The start of the new season for the Men’s 1 team saw us travel to Dagenham Park Leisure Centre to take on Hunters. Last season there was a two division difference between the teams (Hunters being in Division 1 and us being in Division 3) so it was going to be interesting to see what happened.
The night didn’t get off to the best of starts as the school adjacent to the leisure centre was holding an open day and didn’t notify the leisure centre. This meant the car park was full, the gates were closed and the surrounding streets were ram packed with cars. I managed to get in but others were locked out. Eventually we managed to get 2 pairs in by about 7:15pm so we could start the match.
First on court were myself and Tom against their second pairing. After a brief warm up we started strong and built up a bit of a lead only to be pegged back. It was give and take for the whole game and ended up at a nail-biting 20-20. With no setting, it was game point and we managed to snatch the win. The second game was not so close and we never seemed to get started, letting them build up a lead which at one point was 9-1. We managed to win some points back and finished with a loss 21-11 which was not too bad. After a brief tactics talk, we took to the court again for the last and deciding game. This one again was a close run affair with the opposition taking the lead but we kept pegging them back. Whilst we never managed to get in front, we kept them within reach. With the score 19-16, we went on a bit of a run and brought the score back to 20-20. Again, no setting so it was a winner takes all scenario and we nailed it. Tom sent a smash down the middle after a brief rally and we took the match to put the first point on the board.
With 2 courts playing, I couldn’t keep an eye on the other match of Gary & Kevin vs their first pairing. Unfortunately for us, their first pairing were too strong and they overcame our lads 21-7 and 21-11. That made the score 1-1 for the night with all still to play for.
Myself and Tom then went straight on against their first pair hoping to build on our battling success of the first match. They had two strong players with very powerful smashes so we had to be on our toes to keep it low. However, we kept falling back into the trap of hitting it high and we were punished accordingly. We lost 21-11 and 21-12. Scores being 2-1 we needed to win again to keep in touch and be in with a chance of a match win.
On the next court, it was David & Oliver against their third pairing. This was another close run match which went to 3 games. Their pair won the first game 21-16 so our guys needed to get back to winning ways and step up their game. They didn’t disappoint taking the second game 21-13 to set up a decider. Again, another close run affair with David & Oliver taking the decider 21-19 and making the score 2-2 on the night.
Next up were their second team against Gary & Kevin. This match didn’t go to plan and our guys couldn’t seem to get into the match at all, finally losing in straight games 21-13, 21-15 to make the score 3-2 on the night to Hunters.
Their second pair stayed on court and played against our second pair of David & Oliver. Again, this was a close run match but the opposition were just too strong and took the win in straight games 21-18, 21-16 to make it 4-2 on the night and that guaranteed a league point for Hunters. We needed to step up our game if we were to take anything from the fixture.
David and Oliver then stayed on court to play their first team with everything at stake. This didn’t go to plan at all and their first pair were just too strong combined with some unfortunate mistakes from our guys meant the opposition took the match 21-15, 21-5. This gave Hunters a 5-2 lead and 2 league points for the win.
It was then mine and Tom’s turn to take to the court against their third pair. We took the first game quite comfortably 21-16 but let things slip in the second meaning we lost it 21-17 to set up a decider. It was a must win game if we were to salvage a league point. This was one of the closest games of the night and was full of long rallies, mis-hits and strange shots. However, luck seemed to favour us and we took the game 21-20 to make the score 5-3 for the night with one game left.
No pressure then for Gary & Kevin against their third pair. A win gave us the valuable bonus league point. A loss gave that bonus to Hunters. We needn’t have worried as Gary & Kevin seemed to be determined and focussed. They took the first game 21-18 then repeated the feat in the second to take the match 21-18, 21-18. This made the score for the night 5-4 to Hunters but it gave us the valuable bonus point.
The league table has been updated to reflect the match. We’re in second place (it’s the first fixture of the season but let’s hope we stay up there!) with one point. Hunters are top with 2 points but I think we did ourselves proud given Hunters were playing in Division 1 last season and we were in Division 3.
Well done lads!
