Knole’s 1st team having gained promotion to Division 2 last Winter, were keen not to yo-yo back down again this year. So, when we found ourselves at the last week of the season, in danger of doing so, there were a few squeaky moments.
It didn’t help that there were four teams vying for one relegation spot; nor that Knole were missing three of our top players and one more carrying a long-term injury.
It boiled down to needing 6 points from our last match at fellow strugglers Bexley 2; or a 3-0 victory from one of our heroes. And with all of the regular reserves called up or on standby, there was very little margin for error.
On the day of the match, miraculously, two of our friends from the Spencer Club, who had in previous seasons supported us with long treks from their base in Surrey, became unexpectedly available. Crucially, this allowed Mike Wright to drop down from 2nd string to 4th string.
With one of the Bexley regulars having emigrated to Australia, the match (or at least the vital 6 points) now looked within reach. Mike seized upon the opportunity first up to produce one of his best displays, taking down the tricky Paul Sellery 3-0. Job done.
The rest of the team did their bit to provide insurance points, and perhaps to prove that they could have done it anyway. Chris Shepherd-Barron dug deep to take the 3rd game off the talented Luke Grindle, in spite of being on the wrong end of heavy losses in the other 3 games. Alex Mackinnon (Spencer guest) took another point for Knole; and his Spencer teammate Dan Wells made light of Chris Sellery 3-1 after a slow start.
James Hall, having risked further damage to his knee twinges just to play, was content to ease through his game against a very strong Bexley Captain Scott Shergold, knowing that plenty of points were in the bag.
After all the other Division 2 results were in, Knole have finished bang in the middle of the table - 5th, after what may have been the closest ever end to a season.
Will Tindall sent a post-event message from his workplace:
Tough day at the office
Thanks, Will!
And David Falconer (injured) was there to provide support and encouragement after a frustrating end to the season for him. We wish him a speedy recovery from his various ailments. Knole’s walking wounded now have a couple of months to rest and recuperate before the slightly easier challenges of Division 3 Summer.