News

There were long faces on the balcony this Thursday, Bowden had only three players and news that they were withdrawing from the league.

            Steve Costello opened the match against Jedi Andy. He was fairly decent with an unorthodox hitting style but Steve didn't want to hang around and raised the level of the game to win 9-3.  The next two games saw some good rallies and the winners came Knutsfords way too easily for Andy and Steve romped home 9-6, 9-6.

            Next on was an exhibition match; Mike Walton vs. Rodger Snape.  Mike dazzled the on lookers with tight drops and side wall shots. He took the first game. Rodger then pulled back to one all making the most of deep lengths and boasts.  Game three Mike dug in and ran down Rodger's boasts and countered with his drop, but Rodger's power hitting paid off and he went 2-1 up.  Mike kept on the offensive and continued to hit tight weighted winners and levelled the match 2-2.  In the fifth both Mike and Rodger were tiring but it as Mike who looked like the winner; getting a better width and creating more opportunities to attack. He went 8-6 up. Rodger pushed hard to get back to 8-8 then 9-8 ahead. Mike made a big effort to find a b/h drop winner and followed it with a boasted f/h/cc winner to move to 9 all, before Rodger won the hand out opened the court with a deep length and picked off Mike's return with a short boast.  Match to Rodger.

            David Waring took on the Bowden no.2 James McDougal, he was a young hard hitting athletic player with and impressive double handed back hand. But it was ineffective on the Knutsford's court; David was able to wrong foot McDougal hard chasing to the front after the tightest of drops. Following the next 2 games of power hitting and feathered drops McDougal new he had lost to experience, David Waring supporters were pleased to see him enjoy another run away winner.

            Greg Marshall played Pat, Bowden's no.3. Pat had warmed up on Knutsford's exercise bike and this could be seen from on court. Pat had too great a length and was tight on the side wall, Greg was struggling to impose himself and went a game behind. In the second Greg settled into his game and and began to create vital openings needed to score winners and build pressure on Bowden. Greg was much the stronger of the two players and he began to dominate the play. He went on winning the match 3-1.

Well done Knutsford we remain undefeated!