Wednesday was the first match of the 2015/2016 season and it was between our Men’s 2 team and Emerson Eagles 3 at home.
Fresh from the summer’s break, our team was ready to go and it was an early start given we were playing at Bower Park. The pairings for the match were:-
Jonas / Gary Y
Kirk / Darran
David P / Oliver
Before 8pm, the teams had 2 courts so they make a quick start to get things underway. First on court were Jonas and Gary against Emerson’s first pair. Our guys were quick off the mark and took the first game 21-13. A quick change of ends and the lads stepped it up another level to take the second game 21-6 and put the first match point on the board.
Meanwhile, on the next court, Kirk and Darran were taking on the second pair from Emerson. This was a lot tougher with Kirk and Darran taking the first game 21-15. After a change of ends, Emerson settled in and took the second game 18-21 to set up a decider. A quick drink of water and they were back on court. Kirk and Darran pulled things back in a close game but Emerson nicked it at the end 17-21 to even the score on the night.
Due to a quiet club night, the lads took advantage of a third court to get the match moving along at pace. Therefore, David and Oliver took on the third pair from Emerson. After a slow start, our guys took the first game 21-15 to get into the flow. The second game was a more straightforward affair with the lads taking it at a stroll, 21-8 to make it 2-1 the night.
Next up it was the turn of Kirk and Darran to take on the first pair from Emerson. Keen to avoid another three game match again and to win their first match, our guys came out of the blocks quickly and ran away with the first game 21-12. Not wanting to rest, they switched ends and got straight into the next game. Again, they ran away with it 21-12 to make it 3-1 on the night.
On the adjacent court, David and Oliver were taking on Emerson’s second pair. With David and Oliver being regular playing partners, they settled into the game quickly again and took the first game 21-12 then eased up taking the second game 21-15 to make it 4-1 on the night and secure the first league point of the night.
With the score 4-1 on the night and the win on the cards, it was Gary and Jonas’ turn to go back on court and try and secure the league win and the 2nd league point by taking on the third pair from Emerson. This was a bit closer than their last game but they managed to take the first game comfortably, winning 21-15. Emerson stepped up a gear and pushed for the second game but Gary and Jonas held on to win 21-17 and made the score 5-1 on the night and secured the league win and gained the 2nd league point.
Now it was up to David and Oliver, against the first pair from Emerson in their last game of the night, to secure the bonus league point. Wanting to get the bonus point, the lads went all out for this one and took the match 21-8 then 21-6 to make it 6-1 on the night and take the bonus league point.
Up next it was Gary and Jonas against Emerson’s second pair. With the win secure, the lads could afford to ease off but they didn’t at all. They took the first game comfortably 21-12 then took the second match at a canter, 21-13.
Last up on court were Darran and Kirk hoping to finish strongly against Emerson’s third pair. Taking the first game 21-15, things were going well and on course to close out the match. However, Emerson weren’t finished and improved significantly in the second game to take it 16-21. This meant another 3 game match for our lads and a tough one to end with! However, not wanting to let the side down, Darran and Kirk dug deep and fought a hard game to win 21-20 and make it 8-1 on the night.
Well done lads – a great start to the season and let’s try and stay top!
