End of a Fine Season: 2011-12

That’s the winter season over, just about. Only the Veterans’ Tournament and Third Division Individual Championship to go for me. Plus maybe the end of season handicap.

In the league my team Nemesis (named by me!) finished a creditable second. We will apply for Division Two for next season. However, there is talk of a new six team premiership, so we might remain in the third tier. Selfishly half a promotion might suit me perfectly.

In The Cup we beat Keelby B (D4) to reach the Semi Final. We had to keep them down to 21-8 on average and just made it. It was like a premiership football team playing at a non-league ground: white walls, slow table, settee against one wall... Without being unsporting, they got lots of nets and edges. Personally I only conceded 40 points in 6 games, but that was not easy. They were decent players actually but so lucky! Still, we won.

That semi final was our nemesis! NALGO D (Roger Deboick, Brian Ashwell and Mo Kayali) were really up for it and played well above their league form. They look like finishing 3^rd or 4^th in D3 but received a 20 start. In the event they piled on a further 39 points... If our Dennis doesn’t mind me saying, they really had his number. Well, Brian and Mo did. Their big hitting was perfect against Dennis’s lob. Brian beat him 11 and 11, Mo mowed him down 14 and 14. Mo beat me about 17 and 15 too. Our Brian beat their Brian game 7 on one occasion but it made little difference. I led Roger 6-0 in the first game but only won about 21-17. I told NALGO they were magnificent, and I stick to that.

If you’d have said to me last September that we’d finish second in the league and cup semi finalist I’d have bitten your hand off. So, a very good season.

Paul Butters

New Year!

A belated Happy New Year to everyone. It's been relatively quiet for me. We were lined up to meet "Spare Team", which gave us a blank week. Then my team-mate Dennis went to Scotland, so our Cup game was postponed. Having rested my sore back before Christmas, I had to take a week off with a dodgy knee.

When we DID play, my team Nemesis beat Clee Sports H 8-2 and NALGO D 6-4. We seem to be established in second place in the table, a promotion spot. If we do go up, I picture us coming straight back down, to become a "yo-yo" side.

Clee Sports player Pete Dyson beat me for the first time. I fought back from 0-2 down in ends, only to fall apart 2-11 in the decider. Frankly I couldn't hit a barn door in that last game.

Last night Mo Kayali beat me, and I don't recall him doing that before. This time he frustrated me with solid chop\push play (his new style for the season). Every time I opened up, I missed the target. That after taking the first end 11-3! Our Brian Lomas had to work very hard to beat Mo and again take the Man of the Match tag.

On the 20th February we travel out to Keelby to take on the league's bottom team in the Cup. Don Ellis will reserve for us as Dennis is away again. Brian and I will play together in the Grimsby Doubles two days later. The Lincolnshire Closed is on that Sunday. Nuff Said. Out.

Nemesis 6 Clee Sports F 4 (Plus our Cup Wins!) Plus!!!

Last week we beat Clee Sports F 6-4. All three of them (Andy Vinson, Ernie Bromley and Simon Appleton) were experienced chop\push defenders. Andy has a bad habit of trying to chop against chop, but otherwise they are a solid, hardworking side.

One highlight was Ernie's fightback from behind to beat Brian in the 5th. Our Dennis also fought back, from 2 games down, to beat Andy. Andy versus Dennis became chop versus lob, a rare sight. Simon took a game off me and generally battled well. Dennis and I lost the doubles, but three points was already secured.

This week we play our postponed cup match with second division Louth. My main concern is that my back is rather sore this weekend. I will have to take more care.

26\11\11 - Last Tuesday we beat Louth by 59 points (from a 110 point start). Their captain Ian Turner admitted they made the classic mistake of trying to defend against lower-league opposition. Personally I took games off both Ian and Ken Harrison. I even ran Jason Lambert close. Our Brian was solid too. Dennis's only blot was losing 6 and 12 to Jason. To make up for that, Dennis took a game off Ken to 17.

We play Cup Holders Clee Sports H (also from Division 3) in the next round.

3\12\2011 - Last week we beat Clee Sports G 7-3. Again Eileen Allison was My nemesis with her "funny" combination bat. Without being unsporting, however, I must say her "nets" in the first 2 games were killers for me. That does not disguise the fact that I have yet to find winning tactics against That bat. Brian beat her in the end with a couple of high lobs! Indeed Brian was MOM with 3 wins.

I seem to have got used to Roger Chapman now, with his F\H flicks and F\H drives from his B\H wing. Dennis beat chop\pusher Richard Barnes (who hated his sidespin lobs) and helped me take the doubles. On reflection, decent luck might have given us an 8-2 win, but we can't complain.

Wed. 7\12\11. 22.00. Tomorrow I now intend to attend Practice. My back still isn’t quite right, but I want to try out some new shots. I’d like to develop my long B\H loop and F\H+B\H combinations. Need to practice my chopped return of a fast topspin serve (because returning in kind is too predictable and exploitable). Would also like to try attacking with my combination bat on both wings.

Have enjoyed watching the World Pro Tour Tournament (or whatever) on Sky Sports. The game looks quicker again after a period of rangy loops. There have been some real tat-at-at rallies going on in this tournament. The Chinese still dominate proceedings of course.

Last night we won our Cup match very well! I went on in the last “match” needing just 2 points to take the tie! Earlier it had been more nip and tuck. My battle with Alan Walton was an epic. This time I was untroubled by his clever serves, so we both attacked well. I won the first game 21-13, a fine achievement. The 2^nd game was very close though, and I cannot recall who won.

Pushing to Keith Farmery’s backhand proved effective and I hit great form against him. Keith is very sporting, openly applauding all good shots and play by his opponents. He makes no excuses when he loses. In fact he keeps saying I am giving another “master class”! (Wait until I play well, lol).

My match against Janet Clarke was just a “knock”. Dennis improved enormously from his earlier league showing. His lob game is getting quite effective now. Getting your range must be very hard when lobbing. Brian was as solid as ever. Like me he plays a very efficient game. Both Brian and I avoid moving our feet too much. In fact I am playing some incredible B\Hs these days, from ridiculous positions! Dennis, on the other hand, runs all around the court. Sometimes Dennis will charge forward to hit a F\H smash! The coaches would tear their hair out... Nuff Said. Out.

More:

http://sportales.com/sports/grimsby-table-tennis-latest-2011-2012/

A Week of Mixed Fortunes

Last week we (Nemesis) played two 3^rd Division matches. On Monday we beat DC Plastering 8-2. Wednesday saw us lose 3-7 to Urban Juice.

DC Plastering finished second in Division 4 last year and were promoted. They have found the going tough at this higher level, but recently gained a draw against Colbrook Roofing. Technically they are a sound team, with both Ray Corke and Howard Mills having played at a higher level. I recall playing a cup match against Ray in the 1980s (for NALGO), when he was with “Grimsby Valuation” alongside Steve Carter. Valuation played down Bargate, Grimsby and we were given a “start” against them.

On Monday Ray beat Dennis Burgoyne quite convincingly. He only lost 12-14 in the fifth to Brian. But it was Howard who did best against me, taking the first game. Ray’s son Danny produced some big forehand winners against us all but without much reward. In the end they took the doubles (I was rested) to make it 2-8.

Against Urban Juice, the boot was on the other foot. We grabbed just a point by winning the doubles. With one or two better shots and more luck we might have stolen a draw.

My match against Billy Wong was incredible: I lost 11-3, 5-11, 4-11, 11-5, 10-12. In that final game I came back from 2-8 down to lead 9-8, then missed two smashes at the end.

Brian lost to Leo 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-13, 8-11. I watched that one from afar: it was a marathon! Brian complained of unlucky edges...

The solid, big hitting Dave Hanks, who named his team after his graphic design firm, did his bit by beating Dennis convincingly. Urban Juice seem to be champions elect, so I think we stood up quite well against them.

While we played Urban Juice, just behind us in the hall, “Grimsby Mariners” were beating Market Rasen 6-4. Lesley Keast did her best to spoil the Mariners’ fun, by winning all three. She beat Sean 14-12 in the fifth to avenge a defeat last season. Girl Power! The Mariners won the match though. Craig Kendall updated Facebook for the team. Well, sort of for the team. Nuff Said.

PS - Have been making a lot of comebacks this season. Against Danny (above) I came back from 0-6 down to win the third game 11-9! Earlier I recovered from about 1-6 down to beat Alan Walton 12-10 in the fifth.

Paul Butters

Nemesis 7 Colbrook Roofing 3

Frid. 21\10\11. 11.15. This week we beat Colbrook Roofing 7-3. We got off to a bad start when Wendy Newman came back from 0-2 down to beat cold-ridden Brian. Yet in the end they only snatched a point with a doubles win.

That doubles was weird: Wendy with her “funny bat”, Andy Watts and his deadly spin serves, and our Dennis with his lobs. I was the only “normal” player taking part! They had just too much guile for us.

Dennis won two singles: off the mark at last. Brian got 2 too. And I took 3 after some more “scares”.

Against Wendy I found the more I “mixed” things and moved her about, the more mistakes she made with that peculiar combination bat of hers. Andy got some nasty serves in on my F\H wing but otherwise I returned well. Jean was just as lively as ever, but doesn't like spin.

Yesterday I played a chap called John Coe (Franklin, D4) at Thursday Practice. He was a steady penholder. Talking of which, Steve Higgins came to practice again. Dave and Tony Roberts (unrelated) were there too! And George Tyler. Ken Harrison was sharp again ahead of our Cup encounter. Nuff Said. Out.

26th October: Right now I'm 2nd in the Division Three Averages to Billy Wong! Have won 8\9. Not all results are in, however. To be honest I expect Billy and his mate Leo Tsang to beat me comfortably next week. They have won 12 points out of 12 so far. Last year Leo defeated me in our one match. Against Billy, I took the first match and he took the second. They are full of energy and improving rapidly.

28th October PS - Well I really set my stall out there^^^^^^^^^^^^^!!! Yet I do not want to bust a gut this time round against those Chinese lads. I will play at a decent level and if that's good enough then fine. If that's not enough then tough.

Before then we have to play Ray Corke's side...

NALGO D 5 NEMESIS 5

Frid. 14\10\11. 15.30. On Tuesday we drew with NALGO D. Brian Ashwell was the nemesis of Nemesis I’m afraid. I played him tight and disciplined but he still got those swiping wide kills in. In fact he took very high risks, but they paid off. I lost 5-11 in the 5^th and wondered what had happened! In retrospect I was beaten by greater mobility and aggression. Next time my own Plan A will have to involve much more movement and attacking. Plan B will be to close things down again.

Mo Kayali tried to contain himself but it didn’t work. He curbed his big left-handed forehand hit. Dennis was 3 good kills away from beating Roger. Mr. Deboick was his usual steady self. However, in his final match Dennis reopened a calf tear! Hope he’s okay for next week. Anyway, Brian and I fought back from behind in the doubles to snatch a draw.

However, I personally had an amazing comeback in my final game against Roger: back from 6-10 down! Overall, our draw felt like a win!

Our next opponents are Jean Ashwell and Company (Colbrook Roofing). I thought we were playing the Chinese lads, but I miss-read the script. In fact our match with “Urban Juice” has been put back a week owing to half-term.

Highlight of Thursday Practice was another doubles lesson from wheelchair users Colin Woodford and Kath Fisher. Nice to see Aaron Chaplin practising again. Nuff Said. Out.

From My Journal

Frid. 7\10\11. 14.35. Yesterday I took a game off Steve Carter and generally pushed him close. I 1) returned his serves well and pushed them about effectively, 2) varied my service placements to good effect, 3) blocked well. There is no need to do flicked returns except maybe against topspin. What matters is placing those returns where the opponent least expects them. I'm learning!

Will have to get my F\H drives going more, if my back will allow this! It is still a good idea to practice flicked topspin returns: another weapon for the armoury. But it’s what you do with all your returns that counts.

Also spent lots of time working on Dennis’s backhand drive. Actually Dennis has a good attack on both wings but is loath to use this. He prefers to lob. His drives and hits are wild too, but that can be corrected. See how we do on Tuesday against Brian Ashwell and company. They surprisingly lost to Jean’s team last week. A wounded animal... Nuff Said. Out.

Sat. 8\10\11. 15.50. Been thinking. Back in the good old days my team-mates Dave Wagstaff and Richard Wilson played a very solid push\chop game. I followed suit but with slightly less consistency. I was more of a flair player. Anyway, it was enough to give us a couple of 2^nd Division titles. Perhaps I need to revert to some push play, at least as my opening gambit in the lower divisions.

On reflection I was maybe too gung ho last week. Sometimes you have to play within your limitations. I’m not exactly a spring chicken. Indeed I’m still carrying a nagging back injury. Last week was generally difficult too. Mum had had an acute illness (thankfully she is okay now). There were many distractions. Just the right time to ease my way in. As it was, my play was very patchy. Regular Thursday practice can unfortunately get you into bad habits if you are not careful. Duly noted. Will be much steadier this coming Tuesday. Nuff Said. Out.