Another day, another reminder of the step
up in class for Mens 2 against a Phoenix side who look like they could be a 2nd
division side next season, along with Wisewood. Phoenix were older than Wisewood (against
whom only 4 rubbers did not go to a third end) and tended to rely more on guile
and experience, rather than power, so it was a very different match up. This
opposition seemed to get half way through an end, sometimes behind, then flick
a switch and turn off virtually all errors, waiting for them to arrive from
Ranmoor! We are a very obliging club, we do not like to disappoint our hosts,
so duly didn't!
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| Wily Coyote must have been playing for Phoenix |
With Steve having a 10 minute delayed
arrival waiting for his beautiful nurse to apply all his preventative strapping
(well, the club matriach Lesley), Rich and Rob stepped into the first match
along with Ben with debutant Arun on the other court before we dropped to one.
The match of course would be played in the famous greenhouse, in freezing cold
conditions on a concrete floor. Steve with his lighting allergy could not go in
the warm food room, so had to stay in the cold, and played all matches in
baselayer, club shirt and tracksuit!
Rich and Rob must have been giving away
years to their opponents, as we all did, but gave away little else, and the first
end was nip and tuck until Rich hit two shots which would have been clearly out
to the right sideline, lost both points, and lost the end 21-19. Ouch! The
second end, lost to 14, was much more one sided, indeed only 2 of 9 rubbers had
a stronger second end for Ranmoor after the wily coyotes had sussed us out!
Ben and Arun's first game was even tighter,
losing 22-20 in a classic, before just failing to get to double figures in end
2 as our boys ran out of steam.
Steve and Alistair then entered the fray and
despite some great rallies and net kills it followed the same pattern and faded
at the end of both ends, losing to 18 and 16, which was their first ever defeat
together in straight ends. Like London buses.......read on!
The second set of rubbers went the way of
the first, with Rich and Rob losing 21-18 and 21-14 to the second pair, Arun
and Ben losing 21-12 and 21-14 to the third pair, and Steve and Alistair losing
21-15 and 21-18 to the top pair which would have been OK but for a woeful start
to the rubber where we lost 8 of he first 9 points. Arun gets a special award
here for his passion, encouraged by captain Steve before the match, but going
beyond even Sam levels of shrieking energy!
We want passion and energy at Ranmoor, while remaining respectful of
opponents, so Arun looks like he will fit into the club very well!!
The match gone, pride was all important,
and this time Ben and Arun drew the short straw of the strong top pair, losing
21-14 and 21-8. This pair had one exceptionally strong guy which probably made
it the hardest pair faced this season. Rich and Rob were edged to 19 and 16 by
the top pair, then buggered off to watch the football leaving Steve and
Alistair to finish up in a deserted (apart from Ben) cold greenhouse, and at
this point our boys were beginning to fade, throwing in a few errors
(particularly your captain and author, not like me so apologies!) losing to 16
and 13. Never having lost a rubber in straight ends (even to Wisewood 1) we
proceeded to do it in all 3 rubbers this time! Still, credit to the opponents!
So, a 9-0 defeat a week after handing out
the same punishment to Beaver Hill. Without winning a single end all night, we
were outclassed in truth, and good luck to our opponents in their bid to go up.
Phoenix had three strong pairs and in total there were less than 10 points
difference between all three of their pairs. Some food for thought for the
return next month. As for Ranmoor, we face University on Friday, in reality the
key match of the week, and a good win would leave us mathematically safe of the
bottom two - onwards and upwards we hope! Well done team for all wearing the
club colours (bar Rich, obviously) which we like to encourage!
Man of the match - Rich and Rob squeezed
past Steve and Al on points to get the best points record (though in a straight
ends defeat let us not get carried away team!!!). MOTM this time goes to Rich
for some amazing net kills and smashes but credit to Rob too! Yes, Rich and net
kill - you heard me correctly!!