Monday June 28, 2010. Popps Team: Terry Wassall, Robin Thomas, Alwyn Kershaw.

We do not know much about Suma or what it stands for. We know that Suma 2 played in the 2nd Division last year, so assuming the same personnel we, as the ‘B’ Team, would expect a hard fight. But then one would obviously ask, does the name mean that all their players are Suma wrestlers and would be playing in large nappies? Where would they stand in terms of the shirt regulations of the ETTA ? If they were to lose the fixture, would they become suicidal? Would they attack Pearl Harbour? We would find this out in due course.

In the event, Suma turned out to be health food Company with a local factory, although the players were not employed by Suma. In addition, Suma were short of a player—been eating the health food maybe, so immediately conceded 3 matches-although it didn’t make any difference to the outcome.

Their team consisted of Dave Blackburn (a previous attendee at the coaching sessions) and Brian Chapman.

In the first encounter, Alwyn took on Dave whose experience showed from the start as he moved swiftly ahead. Alwyn tried to steady things down and caught up to 7-4 and Dave was occasionally over-hitting, but he edged to win 11-6. In G2, Alwyn tried to slow things down by tossing the ball up. Dave mirrored this style for a few shots. Alwyn moved ahead by careful play and via a fluke and later by a well-placed shot which dropped off the edge of the table. 11-6 to Alwyn.

Perhaps we had over-estimated Dave and Alwyn traded blow by blow as they reached 7-7, 8-8, even 10-10. But Dave seemed to be still in control and moved to 12-10. In G4, it seemed that Dave wanted to stamp his authority on the game and smashed aggressively, plus using a cunning serve, to move to 7-2, then to 10-3, winning the game at 11-4,

Terry now faced Brian Chapman, who turned out to be a steady player with a useful top spin return. Terry was still organising his forehand smash and missed a few, to a chorus of ‘unlucky’ from Dave & Brian, but I’m not sure that luck comes into it. Brian won 11-4. In G2, Terry started to get the end of the table in his sights and executed some winners. Brian reached 5-1 quite quickly, but Terry produced a useful forehand smash to start catching up. He almost caught up with a trio of smashes, but Brian prevailed at 11-9. In G3, Brian built up a swift lead. Terry had a mixture of effective and wild smashes; Brian kept it steady and rolled to 11-4, to win the match 3-0.

The next game was played as an exhibition match between Dave & Robin. Dave, an experienced player who has operated in more senior circles, adopted a fairly generous approach giving his opponent an occasional chance of a smash, but he won the match 11-5, 11-5 & 11-5. In the next match between Alwyn and Brian, Alwyn at one point led 10-9 and looked like winning. However, Brian kept his nerve and Alwyn helped with a disastrous shot which caused him to erupt into a loud shout and Brian stayed ahead to win 12-10. In G2, Alwyn lost some momentum and returned a number of serves into the net. Brian crept ahead, whilst always complimenting Alwyn on successful shots and eventually won 11-2. At this point Brian thought the game was over, but of course there was at least one game to go. Would Alwyn use this as an opportunity to fight back and prove himself? Well, no, as it happens. He lost a bit of consistency, spoilt one serve and missed a smash, all enough for the steady Brian to cruise ahead to win 11-4 and the match.

The next game between Dave & Robin was not an exhibition match, but counted towards to match score. Dave was more ruthless on this occasion, moving to 11-2, 11-3 and 11-1 as Robin gave him even more help than usual with some shambolic serves. Brian then took on Terry in an exhibition match. (Are you getting confused? I’ve totally lost the plot.) G1 was balanced at first, with Brian being the steadier player. However at 7-6, Terry could not obtain any more points and Brian moved smoothly to 11-6. Terry kicked off G2 with a useful fluke smash which moved him ahead. Both players produced useful attacking shots and Terry held on to win 14-12. By this time Terry was improving his % of winners, though not enough to hold Brian back. Terry attacked when he should have been defending, going for some shots which most mortals would have avoided. On the other hand, he achieved some spectacular winners. Well, there’s the measure of the man, no half-measures, go for you shots, live on the edge, live with the consequences, a swashbuckling, genre-defining and distinctive take on the game. Brian kept it steady and won 11-6. Terry kicked of with a bizarre serve which went nowhere and allowed Brian to build a lead. Terry caught up well as a smash bounced of the table nearly decapitating Alwyn, but Brian, as usual, steadied himself to win 11-6.

Brian then took on Robin as part of the match proper and was fully in charge, reeling off 11-4. 11-4 and 11-5. The next exhibition match was played as a Doubles and the Dave/Brian combination outfoxed the Alwyn/Terry team to win 11-5, 11-6, 11-6.

Suma had by then won the encounter even with only 2 players. However, the last game between Dave & Terry was played in a competitive spirit. Dave has a way of talking to himself when he makes a mess of a shot. “Oh Davy” he says in an exaggerated accent, like a mother admonishing a naughty son, a bit like Mavis in Coronation Street. Terry tried to play a steady game, for a couple of nano seconds, but swiftly reverted to macho type. Dave won 11-7. In G2, Terry fought back with some good smashes, while Dave missed a few. Terry hung on to register a useful win at 11-9. However, ‘Davy’ reimposed his superiority in G3 by winning 11-2 and finally wrapped up G4 at 11-7.

Suma were generous in their appreciation of our rare touches of talent, but their experience showed, so that even with only 2 players they were able to win 6-3, even winning the exhibition matches. However, Popps, though up against it, performed better than our wimpy footballers in the World Cup. Our players are not paid as well, do not get involved in night club brawls, do not sleep with their team mate’s girl friends and do not swear at the crowd. So when the MBEs are being dolled out, let’s hear it for Popps ‘B’ for setting an example of good sportsmanship, athletic excellence, finely tuned bodies and at least giving it a bit of welly. And our coach can speak proper English.

Monday 21 June
Team: Alan Wood, Derek Greenwood & Terry Allingto

Result EMBASSY 4   POPPS ‘A’ 5
This was another good win for Popps, with Terry winning 3, Alan one and Derek one.

In the first set, Terry faced the experienced Clive Sherratt with his baseball hat and playing in stocking feet. As usual, Clive played all 3 sets in one go, but Terry out-pushed him to win 3 games to one.

Alan and Derek both played well to beat Sam from Embassy. It was the gritty Steve Rathmell who caused us most of the trouble with his razor-like back hand, which troubled everybody.

It was a very enjoyable evening, played in a good spirit  on a boiling hot evening. Thanks must go to Derek for playing when his partner Gail was not too well.

Terry Allington

Popps B entertained (in more than one sense of the word) Embassy in their latest match. The venerable Popps trio of old hands (attached to equally old bodies), Terry, Alwyn and Tom, faced up to their formidable and slightly nicotine stained opponents, Hugh, Clive and Tom. Clive played all three of his sets at the beginning of the match as he had to get home to do some on-line A level marking before a midnight deadline.  He was undoubtedly the best of the Embassy trio and dispatched the entire Popps team in short order, playing with one hand on his hip and  just poking the ball back with ease. Both Alwyn and Terry lost in 3 straight games. Tom managed to take the 3rd game before losing patience in the face of Clive’s relentless defence and going down 3 games to 1. Having taken about 30 minutes to smoke the Popps team  Clive took an early departure to return home to his A level marking no doubt to spread more despair and despondency amongst his A level students.

We didn’t fair much better against Hugh who also won all 3 of his sets. Alwyn managed to take the 3rd game 11-8 but Hugh ran out a comfortable winner taking the next game and winning the set 3 – 1. Terry showed some signs of improvement as he gradually got back into his game after a 3 week lay-off but had no answer to Hugh’s consistent defensive returning sprinkled with the occasional effective back hand drive. Terry did manage at least to show remarkable consistency in losing 5-11, 5-11, 5-11. Not to be outdone Tom then lost to Hugh  4-11, 4-11, 4-11.  Good to see the competitive spirit is alive and well within the Popps team.

Sam was our only hope of winning a set or two. He was definitely Embassy’s No. 3 (extra mild and tipped you may remember) but still no slouch. Alwyn did manage to win his set against Sam in 5 games, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11 and 11-7. Sam had some excellent attacking shots, both forehand and backhand, but lacked the patience and consistency of his team mates. In both the games Sam won he was behind 8 -10 but managed to drag himself into the lead at the fag end of the games to win them, so he could have lost 0-3 with less determination. Alwyn played carefully and accurately using his attacking shots sparingly and won mainly by eliciting errors from Sam and the occasional satisfying smash. This was the best set of the evening. It turned out to be our only success. Both Tom and Terry, who not doubt should be sponsored by Disney, lost to Sam in 3 straight games. The fact that Sam seemed to be wearing a sailor outfit similar to that worn by Donald Duck’s nephews only added to the feeling of being in cartoon. Terry continued to improve and perhaps was a little unlucky not to win a game  losing 13-15, 11-13 and 9-11.

As usual the match was played in good humour with a fair bit of Mickey taking and laughter. It would be nice to have a bit more success than we are but it is all useful experience and jolly good fun too.

This was the first match of the summer season for Popps ‘A’ team, and for the first time featured two star signings from Sowerby, who concentrate on bowls, tennis and boozing during the summer months, hence the welcome addition of Phillip Parry and John Korner to play alongside the experienced Terry Allington. Representing Evergreens were: Michael Curry, Dave Lewis and the legendary Mark Knapton, the high-hitting lob specialist.

It was a close match and Evergreens managed to win by 5-4. Terry won 2, and Phillip and John won one each. The set of the night was Phillip’s fine win over the Evergreens No 1, Mark Knapton. In the fifth game, Phillip produced some great forehand smashes to edge out Mark, who had previously beaten Terry in straight games.

So, from the first fixture, Popps ‘A’ realised that they were up against some strong teams in this league. However, the Summer league is more about fun than fierce competition and our teams look forward to some enjoyable games, as the days lengthen, as the sun warms the damp earth and as the countryside listens to the sound of leather on willow, the contented lowing of the cattle and the gentle hum of the honeybees as they probe newly opened flowers. (Who writes this stuff?)

Terry Allington/Robin Thomas