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

These Dolphins normally hunt in the choppy waters of the Winter League’s Division 2, whilst our ‘B’ Team operate in the murky depths of the pond, devouring the odd stickleback, but generally being at the mercy of the bigger fish. Given the concentration of talent into 2 leagues, we knew we would be up against it. It then turned out that Dolphins had Ken & Denise Scott, surely the Posh “n” Becks of local table tennis, plus the powerful figure of Alan Cowburn.

We had the slightly rusty Terry Wassall, Dennis McGuinness, slowly returning to his former skill level and your team sec, showing how expensive coaching can be easily wasted on the wrong material.

Alan kicked off against Terry. After the usual tentative start by both players, Alan imposed himself on the match. His top spin returns were effective and Terry over hit some shots and Alan won 11-3. G2 was much more balanced, with Terry executing some successful smashes to lead at one point, but Alan held it together to win 13-11. Alan played with control to ease ahead in G3, while Terry produced one or two wild shots. Alan won 11-6, to take the match.

Dennis then made his re-entry into competitive TT against the fearsome Ken, with his trademark looped topspin. Although Dennis was rapidly getting into gear, he was caught out of position a couple of times and Ken eased to an 11-4 win in G1. Dennis continued to have difficulty with Ken’s spin and G2 matched the G1 score. Ken just allowed Dennis to make mistakes in G3. Dennis rallied to 4-5, but Ken, in true Dolphin style, kept flipping it back and ran out 11-5.

Robin won the only game of the night for Popps against Denise, playing aggressively to win 12-10 with some effective smashes, but Denise held her game together to win the next 3, 11-8, 11-9 and 11-3 as Robin ran out of concentration.

Terry then worked hard in G1 against Ken to lose 11-8, but his energy fell away as Ken won the next two games 11-2 & 11-5.

Alan then took on Robin, who produced some spectacular shots which may have involved a degree of luck, plus a number of suicidal ones. Alan shares the Dolphin trademark top spin, honed to perfection at secret topspin training camps in the Yorkshire Dales, and it continued to work well. He won G1 11-8, but Robin’s effort dwindled as he won the next 11-2 and 11-5.

Dennis met Denise in the next match and it looked promising as Dennis moved to 6-5 with a good smash. But Denise turned it round by steady play to win 11-6. G2 was much more competitive with the two of them trading blows and staying level at 10-10. But Denise held her nerve and executed a well-timed smash to win 12-10. At this point, your correspondent’s handwriting start to confuse the 2 Dens, but Denise emerged to win 11-8. Robin’s match against Ken can be described briefly: 11-4, 11-5 & 11-6 to Ken who bamboozled him with a new side spin serve and his usual top spin.

This match was played on a very warm evening and whilst Denise kept her glowing fragrance, some of the men were starting to hum with heat. Terry may have been affected by heat and exhaustion as he slumped to 11-3 to Denise. He summoned unexpected reserves of energy to take G2 to 13-11, an encounter which could have gone either way, but faded a little in G3 to go down 11-9.

In the final match, Alan took on Dennis, who was rapidly returning to form after a gap of a few years but was not dealing with Alan’s spin service. He managed some longer rallies, but often lost the crucial point. Alan won 11-5 and raced away in G2 to win 11-2. Dennis played much better in G3 and was level at 7-7.  Alan managed to tempt Dennis out of position on a couple of occasions and moved him around, to win 11-8.

As expected, Dolphins were the dominant creatures in the pond with Popps being snapped up in their menacing jaws or being flipped off the table. Denise played steady intelligent TT, while Ken & Alan used their top spin to good effect. Dennis is on a rapid learning and fitness curve, Terry needs to rediscover the halcyon days of his bus depot feats and Robin should perhaps stick to the written word. The game was, as usual, played in a friendly and positive style, with Dolphins being generous with encouragement. However, it did not stop them eating us up and spitting out our bones while their flippers united in happy applause. They then swam off into the ocean, occasionally breaking the surface with spectacular jumps and leaps as they cruised into the sunset, leaving Popps floundering in their wake.

For POPPs B first match of the Summer League season they faced up to Spartans, a division 2 team in the normal season. Their full team did not turn up so Steve Hanson and Rod Veal were joined by Joe Broadbent from the Rams team. The POPPs B contingent was made up of two new members, Tom Sunderland and Alwyn Kershaw, and regular B team player Terry Wassall who acted as captain for the night.

As expected, it turned out to be a tough night for POPPs. Tom started proceedings by taking on Steve and lost in 3 games, 9 -11, 5-11, 3-11. Steve countered Tom’s  patient pushes by pushing back so some fairly long rallies ensued. Every now and then one or the other would sense an opportunity to attack and play a more aggressive shot, Steve getting a higher percentage on the table and generally looking more comfortable in attack than Tom. Alwyn then took on Joe and got off to a steady start by losing the first game 7-11. However, his accuracy and consistency improved in the second to take it 11-5 aided by a fair number of ambitious backhand smashes from Joe that rarely connected with the table. Joe steadied down in the 3rd game and played more conservatively but Alwyn’s game continued to improve taking the game to 10 all but unfortunately just couldn’t press home his advantage to win it, losing 10-12. Joe then won the 4th fairly easily 5-11 to take the set 3 games to 1. Terry then played Rod to complete the first 3 sets winning 3 games to nil, 11-1, 11-8 and 11-7. Terry was always fairly comfortable and was probably helped by the fact that Rod was playing with a new set of rubbers and was still getting used to them. Apparently he had to change them as the previous rubbers were declared illegal by having the wrong sorts of pimples. I’m amazed that the Pimple Police spotted this but no doubt some ultra-competitive barrack room lawyer spotted them, measured them with a micrometer and found them to be a nanothingy too long (or short, or wide or simply unseemly in some respect). 

This was to prove POPP’s only win of the evening. Alwyn lost to Steve in 3 straight games who was playing better as the night progressed. Tom lost to Rod in 3 games despite keeping in touch for the first 2 games and taking the 3rd game to 10 all. This turned out to be an excellent game with some remarkable rallies mixing attack with defense and the momentum swinging either way. Rod took the game 14-12 and the set 3 games to 1. Terry’s match against Joe was swiftly and efficiently lost 3 games to nil. The first 2 games looked as if he had a chance getting to 8 all and 9 all in each but this was thanks to some ambitious attacking shots that caught Joe by surprise on a number of occasions. However, Joe had the trickiest serve of the night and produced a bamboozeler whenever he was in a bit of a tight corner and went on to win both games without conceding another point. The third game was a formality as Terry became even more ambitious, flailing out in all directions. This tactic certainly produced the most spectacular winning shots of the evenings. However, after each spectacular winner, 2 or 3 further points had already been lost even before the applause had died. Joe took the game 11-5 and the set 3 games to nil.

The last 3 sets continued the pattern. Alwyn lost to Rod in 3 straight games despite leading in all three. On each occasion Rod dug in and just got everything back until Alwyn made a mistake. The last game went to 10 all with Rod running out the winner 14-12. Terry then took on Steve, again losing in 3 straight games. The second game was very competitive with neither player making a conclusive break. The game was level pegging all the way up to 15 all when Steve took the final points to win 17-15. Finally Tom played Joe who won in straight games.

In many ways this was a satisfactory evening. The match was played in good spirits and we had quite a few laughs. This is primarily what the Summer League is all about. We all acquitted ourselves reasonably well against better and more experienced opposition. Tom and Alwyn both improved aspects of their play throughout their games and with a little more experience and confidence will be converting more of their close games into wins rather than near misses. We all need to learn that patience and playing within our limits is probably the secret to success at our level. This is a lesson I have not learnt over 2 seasons so far and probably never will.

POPPS ‘B’ v Old Town Hares Handicap Doubles QF played at the HX Centre, Tuesday March 30 2010. Popps B lost by 26 points.

In the first round, POPPS ‘B’ defeated Div 1 Batts, courtesy of probably a fairly generous handicap. In round 2, they met a side lower than themselves in the league, Sowerby 3 and had to win whilst conceding a reasonably generous handicap to them. Our quarter final opponents, Old Town Hares, are riding high in Division 3 and will need to give us a start. But we have the consistent (and persistent) Terry Allington on board to help us keep a steady ship. The other crew mates are a more volatile group, the occasionally suicidal attacker, Terry W, and your team secretary, known to lose his composure for any excuse, like losing a point. However, in doubles a group mentality emerges and as in English public school novels, one hates to let the side down. So we shall see how things worked out.

Popps would have to achieve an average of 25 points per game to be in with a chance and it was clear from G1 between our 2 Terries and Hares team: Simon Rothwell & Cliff Eden, that such a target would be difficult. They moved to a swift lead and people found Cliff’s fiendish serve hard to read. There were some good rallies. Terry W won some effective smashes, but missed others and Terry A’s legendary steadiness could not prevail. Hares won 42-18.

Simon appeared to be sponsored by Carlsberg, but the 15 pints of Special Brew consumed before the match did not appear to affect his game. The letters RBK on his shirt suggested a love affair with Robbie Keane, a player who completely failed at Liverpool. Simon appeared to be wearing Robbie Keane football boots, and for all I know, a Robbie Keane autograph jock strap.

Terry A & Robin Thomas came together for G2 V Simon & Phil Ward, who cruised to a 42-22 win.Terry’s job was to protect himself from the inevitable smash given to Robin’s shots and we did well to achieve 22. G3 saw Terry W and Robin V Cliff/Phil. Robin managed to vary his serve to occasional good effect and Terry executed some smart returns under pressure, but we still went down 42-17.

At first sight, Cliff appeared as a sort of TT Peter Crouch, towering above the other Hares and over his opponents. Close inspection of his muscular frame and powerful head, fashionably clipped, saw a closer resemblance to Lawrence Dallaglio, the World Cup Rugby legend. Either way, he brought an intimidating presence to his game.

G4 saw the Terries V Simon & Phil. Popps started well, but Hares caught up at 7-7. Phil howled like a banshee at one point and Popps levelled at 15. Would a win be possible? They were being caught out of position, a sort of John Terry syndrome and Hares moved ahead with some effective forehand smashes from Phil. A shambolic serve from Terry W led to a defeat 42-36, a much more creditable performance.

Terry A & Robin were even closer in G6, losing 42-40 to Simon & Cliff. Robin produced some useful back hand flicks and Terry remained steady, while the concentration of Hares seemed to dip.

During G7, it was noticeable that Hares were adopting a new receiving stance, with one player standing immediately behind the receiver, like an evil shadow so that it wasn’t always clear who you were supposed to be serving to. The 2 Terries tried to keep in touch with Cliff & Phil, but Cliff’s varied serves won them many points. They changed ends at 20, a bit like taking part in a sex marathon, but it didn’t change the outcome, with Hares progressing to 42-18. Phil was dressed like an ageing hippie, with an old pair of jeans, some vintage trainers and a faded pink shirt from, it said, the Battle State 62 (Toxteth, Brixton, Beirut ? we’ll never know)

In contrast, the prize for best dressed player, not just for this match, but possibly for the whole of the HX league or indeed the UK league, went to Cliff, with neatly pressed matching, colour coordinated black top and shorts, with a natty white stripe and the logo ‘Donic’, plus expensive monogrammed trainers. In his bag he has 15 top grade bats an inexhaustible supply of rubbers. Well you know what TT players get up to these days.

The match rumbled to its inevitable end with Terry A & Robin going down 42-17 to Cliff & Phil, while in the final game Terry W & Robin finally ran out of steam to slump 42-13 in what turned out to be a procession.

This led to an early finish, a relief to our visitors who needed to swiftly get back to the wild hills of Old Town before the village sinks into late evening chaos, with manic wild animals on the road and wild women being thrown out of the pubs. At this time of night, wolves howl at the moon, cattle moan restlessly and sheep run maniacally along the hills. Woe betide a fit young table tennis player (like Phil ??) alone in the village at throwing out time where he could be set upon by hordes of buxom young milk maids and shepherdesses, clad in mud-stained dresses from a bygone age, with laddered stockings, acne and ex-army suspender belts singing, vomiting and checking their emails on their blackberries.

As usual, the game was played with good humour and Hares now go onto greater things in the s semi-finals.

In our last encounter, up in the wilds of Old Town, we scored an easy victory with only 2 players, but would it be the same team? Could they have improved? We were about to find out.

Match 1 saw Robin defeated by Jo Sweeny, whom he had previously defeated. But this time she was a different player, with the benefits of coaching and additional league experience. She has developed a very useful forehand which was fed to on many occasions. She won G1 11-7, but Robin fought back to win the 2nd 12-10. Things went haywire in the remaining games, which she won 11-1 & 11-8, thus setting a pattern for your team sec’s indolence for the remainder of the match.

John Mitchell then took on Phil Dean, moving swiftly to 11-4 in G1. Phil’s smash started to work in G2 and they stayed level for most of the time. John told himself to: “Get over it, you bugger!” which seemed to help as he moved ahead to win 11-8. Phil had a good start in G3, leading 6-2 at one point. John had to struggle to get level and eventually won 12-10, to take the set 3-0.

Derek then played Colin Anker, probably the oldest player there, but deceptively resilient. Derek took time to settle as Colin moved to 7-3, but as he established his length, Derek’s smash started to work and he fought back to win 11-9. Derek removed his track suit bottoms in G2 to show he meant business and the room gasped at this vast expanse of white flesh. He won this game 11-5. A fluke serve helped ‘Legs’ Degs in G3, plus his well-aimed forehand serves going beyond Colin’s reach and Derek comfortably won 11-5 to take the set 3-0.

John Mitchell then had to concentrate on playing Jo, a vision in a designer monochromic blouse, and her improved forehand bamboozled John to win G1 12-10. Your correspondent then had a chance to closely observe Jo’s serve and I think there are grounds for taking this serve to the World TT Court in The Hague, as it appears from a closed hand somewhere below the level of the table. John then told himself to: “Hit it, John”, which is always a good idea in this game. John has a pleasing habit of saying: “ Were you ready?” when he executes a failed serve. However, his game and consistent returns took him to 11-5. Jo seemed to lose concentration in G3 and she went down 11-2. Jo executed some of her trademark forehand smashes in G3, but John was playing with steely concentration and won 11-6, taking the set at 3-2.

Robin managed to win one game against Colin, and placed some effective back hand smashes, but Colin’s consistent, safe play was too strong and he won the set 3-1. Derek started well against Phil, but Phil caught up in the middle, only for Derek to steam ahead to 11-5. I noticed that Derek’s T shirt was dated 1994. However, he assures me that it has been washed since then. Phil smashed well to compete strongly in G2 to win 11-9. In G3, Phil consistently smashed the ball out of Derek’s reach which seemed to dent his concentration. Phil won this game 12-10. Was Derek out of it? We found out quickly as he regained his composure to smash his way to 11-4. This left G5 as the decider. It was level pegging for most of the way, but Phil missed a crucial smash as Derek forged ahead to win 11-7 and the set 3-2.

Before the next match against Colin, John disappeared for a while and we wondered whether he had gone to shot a line of Methedrone. However, he had gone over to talk to an old friend and soon returned to win G1 .Colin demonstrated a safe defensive game, but was not able to defend John’s frequent attacks. Colin defended hard in G2, but John prevailed at 12-10. But Colin was not going to roll over and in G3, produced some good smashes. John appeared to be running out of steam and Colin won 11-5. He won the next game 11-9 to set up an exciting climax. (We all need those from time to time). John told himself:

“Oh, come on, hit the ball”, again sensible advice and the match remained close up to 7-7. Then John put together a useful attack to win the game 11-7 and the set 3-2.

Derek then took on Jo, hoping that his muscular, thrusting thighs would faze her. He produced some good smashes, but so did Jo. He suffered minor loss of concentration, but regained it to win 12-10. Derek pulled himself together in G2 with a useful final smash to take him to 11-4. Both executed a throw away serve in G3, but Derek’s experience and greater consistency, plus a useful final smash, took him to 11-6,to win the set 3-0.

The final set, between Robin and Phil did not last long and if you had blinked you could have missed it as Robin gradually lost the will to compete. With a weak defence he had to use his weak attack and hit many balls into the ceiling, the crowd, the café, any where but on the table as Phil cruised to 11-3, 11-3 and 11-5.

Overall, Popps won the match 6-3 and as usual it was played with good humour and sportsmanship. Old Town Robins had improved on their previous performance and would feel satisfied as they motored back to the purple moors and winding country roads of Old Town, the peace of the night only being broken by the distant cries of a newly born lamb and the sound of swarthy drunken Yorkshiremen being thrown out of the Hare & Hounds, whilst singing a song about Ilkley Moor.

Lions 5 Popps A 4

Terry Allington continued with his amazing form winning all 3 sets in 3.
His defensive strategy and cunning block shots were unbeatable. It was as if he had got the rabbit hypnotized in his headlights !
On the other side of the spectrum Peter Mc was lack-lustre and turned victory into defeat several times loosing all 3.
Meanwhile John Taylor did his best and won 1 of his in 3 straight .
Credit to Lions who are a great set of youngsters who do great credit to themselves with their responses as well as their games. (Nash, nash !!)