This match was played on 26th January with POPPS B the home team. We were looking forward to this match as it gave us a rare opportunity to play a higher division team and get some idea of the level of competition we need to aspire to. Given our lowly position languishing near the bottom of Division 3 and that of RAMS in division 2, and going on the fact that we have narrowly won both our doubles handicap matches so far by a mere handful of points, we were confident that if we played to our ability the handicapper would one again contrive a close game for us. We have learnt from the previous doubles handicap matches that every point counts and even if on the point of losing a game to love it is worth keeping your head up and trying to snatch even 1 point if possible

The format of the match is that each player plays their 3 opponents for 2 games up to 21, swapping serve every 5 points. As expected RAMS won every game and so ended up with a score of 378. We assumed a handicap of about 200 (i.e. a start of about 11 points per game). The visitors, obviously aware of our match record in the league so far this season, apologised in advance for the thrashing we were about to receive! It was pointed out that they hate winning games to love and in the normal course of events would avoid this by showing some mercy. But in a sealed handicap the gloves had to be off as every point may count. No mercy would be shown. This may account for the despondency and frustration that crept into the RAMs team as the match progressed. The first game involving Terry W went to RAMs 21 – 17 and the second 21- 8. In fact this was the pattern for the entire match with all the POPPS players, Alan P and John M, managing high scores in the first game of each set and then slumping somewhat in the second. The outcome of this is that at the end of the match POPPs had a 215 point deficit. It was a tense moment when the sealed envelope was opened to reveal the handicap. POPPs though they had not done quite enough and would probably lose by the sorts of narrow margins we have won by in the past. RAMs were convinced they had lost and had expected to have a much bigger lead over us. Both teams were surprised when the handicap was revealed as 144 for POPPS B. We were not too disappointed as we felt we had not done quite enough but the handicap revealed we were miles off what we needed. No doubt we could have won a handful of more points had we played a little better or had a little more luck, but I don’t think there was any way we could have got the additional 71 points needed for victory. We came away pleased with the standard of play we had achieved and pleased that we had not let ourselves down.

So, onwards into the second half of the season and the next round of the double handicap. Both Alan and John have played better in the last couple of matches than I have ever seen before and there is a good chance we will improve our position in the division before the end of the season. I think we are currently second to bottom out of 11 teams. I’m hoping a realistic target will be to finish 3rd or 4th from bottom. Or rather more positively, in the top half of the bottom half!