Croakers' Mens 1 team lost 1-8 against a solid Meltonshire Mens 2 team last night, ending their good start to the season.
David & Lee were the only pair to win a rubber, beating Meltonshire’s first round pair comfortably. Unfortunately, they couldn’t maintain their performance level and lost to the second and third round pairs. Both Henri & Raheel and Alex & Jitesh were unable to win a rubber, although they scrapped bravely. The players know they will need to improve when they play Meltonshire in the return fixture. The next match is against Oadby Mens 1 on Monday 29th February. On Thursday, the Mixed 2 team won 7-2 against Longslade Stoneygate Mixed 4, making it five wins from five.
Ayesha & Henri were the star performers, winning all three rubbers. Both Susannah & Raheel and Samira & Steve won two rubbers each. The team started well, winning the first round of rubbers 2-1, with Samira & Steve losing narrowly to Longslade Stoneygate's third pair. Mixed 2 won the second round 3-0; all pairs won convincingly and the crucial fifth rubber was achieved to secure the victory with rubbers to spare. The final round was won 2-1, with Susannah & Raheel losing out. It was reported that this was down to Raheel getting a bit tired as it was past his bedtime. Henri, the team captain, said, "It's a great result and I'm a proud captain. We're at the top of division 4 with five wins out of five. Well done, team." Having now played and beaten the opposition in the division at least once, the Mixed 2 team is looking odds on to win promotion. The next match is the return fixture against Longslade Stoneygate Mixed 4 on Monday 8th February. It’s a new year and the League season resumes. Would a couple of weeks of excess and few extra inches around the midriff stall the Mens 1 team’s good start?
Not at all. The Mens 1 team reunited and put in a resolute performance last night, winning 8-1 against Ashby Mens 1, making it two wins from two so far this season. After winning only one rubber in the last match against Oadby, Henri & Raheel rediscovered their mojo and won all three rubbers, although there was the usual finger-pointing to begin with. David & Lee also managed to win all three rubbers, with Alex & Steve winning two. The next match is against Meltonshire Mens 2 on Monday 18th January. On Thursday, the Ladies team ended a run of poor results and bad luck with a comfortable 9-0 victory against Wanlip Ladies 1.
This is a positive finish to 2015 and should help boost the team’s ambitions for 2016. The team consisted of Ayesha & Caroline, Jing & Claire and Samira & Carole. The next match is against Loughborough Ladies 2 on Thursday 11th February. On Tuesday, the Mens 1 team finally got their season underway and won 6-3 against Oadby Mens 1 in division 4a.
David & Lee managed to win all three rubbers, finishing their final rubber with minutes to spare as Oadby’s court time came to an end. Alex & Joel, who have logged very little playing time together, played superbly and won two well-earned rubbers. After a delayed start, Henri & Raheel won one out of the two rubbers they were able to finish. There was no time left to play their final rubber and it was conceded. The next match is against Ashby Mens 1 on Monday 4th January. On Saturday night (yes, you read that correctly), the Mixed 1 team lost 2-7 to South Leicestershire Mixed 4.
This was the Mixed 1 team’s sixth different line-up out of the six games played so far, highlighting the team’s unfortunate lack of stability. Both Kate & Jed and Jing & Lee won a rubber each against South Leicestershire’s second pair. Claire & David were unable to win a rubber, but not through lack of effort. South Leicestershire’s experience at this level gave them the edge at crucial moments. This leaves the last two matches of the season against Huncote Mixed 1, the first being the away fixture on 10th January. Can the Mixed 1 team save their season? Watch this space. On Monday, our Mens 2 team secured an impressive 9-0 victory against Loughborough Tech Mens 2 and remain unbeaten in division 6b.
The team was composed of Joel & Kam, Jed & Martin, and Jitesh & Trevor. Trevor, the team captain, said, “Loughborough Tech played better away from home with feathers than they did at home with plastics. Nevertheless, Croakers still won 9-0.” In their last match against Birstal Mens 1, it was reported that the Mens 2 team has played and beaten the opposition in the division at least once. This is incorrect. The Mens 2 team is yet to play Loughborough Mens 4, who are their next opponents on Monday 25th January. The Ladies team lost 3-6 against Leicester University Ladies 1 last night.
Caroline & Ayesha lost to Leicester University’s first pair, who were very good and won all three of their rubbers. Unfortunately, Caroline injured her knee during the first game of the second rubber. It was a close game, but Caroline couldn't continue after twisting her knee and as a result, had to concede the second and third rubbers. Jing & Kate played really well, winning two out of three rubbers. Samira & Claire played well too. They won one rubber and just missed out making it two at the end. Their final rubber was played over three close games, losing 18-21 in the deciding game. Chin up, team. There’s enough time to get fit and healthy before the next match, which is at home against Wanlip Ladies 1 on Thursday 17th December. Another good win for Mens 2 last night, winning 8-1 at home against Birstall Mens 1.
Joel & Henri won all three rubbers, with Trevor & Jitesh also winning all three and Jed & Martin winning two. Having now played and beaten the opposition in the division at least once, the Mens 2 team is looking odds on to win promotion. Keep it up, team. The next match is against Loughborough Tech Mens 2 on Monday 7th December. |
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