Division 3 > Match Card
6-11
6-11
2-11
Match Report
For Sonning appearing was ‘The Man in Black’ (James), Stephen and Keith. Cris was going to play the doubles. For OLOP D, skipper Louise was accompanied by James Smith and Patrick.
First out were James and Patrick. James was conscious that his forehand was not working as he wanted, and was a little low in confidence. However, in the first game he came through 11-6. Patrick got some strong forehands in game 2 whilst James still could not quite find his rhythm. Patrick levelled up the set. James found another gear in game 3 to win 11-3. In game 4, James was 3-8 down before levelling to 8-8. The game went to 10-10 with Patrick winning a point with a fortuitous edge. Then James won the game 12-10 to take the set.
Stephen then faced James Smith in the second set. Returning serve in the first game was an issue for Stephen as he went down 11-4. . Stephen fought back to take the second game 12-10. In this game Patrick took it upon himself to call a net as he spotted a ball rolling into our area of play. This was much to the chagrin of his playing partner, James who had just won a point with his service. Patrick was suitably embarrassed and chastised! In fairness at this venue it is more likely that watching players will see balls from the other table entering before the umpire! Back to the set between James and Stephen. James regained some control with his heavy topspin forehand play and took the next two games to win the set.
Set three saw Keith and Louise take to the table. In the first game Keith soon learnt that anything of a reasonable height on the forehand of Louise was going to be despatched unceremoniously. 11-5 was game one and things didn’t improve much, as Louise won games 2&3 11-1 and 11-7.
Set 4 saw both James to appear. Hence, the reason to say ‘The man in Black to serve.’ James Miller looked more relaxed in the set as he took the first two games. James Smith fought back to take the third game 13-11. The fourth game was tight as James Miller eased to a 11-8 victory to take the set.
Sets 5 was a reasonably quick match as Patrick and Keith did battle. Patrick won in three games. Keith played some good rallies but again the top spin forehand play of Patrick was the downfall of Keith.
Set 6 saw Stephen take on Louise. Stephen tried very hard to stop Louise using her forehand smashes which were so effective when she played Keith.Stephen got very close to taking a game off Louise.
The doubles saw James and Cris line up against James and Patrick. I have to say that this was one of easier wins that the Sonning pair have enjoyed this season. 11-6,11-6,11-2.
The last round of singles. Set 8 was Keith and James. Keith again was so close to taking a game off James. There was no doubt that James had to work hard for the victory as Keith battled gamely but to no avail.
Set 9 found James taking on Louise. James probably felt this was his most relaxed performance of the night. However, he did note that he tried to smash Louise’s serve but it was only at the end of first game he got it on the table! Some great rallies between the pair got the attention of the OLOP players in the match next door as both were hitting the ball so well. James won games 2&3 to complete another man of the Match performance.
Set 10 and Stephen was the first of us to call odds or evens correctly. He was facing Patrick in the last set. Again Stephen working hard lost the first game 11-5. Stephen struck back in the second to level the set 11-8. His team mates were encouraging home to carry on the same vein and perhaps gain a win. Patrick had other ideas as he closed out the set in 4 games.
So a 6-4 defeat. Our next match is on Tuesday 18 February at home to Kingfisher. We could really do with a win.
By Cris Reynolds
First out were James and Patrick. James was conscious that his forehand was not working as he wanted, and was a little low in confidence. However, in the first game he came through 11-6. Patrick got some strong forehands in game 2 whilst James still could not quite find his rhythm. Patrick levelled up the set. James found another gear in game 3 to win 11-3. In game 4, James was 3-8 down before levelling to 8-8. The game went to 10-10 with Patrick winning a point with a fortuitous edge. Then James won the game 12-10 to take the set.
Stephen then faced James Smith in the second set. Returning serve in the first game was an issue for Stephen as he went down 11-4. . Stephen fought back to take the second game 12-10. In this game Patrick took it upon himself to call a net as he spotted a ball rolling into our area of play. This was much to the chagrin of his playing partner, James who had just won a point with his service. Patrick was suitably embarrassed and chastised! In fairness at this venue it is more likely that watching players will see balls from the other table entering before the umpire! Back to the set between James and Stephen. James regained some control with his heavy topspin forehand play and took the next two games to win the set.
Set three saw Keith and Louise take to the table. In the first game Keith soon learnt that anything of a reasonable height on the forehand of Louise was going to be despatched unceremoniously. 11-5 was game one and things didn’t improve much, as Louise won games 2&3 11-1 and 11-7.
Set 4 saw both James to appear. Hence, the reason to say ‘The man in Black to serve.’ James Miller looked more relaxed in the set as he took the first two games. James Smith fought back to take the third game 13-11. The fourth game was tight as James Miller eased to a 11-8 victory to take the set.
Sets 5 was a reasonably quick match as Patrick and Keith did battle. Patrick won in three games. Keith played some good rallies but again the top spin forehand play of Patrick was the downfall of Keith.
Set 6 saw Stephen take on Louise. Stephen tried very hard to stop Louise using her forehand smashes which were so effective when she played Keith.Stephen got very close to taking a game off Louise.
The doubles saw James and Cris line up against James and Patrick. I have to say that this was one of easier wins that the Sonning pair have enjoyed this season. 11-6,11-6,11-2.
The last round of singles. Set 8 was Keith and James. Keith again was so close to taking a game off James. There was no doubt that James had to work hard for the victory as Keith battled gamely but to no avail.
Set 9 found James taking on Louise. James probably felt this was his most relaxed performance of the night. However, he did note that he tried to smash Louise’s serve but it was only at the end of first game he got it on the table! Some great rallies between the pair got the attention of the OLOP players in the match next door as both were hitting the ball so well. James won games 2&3 to complete another man of the Match performance.
Set 10 and Stephen was the first of us to call odds or evens correctly. He was facing Patrick in the last set. Again Stephen working hard lost the first game 11-5. Stephen struck back in the second to level the set 11-8. His team mates were encouraging home to carry on the same vein and perhaps gain a win. Patrick had other ideas as he closed out the set in 4 games.
So a 6-4 defeat. Our next match is on Tuesday 18 February at home to Kingfisher. We could really do with a win.
By Cris Reynolds
Written by: Huzeyfe Borazan
