Match 6 - Connaught Home
So after an ok first half to the season, we were raring to get the second half underway and hopes were high for a repeat victory against a Connaught side whom we had beaten earlier in the campaign. The team were in good shape, although half of them were still recovering from a drunken trip to the Brush on Saturday night!
The evening got off to a bizarre beginning as there were three fire engines and some police cars in the Clements Hall car park. We enquired as to what the commotion was and were told that someone had put dye in the pool the evening before and they were checking the water for traces of chemicals.
So up to the courts we went, but there was no sign of our opponents. This was not unusual though as it is not uncommon for teams from London to be a few minutes late. What was unusual though was to see two members of our 1st team, Paul & Dan, there saying they had a home game too. Paul had even been conscientious enough during the day to phone ahead and check that the courts were booked for Essex league that evening - to which of course the reply from reception had been a resounding "yes". Shame he didn't check for which team though...!
Ten more minutes passed, and with still no sign of Connaught arriving we were beginning to wonder whether our home game curse from last season was going to return. A phone call to their captain didn't inspire us with confidence either as it was met by an answerphone message. When it finally got to half past eight it finally confirmed our fears that it was going to be a wasted evening.
Colin and Marcus took the opportunity to play their league game, which Colin won convincingly 3-0. A somewhat surprising result considering he had been on the wrong end of a 27-0 thrashing pummeling hammering beating trouncing (couldn't decide which adjective was best!) on Saturday against another of our team.... mentioning no names! ;-)
With the early finish on the courts we arrived at the Legion ahead of schedule and the bingo was still in full swing! So we were ushered upstairs instead, and with the absence of the away team, were faced with a mountainous buffet. Thankfully, Paul and Dan had stuck around to help us out with it (maybe that was their plan all along....!) and we managed to get through the majority of it. There was still plenty left though and Chris, Dave and I all bagged ourselves some lunch for the next day! Apart from commentating on our dismay at the absence of our opponents, the main focus of the evening banter centered on the events leading to the Fire Brigade being called upon. News had travelled fast, and in true Chinese whispers style Wallace had told his Dad that someone had actually died in the pool the night before!
And with that it was time to head for home, 20 points safely in the bag; albeit not the way we would have wanted. We have since been informed today that the Connaught captain was returning from overseas and had failed to inform the rest of the team that they had a match! What can you do.....?
The evening got off to a bizarre beginning as there were three fire engines and some police cars in the Clements Hall car park. We enquired as to what the commotion was and were told that someone had put dye in the pool the evening before and they were checking the water for traces of chemicals.
So up to the courts we went, but there was no sign of our opponents. This was not unusual though as it is not uncommon for teams from London to be a few minutes late. What was unusual though was to see two members of our 1st team, Paul & Dan, there saying they had a home game too. Paul had even been conscientious enough during the day to phone ahead and check that the courts were booked for Essex league that evening - to which of course the reply from reception had been a resounding "yes". Shame he didn't check for which team though...!
Ten more minutes passed, and with still no sign of Connaught arriving we were beginning to wonder whether our home game curse from last season was going to return. A phone call to their captain didn't inspire us with confidence either as it was met by an answerphone message. When it finally got to half past eight it finally confirmed our fears that it was going to be a wasted evening.
Colin and Marcus took the opportunity to play their league game, which Colin won convincingly 3-0. A somewhat surprising result considering he had been on the wrong end of a 27-0 thrashing pummeling hammering beating trouncing (couldn't decide which adjective was best!) on Saturday against another of our team.... mentioning no names! ;-)
With the early finish on the courts we arrived at the Legion ahead of schedule and the bingo was still in full swing! So we were ushered upstairs instead, and with the absence of the away team, were faced with a mountainous buffet. Thankfully, Paul and Dan had stuck around to help us out with it (maybe that was their plan all along....!) and we managed to get through the majority of it. There was still plenty left though and Chris, Dave and I all bagged ourselves some lunch for the next day! Apart from commentating on our dismay at the absence of our opponents, the main focus of the evening banter centered on the events leading to the Fire Brigade being called upon. News had travelled fast, and in true Chinese whispers style Wallace had told his Dad that someone had actually died in the pool the night before!
And with that it was time to head for home, 20 points safely in the bag; albeit not the way we would have wanted. We have since been informed today that the Connaught captain was returning from overseas and had failed to inform the rest of the team that they had a match! What can you do.....?
posted by Hodgey at 6:17 PM
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