Published 17/03/2025 02:46 by David Wackrill; edited 1 times, last on 17/03/2025 02:46 by David Wackrill.
We're spoiled for scribes ths week with both Nick Howard and Tim Cheek wanting their say (and long may it continue!)
Nick Howrard writes ...
Kings win 2 in a row - Now strong favourites for the title!
Well…. Not quite, but it was an excellent win from the customary trio of Sparrow, Wood and Howard.
The opposition this week was the “vintage” three of Cherry, Jones and Cheek, who were hoping for a big win to push for the title.
The match started well for the Spinners - Howard took a blistering 2-0 lead against Cherry, before the latter pulled it back to walk away with a 3-2 win.
Wood followed suit against Cheek taking a 2-0 lead, before the CEO of Apple levelled at 2-2, and edged a tense final set. Side note…. We were discussing Tim’s uncanny look (not to mention name), to Tim Cook (Apple CEO) - They could pass for twins!
With a 2-0 lead in the bag, up stepped the reborn Guy Sparrow - After a torrid first half of the season, Captain Sparrow has set course for a fine end to the year.
He despatched Jones with consummate ease, before helping Howard close out the doubles 3-1 to bring the score back to 2-2.
Howard and Cheek were next, and not letting the crippling (yes….. crippling) disappointment of losing from 2-0 (not to mention match point) again Alan, ran out a comfortable 3-0 victor against Tim.
Alan and Guy faced off next, and Guy was in no mood to drag this out - Alan put up a good fight, but Guy always looked comfortable, and walked away with a 3-1 win (and a mighty fine win it was!).
Jordan and Gary produced a good match for the eyes (well, it is Valentines day), but the latter had a bit too much love in his back pocket, and came away with a 3-1 win.
With the match score finely poised 4-3 to Kings, we ventured onto 2 tables (it was already 10pm).
Howard and Jones produced a relatively boring spectacle - Jones didn’t play his best, and Howard walked away with an easy 3-0 win.
On the other table, Guy and Tim were in a titanic tussle - Tim winning the first 12-10, and then leading 10-4 in the second.
Sparrow fought back incredibly well to level at 10 a piece, before the game yo-yo’d back and forth, and Guy finally pinched it 15-13.
The next 2 sets went the way of Sparrow, and he rounded out an excellent win with some fine attacking - 6 from 6 in the last 2 weeks - Shame he’s not playing in the open on Sunday. Some feathers would be ruffled there!
Jordan and Alan were the last to finish - Alan finding some good form, with Jordan losing hers.
Final score: Kings 6 - Spinners 4
PS - For those wondering, Sasaki played the trio of Nigel Metcalfe, Ian Johnstone and Martin Hall at Greenleys tonight. Sasaki went down 8-2 (Smalley beating Nigel and Martin).
It leaves the tables finely poised heading into the home stretch!
Tim Cheek writes:
SPINNERS UNDONE BY DYNAMIC DUO
The dynamic duo of Nick Howard and Guy Sparrow led Kings to a second consecutive win. This time 6-4 against title chasing Spinners.
It could have been even better for Kings as in game one, Nick led Alan Cherry 2-0 and after coming from 10-6 down, led 11-10 in the third. However Alan did what he has done so often before by , by pinching the third and then feeding off his opponents mistakes, to come back and win in five sets.
Jordan Wood then blasted Tim Cheek off the table, to go 2-0 up, but somehow Tim managed to claw it back and win in five sets.
With two bullets dodged, you might have expected a comfortable evening for Spinners. However Kings came roaring back, with Guy beating Gary Jones and then Nick and Guy combining to beat Alan and Gary. Nick then beat Tim and Kings were ahead 3-2.
Guy Sparrow then played superbly to beat Alan Cherry in four sets. Gary then beat Jordan, but Guy Sparrow completed a top class maximum by beating Tim 3-1, and Nick then beat Gary. Alan won the last of the night against Jordan, to reduce the loss to 6-4.
So a missed opportunity for Spinners, but it could have been much worse.
