Based on the Thundercats, playing tonight were:
1. Snarf (Mac)
2. Cheetara (Tom )
3. Lion-O (Ashley)
4. Panthro (Dave W)
5. Tygra (Sohail)
New faces in the third team tonight whilst many of the old guard are away tanning themselves. Tygra was on first and after playing every Saturday Club Night for the last 23 years, he knew exactly how to handle such a player. He came on court fired up playing tight and neat squash. Despite valiant efforts from the opponent running everywhere, Tygra roared to victory with a comfortable but well-taken 3-0 win.
Meanwhile, whilst the first team were still waiting to get on court, Panthro was fighting out a close battle. Controlling the T, both players were hitting the ball as hard as they could, hitting nicks, reverse boasts and lots of down the walls, but after 15 minutes they finished the warm-up. With the opponent expert in ‘twatting a ball’ neatly, Panthro tried to match him only to quickly find himself 9-2 down. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before his opponents large beer gut made Panthro realise that perhaps a drop would be useful (plus a bit of advice from above) and so the match changed. Drop after drop, the game was soon wrapped up as a 3-1 victory.
Lion-O, King of the number 3 position for the thirds and the new version of the Honda Civic, came on court and snarled his teeth. His large lungs and appetite for the chase led him to a 2-0 head-start over the poor gazelle. But, as with all large cats, the legs gave way and the gazelle regathered, laughing in the face of poor Lion-O. 2-2. After a rollicking from Tygra, Lion-O went back on court and drew blood, decapitating the gazelle with some excellent play, winning the decider 9-0. Another victory and a guaranteed win for the thirds.
Cheetara, normally a cute sexy-arsed feline wearing the kind of tight lycra only ever seen on Jason in the winter months, was in fact a hairy arsed gorilla of a cat. However, he started well, winning the first 9-1 only to find that his opponent decided to lob everything to his back-hand. A cross between Keith Ward and Barker (there’s a thought) the lobs kept coming and the mistakes crept in until, alas, the game was sadly over and a 3-1 defeat.
Finally, Snarf..Snarf…the mascot of the team and ready for battle. After winning the first with some tight boasts and ground-pounding running, the second was tight, lost only by a couple of tins. Bring on the third. and Snarf found himself at 8-8. Despite blowing like Divine Brown in a LA car park, he opted for 2 shots and unluckily lost the game. Whilst the third slowly ebbed a way, it was agreed on another day, Snarf would have won and deserved at least a 3-2 defeat.
Nonetheless a 3-2 win for the thirds. Promotion beckons on this form. Thunder, thunder, thunder….
Going on first was the ever reliable, Paul hasn’t-lost-a-game-so-far Barker, the perfect No 5, the Honda-civic of the team, guaranteed to run out a consistent performance of neat and tidy squash. The first game was over in a whimper as Paul struggled to get the opponent off the T – he did admittedly
take up most of the middle court simply by standing there. Was an upset on the cards? After a team talk with Tom during the break, he was sure to improve, but alas the 2nd and 3rd games soon went past. Fear not, the real Paul will soon be back…
Meanwhile, on the other court, Ashley started lively with some controlled shots against a little midget who could hit the ball well but didn’t like to run (we all like playing these). Keeping it tight and with plenty of drops, this proved a fairly easy 3-0 win.
The competition, however, stepped up when the Silver Fox stepped onto court against a cross between Rob Barker and Warren Vye (picture that if you can). The opponent won the warm-up comfortably showing off his stroke play and twatting the ball to within an inch of its life but could only do this in
bits throughout the match. After losing the first Phil stepped it up, winning the next 2 games. Would his opponent start running again? Could Phil keep up the pressure? The fourth went by as a few mistakes crept in, leaving it carefully poised at 2-2. In the fifth, the crowd gathered as the scores crept in -1 for you, 1 for me. Unfortunately, Phil lost out in a tight game and left us with a challenge at 1 and 2.
Rick, by now had gone on court, but struggled to get his game into first gear against a tricky player and despite stretching from the T to any part of court without ever moving his legs, couldn’t quite get it going. 3-0 loss.
It was now almost 9.15 by the time Tom got on court against an opponent against whom he had lost twice before, but in a rich vein of form and fuelled with 6 weeks of holiday time on the horizon, the rallies went on…and on…and on… 2-0 up at 10pm and surely Tom would be able to finish off the match. Even the drops were going in but in need of more training with the marine machine, the engine spluttered and gradually he lost the third. Thankfully, his opponent had lost even more fuel and the 4th went to Tom for a well-won victory.
A 3-2 loss and one we could have won. Isn’t that always the story!
10/6/10 – Beechdown:- Tom (1) arrived late having visited Bounty amongst many other venues in Basingstoke and was pleased to see both Pete (4) and Paul (5) looking fresh faced as Ashley (3) was starting to warm up. So the story goes, they both already won their matches but no one else was there to verify this and not a drop of sweat! Score card for Pete read 9-2, 9-0, 9-0 and for Paul 9-1, 9-1, 9-1. Good start boys.
Tom went on court against a ‘tricky’ opponent. ‘Tricky’ because he could play squash and the first was ‘conceded’ 9~3 whilst Tom worked out his strategy – making his move in the second. Moving into a 6-1 lead things looked good, only for the tin to “join forces” with the opponent and he ended up losing the 2nd. The third, and the crowd, disappeared quickly with Tom cursing the mighty tin and reflecting on what might have been, if only he had hit the ball a little higher!
Ashley meanwhile was still warming up by the time Tom had finished. He was playing a guy who should have given up wearing sleeveless yellow tops a long time ago, & it probably contributed to Ash losing the first 9-3. But with some steady squash and a good length, he won the second, dropped the third, won the fourth and so…to the decider. Going 5-1 down, things did not look good, but greater consistency won the day, slowly taking it 9-5.
Phil (2) arrived minutes before last orders to play his match and appeared confident. Unfortunately, the pre-match talk was led by Tom and soon enough, Phil found himself 2-0 down. Despite further words of advice from the team, his opponent played very steadily and Phil was unable to turn things around.
Still an excellent 3-2 win overall.
The third team were away at Caversham Health and Fitness, who play in a gym hidden away in a Waitrose car park.
Paul arrived early and was under way immediately. Despite the viewing gallery being manned by the opposition Paul dominated his opponent from the word go. Apart from some dubious let calls, the result was never in question and even though Paul broke a string midway through he ran away with it 3-0.
Pete arrived next but appeared to have forgotten his glasses which raised a few questions among the spectators (with someone suggesting he might play better). Nonetheless he quickly proceeded to win the first game 9-3 comfortably, but the match was levelled as his opponent rallied. Pete looked to be on the back foot but soon got back on top to take the last two games as easily as the first. 3-1 to Pete.
Tom (2) was up against a tricky opponent who had a good reach and was quick across the court so it looked like it would be a difficult one for Tom. Indeed, that’s how it started out and Tom lost the first 9-4. He obviously gave himself a firm talking to and asserted himself. His opponent got fewer and fewer opportunities for winners as the match went on and Tom’s fitness and superior touch opened up a clear gap. He won the next three games convincingly. 3-1 to Tom.
Ash was in a mood for success, afterwards revealing that he “saw this guy as a 27-0 job”. Ash’s opponent had other ideas but most of his points came from the few mistakes Ash made and although it wasn’t another one of Ash’s 27-0 specials, Ash was finding the sweet spot nicely and won 3-0 at a canter.
Mac was up against a frightening player who despite her gentile appearance managed to play with a lot of power and skill (and a really old racket!). She was undoubtedly the best player in their team and Mac’s usual blasting style with the odd boast was met with near perfect drop shots, well placed lobs and tight widths. He put up some stiff resistance and got a run of points together toward the end but she kept her head to win 3-0.
The scoff was a very average takeaway curry and chips but the impressive looking pair behind the bar made up for it.
Paul (5) did what he does more often than not – won 3~0, after taking a game to sus out his opponent.
Pete (4) was flying 2~0 up – but then things got a whole lot tighter. The third was edged 10~8 by RFF but Pete kept going well and edged the 4th by the same score giving him a 3~1 win.
Ash’s (3) game was ‘topsy turvey’ – lost the first, walked the next 2 (9~0 9~2) but then he lost the last 2 (9~4, 9~0). If that isn’t topsy turvey, I don’t know what is!!
Tom, back from Africa after an unexpectedly long stay, played a good game at one, but he has not quite found his sharpness yet. It was a tight 3~0, with the second being critical, slipping away 10~9.
2~2 – and all down to Phil (again), playing at 2, …. and again he weaved his magic. A fairly comfortable 3~0 which gave the match to Hart 3~2