Having rearranged the 1st round match to play away at Alberton due to load-shedding, we expected a home game. However the Alberton captain disagreed saying that we must stick to the schedule and anyway if they had to play away they’d only have 2 players. So in the interest of sportsmanship we agreed to the long-trek south again.
The Silver Fox arrived first and was thrown on immediately at No 2. Cruising to 6-1 up in the first a blip occurred and a 9-6 loss. Where was his support crew – nowhere to be seen yet. Then cruised to 7-1 up in the 2nd and the same blip hit, 9-7 loss. Still no team to give advice. After pulling himself towards himself he raced to 7-1 up yet again, surely the same blip couldn’t hit again, Think again – down 9-7 and a 3-0 loss. Then the team pitched up – asking why I didn’t serve more etc.
Gavin on next against a young maisie from the south (daughter of Phil de Jager for those who know him). Gavin ran her ragged for the first few points and she was panting hard, this was going to be easy. However, she kept running and kept hitting cross-court nicks and 3 games later she was 2-1 up. However Gavin pulled himself toward himself and won the 4th and then very closely a 5th. This was probably Gav’s hardest match of the season apart from his single loss to Old Eds.
On next our banker at No 1, unbeaten this season captain Rich, however Richs’ nerves appeared to be shot after an aborted landing from 50metres above the ground at PE airport. Rich came up against a fired-up opponent and went down 3-1.
Eventually Mergus pitched up after a pleasant couple of hours sight-seeing tour of Alberton and surrounding suburbs and came up against a youngster easily 30 years younger than him. The youngster floated round the court picking up Mergus’ boasts (his best and only winning shot) at will. Things looked bleak as the first game was lost and the 2nd looking decidedly dodgy, however Mergus dug in terrier style and the tide started to turn. Eventually the 30 years experience started to count and Mergus won in 5 much to the disgust of his opponent.
So the 1st loss of the season for 6th lge – I guess it had to happen some time. We should have insisted on playing at home – that will teach us to be sporting
Match result : 7-13
