13 matches played 9 to go. SATTC are currently languishing 10th out of 12 teams. With the likelihood of league restructuring next season, the challenge is to get into the top 7 to guarantee survival in Division 1. With the return of Roy Claxton after his 4 month stint in the Falklands and a real effort from the rest of the squad, there is a good chance we can do it. This week saw our best result of the season as well as an exit from the handicap. So all efforts can now be concentrated on the league campaign.
Handicap Cup - Round 1
We played 2 matches this week. On Wednesday Roy, Alan and Gary travelled to Cardonald to play the 44th BB in the Handicap Cup. They are 15 points clear at the top of D2 and although we gained more points overall we had a mountain to climb with the handicaps. Roy won all 3 but young Adam pushed him close. Gary beat Derek and had good games with Andrew and Adam. Alan did not play his best loosing all his matches. The BB won by about 53 points.
League
Last night it was back to league business in a rearranged match with Garnethill (Vincent, Tony & Joe). Roy got us off to a good start, easily beating Tony 3:0. Alan then played Vincent losing the 1st end 11:8 but then winning the next two to 9 and 7. He tightened up and as Vincent found some form to loose the 4th 11:6. The final end was a tense affair with both players failing to take the initiative. It could have gone either way but Vincent took it 12:10 to win the point. Next it was Gary v Joe. Gary started well easily winning the 1st 2 ends, then he tightened up and let Joe bring it back to 2 all - a difficult few ends where he was struggling with his confidence. Fortunately he managed to shake off the jitters to win the 5th end. 2:1 to SATTC after round 1.
Next it was Alan v Tony - another 5 ender. Alan having to overcome his nerves and strive to be patient in the rally (and with some good advice from Roy) finally prevailed to win 3:2. Roy then beat Tony 3:0 with Tony doing well in the 3rd end competing well with Roy eventually winning 11:9. Gary v Vincent was a cracker of a match with all 5 ends closely fought battles. Vincent coming through in the end with some good forehand winners. 4:2 to SATTC after round 2.
Alan started the final round with a disappointing match with Tony losing 3:0. Gary's last match with Tony was yet another 5 ender, with Gary having to dig deep to overcome nerves against Tony who was defending well and attacking when the opportunity arose. Gary came through to win 11:8 in the 5th. The last match between Roy and Vincent was very entertaining with Vincent doing his best to overcome Roy's well placed shots and difficult serves. Some great rallies, but Roy won 3:0 to give SATTC their best win of the season so far. That will help us move up the table. But we will need to do well in our remaining matches to get into the top 7 and guarantee D1 status next season.
Next week's match is against Brunswick A and the team is Roy, Pierre and Neil.
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