Playing: Terry/Peter/Derek

 

Game 1: Peter/Derek v Dave/Shamir

 

Knowing that this team were currently third in League 1, we approached the match with an inevitable bucketful of trepidation, tempered, only slightly, by the fact that they, like us, had lost their first round match. Both Peter and Derek struggled initially to get into the game at all, the main barrier being Shamir’s impossible to return top-spin service; one got the ludicrous impression that the first bounce of the serve was behind  the server’s bat! Equally, Dave’s forehand smashes were unerringly accurate and played with terrific pace. We limped to a disappointing 42-11 defeat despite finding our own game late on.

42-11

 

Game 2: Peter/Terry v Frazer/Shamir

 

More of the same with Terry also finding Shamir’s serve impossible to respond to. Few returns of this serve actually hit anywhere near the table! This was a difficult game, with our opponents, having briefly checked our credentials or otherwise in the first game, already beginning their confident and efficient push to the finish line. The speed of their replies was a notable factor in preventing Peter and Terry gaining any kind of rhythm or system in their own game, enforcing basic errors. Confidence was sinking without the intrusion of anything resembling an iceberg!

42-6

 

Game 3: Terry/Derek v Frazer/Dave

 

Without the unplayable distraction of Shamir’s serve, Terry and Derek at least managed to save a few extra points in this game, focusing more realistically on their own game rather than merely repelling the opposition with inadequate ammunition. Reactions were sharper and Terry and Derek built some confidence but were still comprehensively outplayed in every department.

42-18

 

Game 4: Peter/Derek v Shamir/Frazer

 

This was a ‘typical’ game for us all in this match. Every time we saw a chink of light providing a tiny iota of confidence, within a split nano second and with devastating speed and ruthlessness, we discovered that this pin-prick of brightness and hope was an out of control forty ton truck, a monstrous, steaming and relentless locomotive or an unstoppable and searing inferno; we weren’t simply singed but burnt to a crisp.

42-11

 

Game 5: Terry/Peter v Shamir/Dave

 

A strange game with points lost by Terry and Peter simply through our usual lack of consistency and care but complemented, at other times in this game, by some impressive smashes by Terry and good control by Peter. With the now expected gargantuan struggle to get any of Shamir’s serves returned to the other side of the net, never mind on the table, the game ended disappointingly.

42-11

 

Game 6: Terry/Derek v Shamir/Frazer

 

Certainly this was one of our worst games: emotionally drained and physically becoming too body aware in terms of the distance beteen our strategy and the reluctance of relevant bits of our anatomy to keep up with the flow. Effectively we had little to offer in this game and the opposition were smiling far too much for our liking. We waited, with anxiety, for them to start licking their lips and polishing their whiskers as we slowly lost the will to live!

42-9

 

Game 7: Peter/Derek v Dave/Frazer

 

So, the strategy worked! What strategy you ask? To lull them into such a sense of security, protected by their own perfection in the previous game, that they actually made mistakes in this game! No, really! Derek had by this time adapted to serving to the ‘wrong’ side of the table and was, occasionally, making them pay (although no money actually changed hands!). Peter was more in control at the back of the court and on at least two occasions Daave’s and Frazer’s smiles ebbed away to the further recesses of their widow’s peaks and there was a suggestion that they were actually having to breathe for the first time in the match. Good focus from Peter and Derek made this probably the most hopeful game that we played all night: perchance to dream……….?……….maybe not!

42-21

 

Game 8: Peter/Terry v Dave/Frazer

 

This was a strange game that highlighted our inexperience in doubles. Our inability to drag ourselves quickly enough from one side of the court to the other, our usual lack of consistency and our change-over tactics during shots and our over-ambition in attempting non-percentage shots only added to the service errors that were part of our game throughout this match. Peter and Terry worked hard to rescue points in this match but the end result was mind-numbingly disappointment.

42-10

 

Game 9: Terry/Derek v Shamir/David

 

Having snapped two service returns back belligerently in game 6, Derek resumed normal service in this game by failing to return single serve from Shamir! By this time, Terry and Derek were obviously tired and a slow start took them on far too steep a learning curve, despite winning worthy if not exactly exciting points. Too many points were given to the opposition and our team deficiencies again outweighed our potential and the final game was surrendered willingly and tamely to a very good League 1 side. Well done to our opponents and thank you.

42-14

 

What can we learn from this match? Well, firstly, that doubles is a very different game at which none of us has any meaningful experience so, at least we competed. Secondly, our failings in this match and in our previous doubles outing, which were specifically connected to the doubles game can act as prompts to improvements in our singles game. Our mobility around the court in relation to the threat from the opposition was not good. Our positioning and awareness in relationship to each other was also deficient. Speed and anticipation are a massive part of the doubles game and are very much part of the strategy of the doubles game, a strategy which we largely did not employ. All these requirements for competence in the doubles game, would, if improved, substantially inform our singles game. Mobility, anticipation and general awareness must be integral requirements of our game and an over-arching improvement in consistency in all areas can be gained from our focus at our coaching sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The progress we have all made since our team was formed is considerable. It is, however, quite exhausting to achieve the blend of enjoyment, fitness and well-being that we all demand from playing table tennis in any shape or form AND improve our skills in competition, particularly when we are outplayed on a regular basis.

Recognising our own potential, despite regular setbacks and defeats and continuing to play with optimism should be our main goal.

 

DG/19.01.09