4, 9-0 to put the Grange one up.

On the other court, Matt Pearson was finding his opponent difficult to get to grips with. Long rallies were the name of the game, with Matt doing much of the running. But each game proved just a step too far as Matt went down 4-9, 8-10 and 6-9 to tie the match at 1-1.

Our very own bionic man Johnny 'Lee' Major was on next in what proved to be his traditional 5-setter. The first was over in a flash 9-2 before his opponent got used to the chill on the Accies courts. And at 7-4 in the second, things were looking good until the game was lost 7-9 on a single serve run. Much the same happened in the third and the bionic man was facing a major service at 1-2. But superb running down of impossible balls made it impossible for his opponent to win many more points and Johnny closed the match

out 9-3, 9-3 for a 3-2 victory. 2-1 Grange.

Andy Whitelaw and my games don't really deserve much comment other than to say I lost 5-9, 5-9, 1-9 and Andy lost 4-9, 3-9, 1-9. Yet again we struggled to win at the top of the order.

Pizza and banter flowed merrily in the bar as the jovial Hatton moved on to better things in Division 3 next year.

Good luck guys.

Mike Douglas