"Under strength 2^nd team crash out at Macclesfield 1".

  Mike Walton started the match against Adam Colebatch at 5. Colebatch was Macc's super chef, although Mike would never know this; leaving early to collect his daughter. The first game was close, Colebatch thrashed the ball away and was loving every minute of it.  Mike stayed cool but a game down and Colebatch stepped up to fever pitch and ran away with another game, leaving Mike with nothing but smiles.  In 3 Mike moved the ball around more and slowed the tempo, Colebatch made unforced errors and a few strokes saw his face glow so red like it was about to burst!!! As the 4^th game also came Mike's way Colebatch disputed the referee's decision and stomped off court to cool himself down, it went to 2 all. In the 5^th Mike played some good drop shots and got on a run for a while before Colebatch managed to get a grip and reasserted his command of the game and won the match.

  Meanwhile on court 2 Nigel Uttley faced Martin Hall. I didn't see much of this due to extended marking duties in the opener. The first 2 games were shared and Hall, a fit player held a game advantage in the 4^th, was pushed to go to a 5th but made sure of the 2-0 lead on the night and won (9-7).

  Steve O'Hare vs Alex Oppenheim next at 2; a big challenge for Steve and a chance for Oppenheim to get one back from the 1^st half defeat.  Steve got points with his drop shots and return of serve, played his way round the court well at times but lacked a final touch at key points.  Oppenheim's experience in the middle of the court won the match (3-0).

  Simon Whitaker playing at 3 against Andy Dunn. Simon won the 1^st game for loss off only 2 points, but then Dunn took over and won the next 3 games for loss of only 6 points.   Simon hit the tin too often whilst Dunn applied pressure with good footwork and an accurate length.

  Finally the 1^st string match Steve Costello vs Shane Great Rex.  The 1^st game was quite and eye-opener, G Rex won a succession of points with a tight attacking b/h boast. Left with too much to do a lob-drop counter from Steve was not good enough.  In the 2^nd game Steve played a better length and occasionally threatened G Rex at the front, but was pressured all the while by G Rex's boast.  2 games down and G Rex pushed Steve deep on the b/h, Steve fought back from there and hit some good f/h lengths and caught G Rex with some tight drops; left and right. At (9-9) a loose b/h front court boast gifted G Rex an easy match ball.

20 - 4 to Macclesfield spells an end to the unbeaten run sadly. Hope we can turn this around next week against Alderley Edge.  

For this match result Click Here