Match 9 - David Lloyd Away

And so our penultimate game of this successful season took us to local rivals David Lloyd. We were prompt in our arrival time (trying to get the squash over quickly and hammer their bar bill!) to be greeted by Lloyd's captain Ian.... but none of the rest of their team and worst of all - no squash courts booked! We were informed one court would be available at 8.00 and the other at 8.30 - so about half an hour to kill. Seeing as a couple of us had never been, we took the opportunity to look round the facilities and then spent the rest of the time, err looking at some of the fine equipment in the gym! (which incidentally backs right onto the squash courts. Viewing gallery? You'll be lucky!)

When the old codgers on court 1 finally decided they better stop playing before they keeled over due to heart failure, the first game got underway - Dan v Simon at No.5. Simon surged into a 2-0 lead against a backdrop of expletives from Dan as he became frustrated! Dan then claimed the 3rd game but couldn't maintain his comeback and Simon closed out for a 3-1 victory.

Meanwhile the No.3's Dave v Damien had started on the other court. The first two games were very tight, but some errors at crucial times from Clement's skipper saw him fall 2-0 down. Unfortunately by then, the belief had seemed to slip from Dave and Damien secured a straight sets victory, which in truth could have been much closer. Do I really have to write this next line: And so Clements were 2-0 down..... etc etc!

Next matches on were the 1's and 2's, Chris v Ian and Paul v Dell. I must confess to not seeing any of the No.1's match, but it probably went something like this: Ian rallied Chris all round the court. Chris produced some fine shots and tight boasts to keep the game scores close. Then Chris' neck/shoulder/leg started to play up and Ian closed out an entertaining match with annoyingly good tight drop shots. (feel free to correct me if I'm way off here!)

Meanwhile I was on the other court taking Dell apart! ;-) Well actually the first 2 games were shared and the match was nicely poised at 1-1. However, as it was duly noted by a couple of spectators afterwards, I had remembered that if I run about the court whilst playing, it's a much easier game. And so it proved, as Dell tired, I completed a good 3-1 victory.

With Clements confined to another defeat it was left to Colin to try and put some respectability on the overall match score. He started well enough and cruised into a 2-0 lead against Mark. "Keep it going, keep concentration, wrap it up 3-0 and lets get in their bar!" were the words of encouragement to him after the 2nd game. And so it was somewhat surprising to find out in the bar afterwards that he had for the second week in succession managed to claw defeat from the jaws of victory!

There was a nice (albeit rather odd looking!) chicken & broccoli pastry dish for dinner. And also a pasta salad which Dan piled onto his plate, only to then realise that he had mistaken tomato for salmon - which he really has an aversion to! There was also the usual banter you'd expect from two local rivals, although I can't recall anything particularly specific; but I can recall that the Stella's were going down rather nicely!

And so all that remains to be seen of this sorry season is whether Clements can complete a 100% record in next weeks home tie with Maldon.....

Results:
Chris lost to Ian 6-9 4-9 5-9
Paul beat Dell 9-4 4-9 9-3 9-3
Dave lost to Damien 9-10 7-9 4-9
Colin lost to Mark 9-5 9-5 2-9 4-9 6-9
Dan lost to Simon 2-9 5-9 9-5 4-9

Clements lost to David Lloyd 1-4 (6-18)