Popps hit by Northowam Blizzard: Northowram 9, Popps Nil

Continuing in the grip of the wintry weather which afflicted the whole of the UK, the ‘B’ team made the trip to the friendly outpost of Northowram, where a bunch of helpful people were erecting the tables for the fixture, as the room is used during the day by a motley collection of homeless children, remand prisoners and abandoned dogs. Our team was weakened by the late withdrawal of Terry Wassall caused by weather and work issues, and your correspondent was roped in, having planned to go to a poetry event. The Popps Team was Tom Sunderland, Joan Bottomley & Robin Thomas, who played his matches early in order to get away and as a result, kept no notes of the encounter. This report is therefore, mercifully brief. The Northowram Team consisted of Jim Drawber, Robert Gee, and a mysterious individual whose name was not recorded on our notes. We will call this person ‘C’ and if he knows who he is, please post a correction on this website.

Robin met Jim in Set 1, and Jim roared away with his steady back spin chop to win 11-1, 11-2, and amazingly 12-10, when Robin started, but too late, to deal with Jim’s defensive game. Robert then played Joan and was too strong, winning 11-7, 11-4 and 11-6. Tom enjoyed a 5 game set against ‘C’, winning the first 2 to 7 & 4, but the effort could not be sustained and ‘C’ won the next 3 games to 8, 5 & 9.

Robin then met Robert, part of the massive Gee family. Almost everyone in this isolated community is called Gee; you meet them everywhere, in Tesco, in the Doctor’s Surgery and propping up the bars in most pubs. So they have plenty of players to call upon. Robert’s patient, steady game took him to a clear 11-8, 11-9 & 11-4 victory, as Robin tried a range of unsuccessful strategies to make any impact.

Tom couldn’t make much of an impression on Jim, and was beaten 11-7, 11-6 and 11-9.

‘C’ continued the whitewash process by defeating Joan 11-2, 11-4 and 11-5, and Robert continued the trend by beating Tom 11-6, 11-9, and 11-7. Robin provided some brief resistance by having 5 games against ‘C’. Result 3-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6 and 11-3, the wide range of scores demonstrating possible problems of concentration in what could have been a winnable set. In the final set, Jim beat Tom 11-3, 11-2 and 11-6 and Northowram G came away with a 9-0 victory.

Joan continues to improve, but could not find a way through and Tom had some good rallies and winners, but perhaps suffered from stamina limitations, while your correspondent perhaps needs to start all over again.

We thanked Northowram for their hospitality and battled our way home through the bitter night, avoiding skidding off the road, knowing that we had to improve to make any impression on opponents of this calibre.

Robin Thomas

Terry Allington and  Chie won all three of their sets and Peter won two. A convincing win for the A team

Tradesmen 2 –  A: Matthew Knapton B: Sam Drake C: Kristian Fearnley
POPPs A – X: Terry Allington  Y: Chie Hick  Z: Peter McMullen

After an exciting season of daring do & a welcome absence of daring don’t, Popps ‘A’ have moved inexorably onwards throughout the season, shadowed threateningly by the eager power & enthusiasm of Tradesmen 2. This match, long awaited & eagerly anticipated by our hand-picked team, presented both teams, one point apart at the top of the league, with the opportunity to stride for instant glory & a sound foundation for the rest of the season. In the event, on an icy & inhospitable night, the arena for this gladiatorial contest was eerily silent & empty, with not a sound other than the wheezing of an asthmatic heating system. Our team, arriving early, not afeared by the battle ahead, awaited the arrival of their young opponents. With a junior chatter & a surprisingly cool & laid back approach from the youngsters, the match got under way.

1: A v X – Matthew v Terry: 5-11/2-11/6-11: AWAY WIN 0-1. Cruise control for Terry, chopping his way through the forest of Matthew’s not inconsiderable armoury. Ultimately, Terry slipped his way through Matthew’s myriad thrusting attacks, leaving him frustrated & wounded in what had immediately become a lions’ den.

2: B v Y – Sam v Chie: 7-11/10-12/11-6/9-11: AWAY WIN 0-2. Steady, imposing 1st game for Chie, penetrating Sam’s defences & enjoying some good forehand smashes. In the 2nd game, Sam began to assert his glorious smashes, punched from his low centre of gravity, losing a close game before upping his game again in the 3rd to power past Chie to a good win. The 4th game proved easier for Chie as Sam had a surprising intrusion of inconsistency with mild accompanying annoyance & banging of bat.

3: C v Z – Kristian v Peter: 11-3/8-11/4-11/12-10/10-12: AWAY WIN 0-3. Easy start for Kristian with Peter struggling for accuracy. In the 2nd game, Peter achieved better focus & good success with his swerving serve, following with a forceful 3rd with little interruption from Kristian. A tight 4th game with Kristian re-stating his good start took the set to a challenging 5th game with Peter just edging it on the last point.

4: B v X – Sam v Terry: 7-11/9-11/11-7/6-11: AWAY WIN 0-4.Two steady games for Terry, containing the frustrated thumping of table & anything else to hand by Sam. The 3rd game saw a remarkable resurgence by Sam, literally rising in stature to out-fox the Wibsey Wizard. After an even start in the 4th, Sam peeled away in frustration at Terry’s predictable tactics, allowing Terry a smooth drive to the flag.

5: A v Z – Matthew v Peter: 11-7/11-8/3-11/5-11/11-9: HOME WIN 1-4. Steady start for both with 1st & 2nd games going marginally to Matthew. Peter rallied strongly in the 3rd& 4th, playing with flair & confidence only to hiccup into an unexpected decline in the 5th, with Matthew sensing his deserved moment of glory.

6: C v Y – Kristian v Chie: 11-8/13-15/9-11/9-11: AWAY WIN 1-5. Sound start from Kristian, floating balls confidently to the edges, but in the 2nd, Chie pushed earlier & harder forcing a tight result. 3rd & 4th games were very even to the last points, with Chie, finally, just shading it with a greater will to reach home.

7: B v Z – Sam v Peter: 2-11/5-11/11-9/5-11: AWAY WIN 1-6. Two easy, confident games for Peter, with Sam looking tired from his exertions. But in the 3rd game, Sam again roused his gladiatorial instinct, feasting hungrily as Peter inadvertently fed him slower bounces. Sensing danger, Peter regained his sharpness & composure & pushed to the line.

8: C v X – Kristian v Terry: 8-11/7-11/1-11: AWAY WIN 1-7. Steady stalking start, as usual, by Terry but in the 2nd & 3rd games, Kristian, sadly, refused to give up the pointless challenge of trying to beat Terry at his own game & comprehensively slid quietly into the black hole filled with Terry’s previous exhausted victims.

9: A v Y – Matthew v Chie: 11-9/8-11/12-10/3-11/9-11: AWAY WIN 1-8. Good solid 1st game from Matthew with Chie chasing shadows. The 2nd game went in the opposite direction with Chie achieving good focus but then just slipping out of the 4th on the last point against Matthew’s foot-stamping determination, pushing the set into a decisive 5th game, with Chie almost letting go too early but dragging herself across the line with some relief.

What a victory for Popps in this huge & gladiatorial contest, staged in an almost silent arena, a match made in heaven between the junior champions of the next decade, with their instinctive appetite for power, speed & frustrated histrionics against the apparent wisdom of the silver surfers & their feisty oriental ace in the hole. The subtle understatement of the Table Tennis Centre Arena seemed at odds with the final glory awaiting the champion of this massive match, played against a background of the excitable chatter of young & confident talent & the subdued restraint of focused & reflective maturity. At the end, it was akin to a band of weary hunter-gatherers, harnessing a need to win through by feeding the spirit & hoping the body will not reject the main course.

Well done, Chie, Terry & Peter, our greatest victory so far this season.

Popps A 7,  Northowram Juniors 2

In the opening set Peter Mcmullen found Ross Barnes attack just too strong for him, and went down in straight games.Peter then showed his fighting spirit against Barbara Gee, using a mixture of deep chop and an excellent back hand flick, to win a five game thriller.

Chie Hick uses her unorthodox style and bat twiddleing to confuse her opponents. she had a good win over Barbara Gee, but fell away to a confident Ross Barnes.

After a comfortable set against a Josh Gee, Terry Allington was made to fight hard, using his speed arround the table to claim all three sets.

This was another fine team effort.

POPPS ‘B’ WIN CLOSE ENCOUNTER

Readers of this column, all 3 of them, will have noticed that the genre has evolved from basic factual accounts in the early days, through sociological analysis, via sheer fabrication of facts to avant garde portrayal and surreal representation of a mundane event, a table tennis match. A recent posting by DG has raised the bar of creativity to a level which will be hard to match, so one must try harder.

After 2 visits to the isolated republic of Old Town, the ‘B’ team was at home to the Robins. We expected to see Jo Sweeny who has been recently released from house arrest by the military junta which rules Old Town. How will she respond to her new found freedom? Will she act as a focal point for rebellion? Will she be re-arrested? We can also see the Robins team as a kind of coalition of different views which has come together for the sake of the collective good. Will they break ranks under the pressure of competition? If they become rebellious, will we need to hide the fire extinguisher? Is there a danger of any of the Popps team being kidnapped and being taken back to Old Town? Would anyone be prepared to pay a huge ransom? Probably not.

In reality, none of these things happened and Terry Wassall returned to the Popps team from his fever-ridden bed, to join rising star Joan and fading icon Robin.

Old Town Robins fielded: Jo Sweeney, Colin Anker & new boy, Paul Penny.

Set 1 saw Terry making a triumphant return from his sick bed, despite an occasional cough, against Colin. Colin tried to play safe and steady while Terry had not lost his native flamboyance. It was fairly even at first, but Terry was beginning to catch Colin out with his forehand smash, and despite a mini-catch up, Terry won G2 11-8. At this point Colin removed his sweater to reveal a bright red shirt, but it didn’t frighten Terry, although he did send a smash into the nearby industrial estate. At one point Terry tried to tempt Colin by tossing the ball up and Colin fell for it a couple of times by smashing into the far distance. 11-5 to Terry. Terry got carried away a little in G3 & missed some attacks. Both missed the table, but Terry finished off with a fluke and smash. 11-9 to Terry and first blood to Popps.

Joan came up against Jo in Set 2. Neither serve would have pleased the TT police, so we can let them pass and Jo’s overall game, especially her improved forehand smash proved too much for Joan. First game went 11-7 to Jo. Joan tried to find a strategy to deal with Jo’s game and at 7-7 she was clearly still in the game. But Jo delivered a couple of useful forehand smashes to win 11-8. Joan was participating in some good rallies with her stylish forehand working well, but Jo’s was working even better and she sailed to 11-4 to win the set.

Robin then met Paul, who, like a number of older players, is returning to the game after a long gap. He is still not quite there and allowed your correspondent to register a rare win, 11-7, 11-8 and 11-4. Paul’s softish returns were quite hard to attack and Robin had to break the habits of a lifetime by patiently returning the ball and waiting for Paul to make mistakes or to fluff Robin’s occasionally tricky spin serve.

Joan then promised a degree of glory against Colin and her forehand worked well in G1. It was level all the way until 9-9 and Joan delivered 2 smashes on time to take her to 11-9. But she started badly in G2, missing the end of the table to allow Colin to leap to 4-0. She fought back to 4-4 and it moved to 8-8. But Colin kept it steady while Joan’s forehand went off the boil as he went to 11-8. Colin’s forehand started to work in G3 and he moved steadily ahead to win 11-5. This affected Joan’s confidence a little and Colin was able to wrap up the set at 11-4 with some useful returns.

Paul started off against Terry in Set 5 with a couple of disastrous serves, but his soft returns slightly inhibited Terry’s trademark smash. But he held it together, got his smash working and teased Paul with a couple of short services. 11-5 to Terry. He rushed into an early lead in G2 and he seemed to have thrown off he worst of his virus, although playing table tennis with a drip attached would slow down most people. We also had an attractive blonde BUPA nurse ready to sooth his fevered brow at climatic moments, which you wouldn’t get on the NHS. Paul tried to get back on terms, but a mad smash, possibly in frustration, did not help. Terry cruised to 11-5 and scooted ahead to 5-0 in G3. Paul fought back well and both made mistakes, Terry over-hit and Paul executed a bizarre serve, but Terry was able to smash his way to an 11-5 win and the set.

Robin then lost a 5 setter against Jo which he should have won. She won G1 12-10 after Robin missed a serve. Robin recovered to win G2 11-8 after a gritty last point. He excelled in G3 and won 11-2, when everything worked well, but he was not able to clinch in G4, allowing Jo to win 12-10 after a closely fought game. With everything still to play for, the last game was always close, but Robin allowed Jo to come back after a deficit at 10-8, to win 12-10. Jo’s forehand has become a useful weapon, even executed from a back hand position and that was crucial in the end. At this point the overall score as 3-3 for the match, so everything still to play for.

In set 7, Joan knew she had a chance against the improving Paul, who won a fluke to take the lead in G1. Joan fought back to 6-6, won a couple of forehands and sent one off the table, but after a long rally, clinched the game at 12-10. Colin managed an outrageous fluke in G2, but Joan was playing with more flair to build up a good lead, finishing off with more forehands, to win 11-6. Paul was ahead at 6-4 in G3, threatening to spoil Joan’s victory party. He played well to stay in the lead and won 11-4. Both made mistakes in G4, but Joan was moving ahead. She won after a long rally at 7-4 and stayed ahead at 11-4 to win the set. A good win for Joan. She is known to be a competent tennis player and although the games are different, she is showing the sense of tactics which her tennis experience will have given her. As a younger player, she is rumoured to have been out on dates with Borg, McEnroe, John Lloyd and Buster Mottram (Fred Perry?) but this cannot be confirmed.

Robin then met Colin, knowing that a win would clinch the match. Robin played a steady game with a wobble in G3. The overall score was 11-9, 13-11 (10-12) and 11-9. His back hand smash worked well in dealing with Colin’s serve. Colin’s smash worked well, but overall, Robin managed to hold his concentration well after his early lapse against Jo.

The match was won by the time Terry met Jo, but honour was at stake. Initially, Terry was not prepared for Jo’s effective forehand and fed her a few tit-bits for her to deal with, but he was also able to smash a few. He also tried the little grubby service to good effect and Jo gave him a point via a cocked up serve. 11-5 to Terry. G2 was much more competitive, both using their forehands effectively. Terry tried the short serve and at 9-9 it was capable of going either way. Terry missed what looked like a googly serve from Jo, but prevailed at 12-10. In G3 Terry displayed a mix of good attacks and over-ambitious flashes of the bat but was moving ahead with a useful percentage of forehands, to win 11-8.

So Popps won the fixture 6-3 in the end, but it could have gone either way and as usual, the match was played in a good spirit. In the past, this column has made cheap jibes about the Old Town teams as if they lived in a magical kingdom of elves and dragons high on the wild hills above Hebden Bridge. I have to say this is completely untrue. The Old Town team were escorted to the door and were then seen to enter a pumpkin coach pulled by 6 mice which roared into the sky above Club Lane amidst a shower of meteorites. So there you are. Just normal table tennis players going home after a match. Not much more to report really, no major weddings planned for the Table Tennis community, but it is rumoured that Terry is lending the Irish government a few bob to bail them out of their current difficulties. Finally, we have no engagements to announce, although we understand that Terry Allington is available if anyone is interested. In this event, Popps Table Tennis team will not be producing any celebration mugs.

Popps Battered by Rampant Senior Cits, 9-0

This was a home match for SC. They normally play at home on a Tuesday, but had asked us to move it to the Monday. The situation is that the Senior Citizens have been invited to a rave on Tuesday and did not want to miss out on an opportunity for free booze, loose women and heavy metal music. Having made that rude jibe, it is worth remembering that SC finished many points above us last year and that they are an experienced and wily side, quite mobile and street-wise. Popps team was Tom Sunderland, Joan Bottomley and Robin Thomas, and missing the mercurial Terry Wassall still struggling to throw off dengue fever or something like that. Senior Citizens had Alwyn Kershaw (not the Popps Summer league Alwyn Kershaw), Harry Witherspoon (not the blues singer-pub owner) & Roy Oldroyd. They first half hour before the game started rubbing their limbs down with various odious smelling liniments and strapping on a range of bandages, supports and breathing apparatus. They then proceeded to hammer us.

The match unfolded something like this.

Set 1 with Tom V Alwyn. Tom achieved some useful forehands, but Alwyn was more consistent, creeping ahead by solidly getting it back, to win 11-5. In G2, Tom won a couple of flukes and a couple of smashes, but the same pattern emerged. He had one of his specs saver moments and missed the ball completely to go down 11-6. Tom started well in G3 and went to 5-1 after Alwyn messed up a serve, but then Tom missed 2 smashes, Alwyn got level and eased ahead again to win 11-7.

In Set 2, Joan met Harry, as we all sang the famous Catherine Howe number ‘Harry’. Not a lot of people know this, but Catherine Howe was born in Halifax and was a neighbour of Joan’s. Harry was sporting a strange support effort on his dodgy ankle, but it didn’t seem to slow him down. Joan shows improvement every week with a stylish forehand and improving accuracy. They were level at 6-6, but Harry’s consistency took him ahead to 11-6, finishing off with a speedy backhand flick. Similar pattern in G2, level at 6-6 but this time Joan moved ahead with a good forehand which continued to work to take her to a win at 11-8. She took this confidence into G3, starting well, but Harry fought back. Joan was missing as many smashes as she achieved, but even a fluke couldn’t stop Harry reaching 11-8, admonishing himself ‘Bloody Hell!’ as he missed a shot. In G3, Harry introduced a spin serve to good effect, and even though Joan’s improving forehand continued to shine, Harry edged ahead to win 11-6 and the set.

Set 3 saw Robin against Roy. Robin actually won the second game 11-8 with a mixture of attack and attack, but Roy remained steady to win the other games 11-7, 11-6 and 11-5.

Set 4 produced one of 2 the contests of the night as Tom & Harry had a 5 setter. Harry’s backhand worked well in G1 as he cruised to 11-3 with Tom missing a back hand smash and netting a return. Tom started better in G2, played some good rallies, won the odd fluke and smashed the final point to win 11-7. Harry started to shout at himself in G3 ‘What on earth are you doing?’ and continued to mutter as Tom beat him 11-6. The crowd were getting excited now. Was this a change in our fortunes? Well, no because Harry proceeded to shoot ahead in G4 with a fluke serve and helped by some misses from Tom, Harry won 11-3. In the final game, with both players obviously capable of winning, it was Harry who kept things together. There were some exciting rallies but Harry was winning them with Tom losing the odd ball it what seems to be a blind spot or he could be taking his eye of the ball at crucial moments. Harry went clear early on in the game and wrapped it up at 11-78.

In Set 5, Alwyn stepped up to meet Robin with a predictable result: 11-8, 13-11 and 11-9. Robin attempted a number of trademark wild smashes and some worked, but Alwyn was steady and reliable, using a spin serve to good effect.

Set 6 saw Joan on the table with Roy well, perhaps I should re-phrase that. She led at first at 6-4; Roy recovered to lead 8-6, achieved some good hits and moved to 11-8. At this point your correspondent was temporarily distracted by a game on the adjoining table, clearly from not only a different league, but probably another planet. A young boy who didn’t look more than about 12 was knocking 12 bells of hell out of a man about 4 times his age and size. What chance have we got? But I digress. Joan stayed in this game till near the end with some good flicks and a fluke, but Roy won at 11-8. In G3, Joan continued to produce some attractive forehands with good follow-through. If she continues on this path, she may attract some kit sponsorship. Nike? Ann Summers? Oxfam? Who knows? However, Roy was raising his game with some spin returns and despite a couple of good forehands from Joan, Roy tidied up the set at 11-9.

In Set 7, Robin won one game against Harry when some of his wild hits stayed on the table, but it did not stop Harry cruising ahead to win the other 3 games 11-7, 11-4 and 11-5.

Tom had another 5 setter against Roy in Set 8. Roy won the first 2, 11-4 and 11-7 when Tom seemed tired, but he recovered in G3 to win 11-4 with some useful returns. This time Roy seemed to be losing a bit of concentration and Tom won G4 11-7 despite an outrageous fluke by Roy which saw the ball shaving the edge of the table. Both were tense in G5 and both made mistakes. Tom netted a return, had a good smash, and then Roy missed one. It reached 10-10 as all the eyes of the crowd were on these crucial points. A silence fell on the hall as the onlookers waited with hushed expectancy. Then Roy took the last 2 points to win the game at 12-10, and the set.

Finally in Set 9, Joan met Alwyn. He built up a safe lead at 9-3, Joan missed a couple of forehand smashes to allow Alwyn to win 11-4. Joan won a couple of flukes in G2, but Alwyn was Mr Consistency and won at 11-6. A similar pattern emerged in G3, with Joan winning some excellent points, but losing others. Alwyn kept it steady to win 11-4.

The match was, as usual, played with civilised good humour and old fashioned courtesy. We didn’t mind receiving a lesson in table tennis, and they didn’t mind dishing it out.

The Popps A team had their hardest game so far, in the league. Peter Mcmullen continues to impress, despite only just recovering from a serious leg injury. He  had fine wins over Martyn Holiday and John Wisilewsky, but fell away to the experienced Barbara Gee.  John Taylor struggled on the night, but played well against Martyn Holiday, only loosing in five games   Terry Allington saved his best form for the final set against Barbara Gee. After a titanic struggle he triumphed by 3 gamed to 1.

Result Popps A 5 Northowram.MGM. 4.  This was a great team effort and hopefully we can keep are unbeaten run going.

Popps B brought in Terry Allington as replacement for Terry Wassall, who was still feeling unwell.

Tom Sunderland played the opening set against Martyn Holiday and produced some good shots, but still lacks the consistency needed to trouble a strong M.J.M team. I am sure he will do much better as he gains more experience.

Joan Bottomley has improved greatly in the short time she has played the game. She has a good temperament and tries really hard. M.J.M cruised to a easy win, but there were still plenty of positives for the Popps team to work on.

A: Colin A.                   X: Peter McMullen
B: Phil B:                        Y: John  Taylor
C: Jo Sweeney            Z: Derek Greenwood

Climbing to the geographical pinnacle of Calderdale League 3 small-ball activity, an edifice with evidence of faith & thinness of oxygen, high on commitment with three teams ranged against the collective might of teenage tantrums, mid-life indecisiveness & zimmered frailty. What an adventure, high on the Old Town sierra! Harnessing our horses (or horsepower), we arrived in our small ’compact’, as opposed to our over–finned Caddi. Ignoring the expected chained gate, we bestrode the boundary wall, tunnelling our way into an enclave, where small white balls were already being lashed from wall to wall. An ice-cold atmosphere scorched our skin, more to do with a slow & gasping heating system than with any hostile intent from Old Town Robins. Twittering among themselves they looked the part in many layers of fleece & quilting as well as balooning them to twice their normal size! If they thought for a moment that this knit one, pearl one approach to armoury would do the trick, they were in for scything & debilitating surprise! Let battle commence!

Game 1:A v X-Colin v Peter [3-11/9-11/7-11]. Easy, cool, in his razor sharp shorts, Peter attacked, engaging his opponent in an urgently aggressive dialogue, direct & quietly sensational, from a bygone, half-remembered era, pushing Colin to nudge his chops into the obliging abyss of the net. Despite some rallies, Peter remained relaxed & steady throughout & was good value for his win.

Game 2:B v Y-Phil v John [5-11/8-11/11-9/11-6/9-11]. A titanic struggle between Phil & John, with elaborate over-hitting from both. After two solid games from John, he began to tire and Phil grabbed the opportunity to build a case. Ultimately, John’s finger nails held on for a narrow victory in the fifth.

Game 3:C v Z-Jo v Derek [11-7/4-11/9-11/11-8/12-10]. Derek took the first game confidently before folding as usual in the 2^nd & 3^rd as fatigue set in. Spending too much time watching Jo’s shots instead of his own, although waking up moderately in the 4^th, Derek let the match finally slip from his grasp in the 5^th. After yet another poor performance, perhaps as well he has only two matches remaining between now and the Christmas break – sorry team!

Game 4:B v X-Phil v Peter [9-11/7-11/4-11]. Remarkably smooth & urgent passage for Peter with Phil unable to hold shots or games together with too little consistency; shame as he is a good shot-maker.

Game 5:A v Z-Colin v Derek [4-11/5-11/ 12-14]. Two comfy games for Derek, successfully out-playing Colin in most departments, although tiredness again in the 3^rd demanded a ‘rescue’ at the end!

Game 6:C v Y-Jo v John [2-11/4-11/2-11]. Jo unable to master John’s wickedly twisting serve, succumbed briskly but with a rueful ‘what might have been’ spreading across her face!

Game 7:B v Z-Phil v Derek [1-11/11-4/11-6/7-11/9-11]. Easy start for Derek, followed by a spectacular collapse, playing his ‘get out of jail’ card in the 4^th & a scrabbling for the line in the fifth. This has got to STOP!  

Game 8: C v X – Jo v Peter [7-11/5-11/11-9/4-11]. Comfortable enough win for Peter in four sets, Jo deservedly winning the 3^rd. Her game is still too inconsistent but has boundless potential given the opportunity.

Game 9: A v Y – Colin v John [8-11/10-12/ 8-11] John struggling with tiredness, slowly but surely overcame Colin in what was an amazingly error-strewn game.

As usual at Old Town, refreshments were served, sadly without Jo’s double-strength fruit cake this time. No chilli dogs in evidence except for the odd chilly pooch spotted on the way. In a ‘dragnet free’ world (sorry Terry W.!), in fairness another planet, no harshly lewd & inappropriate sounds pricked our ears, save for the whistling ghosts of trick and treat and the draughty threat of altitude sickness. No razor-edged suits, sharp enough to draw blood from an encroaching hand, (more likely fleece, quilting & wool next to the skin), promoting an impenetrable facade of masculine dumbness laid on with the subtlety of a sharp-cornered brick. This was no world where women are perceived as lifestyle accessories & men have become life’s unreliable & unnecessary gadgets, oozing scum & other hideous fluids. No, this was West Yorkshire’s amalgam of 70’s Emmerdale & ancient Waltons, trapped in a gentle habit of cottage hospitality & windswept balm.

A goodly, friendly and relaxing workout, the evening assisted in preparing Popps ‘A’ for tougher battles, on less friendly soil, to come!

POPPS:  A Peter McMullen B: Derek Greenwood C: Chie Hick Z:
Old Town Hoods:  X: Paul Penny Y: Dave Warburton (Terry Wassall substitute for absent OTH player)

1/ A v X – Peter v Paul: 11-2/11-2/11-9  HOME In this instance, it was Paul who was robbed, mugged & generally reduced to penury! Peter looked like he’d been polishing his ‘equipment’ all week!

2/ B v Y Derek v Dave: 11-9/11-7/11-7  HOME Dave found his range early, but Derek excelled with his accurate ‘putting’, that is ‘putting’ the ball out of reach. Solid play from Dave but experience, or lack of it, his main enemy.

3/ C v Z – Chie v Terry W.: 11-3/11-5/11-7  HOME Terry, backed into defending his honour against his ‘A’ team mates, having already completed three games against ‘B’ team opponents, played with the occasional brilliance on back & fore hands that he’s capable of. Ultimately, the threat & execution of her rapier-like thrusts took Chie comfortably through.

4/ B v X – Derek v Paul: 11-6/11-5/11-9 HOME Derek’s often volatile & fatigue induced game was kept at bay in this stroll in the park, with Paul finding it tough to read Derek’s game.

5/ A v Z – Peter v Terry W.: 10-12/11-9/11-4/11-5 HOME Eager & aggressive start from Terry W. left Peter having to re-group, but from the 2nd game onwards, he confidently slipped into ‘silver surfer’ mode.

6/ C v Y – Chie v Dave: 11-3/11-8/11-8 HOME Chie, overcoming a now tentative & reticent Dave, playing with a style which needs further coaching & more games. Another a saunter from Chie!

7/B v Z – Derek v Terry W.: 8-11/5-11/11-9/11-8/12-10 HOME Strange game with Terry leaping out of the blocks like it was the 110 metres hurdles, overcoming barriers like a raging bull with more than an eye for the attractive heifer in the next field. Having slipped to 0-2 in games & 2-5 in game three, someone woke Derek up & this bleary-eyed geriatric zimmered his way to 10-10 in the 5th game, at which point Terry suddenly lost the will to live & capitulated to 10-12!

8/C v X – Chie v Paul: 7-11/5-11/11-9/9-11 AWAY Chie suddenly found herself holding the wrong ’pen’, losing her grip as she gave in to a pencil-case winning four sets from a surprised but thrilled Paul.

9/ Peter v Dave: 11-3/11-2/11-1 HOME Peter leapt on to the medal rostrum on the first point in what proved to be a disappointing mis-match of skills; changing ends was the most energetic it got for Peter!

Easy win for POPPS ‘A’ , compounded by the no-show from Celia & with the cool & competent Jo missed, not just for her table-tennis skills but also for her fruit cake! Good win for a team topping the league!