Photo shows L to R

Steve Wearden, Michael Sui, Tony Mullally, John McCann,

Match Official Arthur Garnett, Mendle Williams, Umpire Tom Purcell,

Rod McPherson, Russell Thornton & Bobby Bell

The L.E. Forrest Cup was between Harold House ‘C’s Rod McPherson, Michael Sui, Steve Wearden and Mendel Williams and Marconi ’B’s,  Tony Mullally, Russell Thornton, John McCann and Bobby Bell, Marconi won the toss and decided on the away team spot, calling on Mendel v John to get the night underway, but the start didn’t go as planned, Mendel has a much talked about style, with a bat with pimps on both sides, and john made the mistake of trying to beat him with pace and hard hitting, but of course they just came back doing all kinds, John going for the tempting hits, and before long John was 2 games down (5 & 5). Game 3 saw John slow down a bit, not giving Mendel the pace to return funny balls, Mendel returning many into the net, john wins 11-8, but John returned to his attacking game in the 4^th, letting Mendel return loaded, making John lift high, and now and again Mendel would bring out his capable smash to surprise John, Mendel had decided that he was more concerned with not losing the point rather than winning it, clinching the set with a 12-10 4^th game. 1 – 0 to H.H. against the call.

Set 2 H.H. called on Steve v Bobby, 1^st game was pretty level with both players forcing the pace, but too many of Bobby’s returns were long, Steve winning 11-7, 2^nd game was a nail biter, Bobby serving at 9-7 up, but Steve pulls back to 10 all, then level to 13 all Final 2 going to Steve, 15-13.  Game 3 saw Bobby take a 6-2 lead by slowing his game down with more pushing, letting Steve go for the teasers, and missing, Bobby kept in front to win 11-8. Steve probably realised that he had lost the last game with too many wasted hits and started pushing with Bobby, both waiting for the opening, but this suited Steve’s game more than Bobby’s, Steve going 9-3 up, making Bobby go for more hits to win the points, but Steve just waited, to run out11-5 winner, 2-0 to H.H.

Marconi’s next call was Tony v Rod, surprising really knowing Rod was having a good season, and had H.H.’s 3^rd  set in 3 games, Tony just couldn’t get to grips with Rod’s powerful top spin hitting, with the ball flying off Tony’s bat all ways, but to be fare Tony’s luck just wasn’t in for his hits, Rod wins 7-7&6. 3-0 to H.H.

4^th call to H.H. Michael v John, after John’s disappointing game against Mendel, he changed his game to slow down Michael, who’s game was fast top spin looping, and this worked well for john, returning Michael’s hits with a lot of chop and float, making Michael reach for his shots, games 1 & 2 to John 15-13 & 11-7, the next 2 games went to Michael getting his hitting better angled and long, even so John was starting to meet the ball earlier on the table to block more, Michael winning both 9 & 8, so into the only 5 gamer of the night, was Michael’s confidence back, no, it was John’s on the table blocking of Michael’s hits that was winning the points, and he was 5-1 up at the turn, keeping in front up to the last point, clipping the net landing, and flying off Michael’s bat, 11-6 to give Marconi a starter, 3-1 to H.H..

5^th call to Marconi, Russell v Steve, the pressure’s on Russell to produce, but takes the wrong option and tries to win rather than make Steve make the mistakes, most lost points were the result of rushing into his shots, giving Steve a 11-5win, game 2 was much the same, even having slowed down a bit, rushing into Steve’s loaded teasers and missing most, at 10-9 down he rushes his serve into the net. 3^rd game saw Steve serving at 10-4 up, Russell returns a cracker which should have been a winner, but Steve got it back, catching Russell out to miss it, like a lot of good shots from Russ, he didn’t expect them to come back. 4-1 to H.H.

6^th call to H.H. Mendel v Bobby, Bobby’s not at all happy with Mendel’s bat but starts playing more relaxed, just content to keep pushing Mendel’s loaded returns, no one seems in control, but Mendel wins 11-6 on Bobby’s misses. 2^nd game was much the same, Bobby getting a few more hits past Mendel, but still behind, serving at 8-10 down to pull level, he gets the next point, serves at 11-10 up, to clip the edge, 12-10. Whatever it was,  Bobby’s over confidence or Mendel’s change of game saw Mendel take a quick 11-3 win game 3, game 4 saw a very unlucky Bobby miss-serving, Mendel getting nets and edges till at 10-8 down Bobby serves winning the first, but hits the next return off, 11-9 to Mendel, and game, set, and match to H.H.’C’ 5sets to 1. A disappointing match from Marconi’s point, I’m sure they can play better, but a well played game from H.H. who never really looked worried.

Thanks to Wavertree Labour for use of their venue and Club Sec. Stan Clarke for setting up and the after match refreshments, also to our match officials Arthur Garnett and Tom Purcell who did the Umpiring.