Hi readers
Our destination for the second round of the cup competition was, for a while, in flux.
Sydenham and Wells didn’t quite get their act together on the same night so the final outcome was a walkover for Sydenham after Wells indicated that they were not desperate to play anyway. The Park Club [in the top half of the draw] seem now to be indisposed since they have no courts to play on!!! The dream team at Knole are however very eager to move onward and upward !!
Since Sydenham were at the receiving end of a bit of a "lesson" from us at the end of the league four fixtures it was not surprising that we felt Knole 1 would again prevail - this attitude can spell danger since all these teams have some tasty performers and the level of play only has to drop a few percent to let them in..
Pete is negotiating some life changing stuff at present and we hope he will be back from Dubai to play the next round. In the meantime his focus was somewhat fuzzy at Sydenham against the very impressive Tats. Unfortunately for Tats the opportunities that presented themselves were really no more than a tempting "sniff" that never really looked threatening when Pete hit the gas. (win 3/1)
David had a most weird affair in which neither player got more than three points a game in a match that remarkably went to a 3/2 Knole win. I opined in my last Knole v Sydenham report that David’s oppo must have thought he could actually play this difficult game of squash until he met David last time round. Well, he DID actually play very for two games this time - but could not sustain the level.. This really was a game of four halves to coin a (modified) footy cliché. We all really enjoy admiring the very early ball takes and fine front court kills and pace and direction changes that so disorientate David’s opponents..
James again brought his composure and improving technique to the party and was forced to redress an 8/3 deficit to win a hard second and nail his match 3/0. With all the tweaks and nudges we are working on in training I am looking forward to seeing the "finished article" down the road a bit (if indeed it is right to think in terms of "finishing" improving since this is always ongoing and one is destined never to feel content since there is always somebody better out there).
Niall did the business against a scrappy opponent and derived little pleasure from a 3/1 win which looked inevitable from the first shot despite the game dropped. Niall is due a satisfying outing very soon but in the meantime worthy wins tick the box for team duties fulfilled.
So, as it developed, this match proved to be rather more challenging than anybody had expected and Mike’s game at five was no exception and his capable opponent did enough to nick a game. As is the norm for the maestro’s matches, it was replete with impressive court coverage and valiant retrieving (win 3/1).
A good evening was had by all I think, even by our vanquished opponents who are a friendly and sociable bunch. Fish and chips also hit the spot!!
This cup progression looks very encouraging and maybe a "gong" has Knole’s name faintly etched upon it subject to further confirmation in the next few weeks?
Best wishes to all and stay healthy. Mark Johnson, first team captain..
