Photo shows L to R

Kevin Dolder, Terry Turner, Mal McEvoy, Umpire Graham Rollinson, Match Official Stan Clarke, Rob Wylie, Stewart Mudie, & Jamie Hewitt

Div. 1. The Readman Cup was contested by Fords, winners for the last two seasons, and Crosby High, after the toss of the coin, the Fords team of Kevin Dolder, Mal McEvoy and Terry Turner decided to be the away team, against a youthful Crosby team of Stewart Mudie, Jamie Hewitt, and a not so youthful Rob Wylie.

1^st call by Fords was Kevin v Rob, Kevin was just that little too fast for Rob when playing close to the table, but had some good rallies when the games moved off the table, but inevitably the first set went to Fords, 3-0.

Next call from Crosby brought  Stewart on against Terry, this was a ‘get back into the game’ call, and so it turned out, Stewarts controlled blocking to the angles took the first game, but Terry  settled, going into a 6-0 lead in the 2^nd game, Stewart pulling back to 6-4, Terry holding on to win 11-6. The 3^rd game started with Stewart showing a decisive worried look, but that evaporated after Terry served 2 faults in the first 4 points, Stewart accepting this with a 11-9 win. 4^th game went to Stewart 11-5 after a bit of nerves from both, a final rally saw Stewart smash the ball onto the net, dropping just off the table, Terry making a great pick up to the table only for Stewart to smash it down the open table. Fords 1 - Crosby 1.

3^rd call to Fords, Jamie v Kevin, Jamie started as if overawed by the occasion, especially as most of his great shots kept coming back, Kevin going into a 10-0 lead in the 1^st game, finishing 11-2, the next game went the same way, 11-2 to Kevin, 3^rd game had a great rally with a winning shot from Jamie only to clip the net and fly off, enough to put anyone off. 2 – 1 to Fords.

 4^th call saw Crosby again bringing on their trump card, Stewart v Mall, Mall put pressure onto Stewart with some great returns, moving around the table and blocking Stewarts hard hitting to take the 1^st game 11-7, Stewart settled to take the next 11-3, the 3^rd game went to Stewart 11-9, with some fantastic rallies only possible in venues like Cadwa, the long distance cross table hitting was brilliant to watch, pushing Mall wider and wider. The 4^th game again went to Stewart, every point battled for, with Stewart just getting the better of the many long rallies, Crosby 2 – Fords 2.

5^th call by Fords kept Mall at the table against what appeared from his 1^st set, an unsettled Jamie, and so it went, Jamie not able to get to grips with Mall’s pace and counter hitting, went down 5, 3, & 8, Crosby 2 – Fords 3.

6^th set Crosby called the 2 No.1’s on Stewart v Kevin, the 2 trump cards, Stewart to hold the match, Kevin to pull away, so the many spectators settled down to a fast, even, hard hitting match, the first game went to Stewart 11 – 9 after Kevin served into the net. 2^nd game saw a more relaxed Stewart take an early 5 – 1 lead winning 11 – 6. 3^rd game saw a revitalised Kevin go into a 9 – 2 lead to win the game 11 – 5, were we in for a five game set, afraid not, the 4^th set saw a more settled Stewart playing some fast open shots, unsettling Kevin with his hard hitting, and going into a 10 – 4 lead, and the final point to win the set 11 – 4. so Crosby are back in it again, Crosby 3 – Fords 3.

7^th set Fords called a lacklustre Jamie against Terry, just one of those nights for Jamie, Terry wins 1^st, 11 – 5, a game of no rallies, next game saw Jamie putting up a bit more fight with an even game to 9 all, but with Jamie’s luck he served off, 11 – 9 to Terry. The 3^rd game was evenly balanced all the way to 11 all, but as the way, when your luck’s out that’s it, Terry wins 13-11, so Fords 4 -3 up.

8^th call by Crosby kept Terry at the table to play Rob, Rob’s had a long wait from the 1^st set of the night to the 8^th, with the added pressure of having to win to keep in the match, and Terry’s up to speed having won his immediate last visit to the table, so with the odds stacked against Rob, Terry wins the first 2 games, 8 & 5, with a tighter 3^rd game Rob pushes Terry harder to 10 all, then 11 all, but as usual, the winning points go to Fords, Terry wins 13 – 11 and with that game, the Match, 5 – 3 to Fords, for the 3^rd consecutive season.

Some great top class table tennis for the enjoyment of the many spectators, served up by both teams.

Thanks to Match Official, Stan Clarke, Umpire Graham Rollinson, George Higham & Rob Davies for the after match refreshments and setting up, and the Cadwa Club for the use of their venue.