Would Popps be suffering from post Christmas hangovers, weighed down with mince pies and turkey, or would they spring into the New Year like youthful lambs? In the event, it was more like lambs to the slaughter at the hands of a more worldly-wise Sowerby team, who demonstrated the virtues of patience, even to the extent of waiting and waiting to create attacking opportunities, happily taking many unforced points from us.

Derek came across their most defensive player John Korner and tried to match him with patience whilst seeking appropriate point winning opportunities. After a five game war of attrition, Derek emerged as winner by 3 games to 2. Against Phillip Parry, Peter kept it tight in three quite even encounters, but going down 11-9, 11-9 and 11-7. Both players made errors, but Parry’s smashes became more telling as the match developed. Robin against Trevor Kershaw had the merit of limiting the pain by its brevity, with Kershaw winning fairly easily, 11-3, 11-6, and 11-3.

Peter had a more competitive set against the ever steady and defensive Korner, when he tried to match his opponent’s careful style, edging to 11-8 in game 1. Korner returned well in the second game to win 11-7. At 2-2, Korner retained his slow steady pace and high returns, to frustrate Peter to a 3-2 defeat.

It was Derek’s turn to meet Kershaw, perhaps Sowerby’s most consistent player. After a tentative start by both players, and some inconsistent attacks from Derek, Kershaw won game one 11-8. The second game was similar, 11-7, with Kershaw catching Derek out of position on a couple of key shots. Kershaw varied his serve in game 2 and whilst Derek tried to attack his way out of trouble, he fell away to 11-7, losing 3 nil. Robin played at a slightly higher level against Parry, with some good attacks from both sides, but in the end went down 11-6, 11-6 and 11-6, there being some consistency in the nature of the defeats.

Peter showed plenty of fighting spirit and doggedness in winning 2 out of 3 against Kershaw. After a slow start against a steady opponent, Peter lost the first game 11-2, but fought back to win the second, 11-9. His endeavour forced Kershaw to be more erratic, and Peter won an exciting third game, 13-11. However, Kershaw recovered his composure and raced to 11-5 and 11-8, to win a close match. By this time, Robin had lost the will to live and Kersaw cleaned up 11-6, 11-1 and 11-2.

The match had been well lost, but there was still some pride to be fought for by Derek against Parry’s pen-holder grip style, one not encountered by Popps so far. Does this indicate a propensity for take away meals or a disturbing interest in Japanese horror movies? We may never know. Derek won the first comfortably by 11-4, but Parry, perhaps sensing the impending collapse of Derek’s troublesome shoulder, closed in for an 11-8 win. Parry had some good winners and the odd fluke to edge ahead in game 3, by 16-14. Game 4 saw Derek valiantly fighting against waves of shoulder pain to achieve some good winners, while Parry responded with some fiendishly oriental returns. Again, it reached 16-14 to Derek. Two all!

In the deciding game, Parry started to lose his concentration, Derek continued to hold his shaky frame together, and won 11-4, to take the match 3-2.

Overall, Sowerby won 7-2, showing greater consistency and steadiness to generally outshine Popps, in spite of Derek’s courageous endeavours and Peter’s competitive but measured approach. Robin will have to find ways of dealing with the steady, percentage approach adopted in this region of the league, or he will have the indignity of have a nil percent record in the next edition of the blue book. What next? Footage of disastrous shots on Youtube!