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Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 2-1 | John Brewer | 3-1 | Joe Magor | 3 | 1 | 11-4,8-11,11-8,11-4 | | 2-4 | Ed Henley | 1-2 | James Voyle | 3 | 2 | 9-11,12-10,7-11,13-11,12-10 | | 2-8 | Graham Cutting | 1-5 | Austin Whiting | 1 | 3 | 9-8,5-9,7-9,1-9 | | 3-13 | Tony Gamble | 4-3 | Nic Wallder | 2 | 3 | 6-9,9-1,7-9,10-8,4-9 | | 4-9 | Steve Franks | 3-15 | David Figgis | 3 | 1 | 9-7,4-9,9-0,9-6 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 12 | 10 | |
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| | | Bonus: | 5 | 0 | |
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| | | Result: | 17 | 10 | |
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| Report: | This fixture had the makings of a classic and what a classic it was!! With Gamble and Figgis both in the mix, you couldn't have asked for a more entertaining local derby!!
With both sides missing players due to holidays and injuries, both sides drafted in players from the 3rd and 4th teams, which meant a 1st team debut for Dave "LETTTTTTTTTTTTT" Figgis and a first time Division one appearance from club legend, honorary Canterbury Priory Team Number 1 and local Peroni inspector, Gamble. After announcing that he'd passed a late medical and declared himself fit to play, Captain Cutting wasted no time snapping Gamble up and the heat was on!!
To add a further twist to the tie, it was agreed beforehand that the Priory players would use Priory scoring (PAR 11) and the Outer Kent Players would use Outer Kent Scoring to compare outcomes! As it was, the Par 11 matches ended up being longer than the English 9 ones and were ridiculously well contested though I suspect it will be a while before Outer Kent joins the ranks of the other 45 of the 48 English county leagues in adopting PAR 11 scoring in their top division (Dorset and Wiltshire are the only two others that use English 9).
First up was clash of Figgis and Franks!! This was by far the most entertaining match and with Figgis throwing in reverse angles like they were going out of fashion, an upset looked on the cards. Despite being up for most of the first game, Figgis failed to capitalise and Franks sneaked it 9-7. Figgis wasn't to be denied as a strong showing in the 2nd game saw him deservedly level the tie which was followed by a bellow of "YEEEESSSSS" after a fortunate serve into the nick at game ball!! The fightback looked on but Franks wasn't having any of it and took a leaf out the Stuart Eastman Book of "Showing The Good Sir The Door" and promptly dished out a 9-0 3rd game to take charge of the tie! Figgis fought valiantly in the 4th but came up just short and Franks ran out a 3-1 winner to give first blood to the 2nds! Highlight of the match was Steve Franks serving out in the 4th game at 6-5 up which prompted Dave to shout "YEESSS! I need that!!" only to then serve out himself and hand the serve straight back to Steve! comedy gold!
Meanwhile, Ed and James were on court and were involved in an absolute marathon! I lost count of how many times Ed anticipated, went the wrong way, recovered, somehow getting a racket onto the ball and more often than not winning the rally! Both players worked ridiculously hard and all games were close as close could be! James had match balls in the 4th but Ed managed to save them to force a 5th and it was a photo finish as Ed sneaked the 5th in a tie break to edge James out 3-2 in just a shade over 70 minutes of entertaining squash!!
Next on court were Nic and Gamble. Nic took the first game with some clever boasts and drops which Gamble took a bit of time to get used to. Gamble breezed through the second, giving Nic the boot, 9-1 to level up. The 3rd was very close and Gamble was unlucky not to get more out of it as Nic took it 9-7 to go 2-1 up. Nic lead throughout the 4th with Gamble helping proceedings by twice smashing the ball into himself off the front wall! and then doing the same to Nic so that he didn't get left out. At 8-6, it looked all over with the 3-1 win for Nic in sight, but Gamble was having none of it and fought back to level at 8-8. As Nic called set two, you sensed he'd turn it around take it in extra points. Nothing doing! 2 lottery winning serves into the back corner nicks later and Gamble was level!! Seriously Gamble! they were the two jammiest serves I have ever seen in my whole life! Jansher Khan wouldn't have got them back!! At 2-2, the 5th was anyone's game but Nic did just enough to keep Gamble at bay and ran out 3-2 to pull one back for the 1sts! Game on bozos!!
Meanwhile, Austin or Mr Whiting as Ed calls him, was doing battle with Captain Cutting. The first was very close and Graham spent more time on the floor diving for Austin's drops and kills than he did upright but his perseverance paid off as he nicked it 9-8. Austin levelled the match with some accurate kills and just edged out the 3rd despite a massive fightback from Graham. In the end, the 4th was all Austin as he finished strongly to take the match 3-1 to tie the match at 2-2
and then came the number ones! With John having spent most of the night marking and Joe spending most of the night laughing (mainly at the antics of Gamble and Figgis!), both were itching to get on court! With scores at 2-2, it was all to play for! John started strongly in the first with a few fair rallies going the distance but John looking stronger, taking it 11-4. The 2nd was horrendous! The rallies intensified in length and pace as both players covered the court like it was match ball! John threw in a couple of dives to liven it up and Joe managed a few jammy kills including one at 10-8 to level the match. The 3rd was equally brutal with players neck and neck till 7-7 before John pulled away and closed it out 11-8. The 4th was all John as he played like he did in the first, controlling the rallies and finishing the ball well to take the tie 3-1 in a shade under 50 minutes!
Well played 2nds, sneaking it 3-2! our last away game of the season and all sights set on the cup!
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| Author: | Joe Magor |
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