Our ‘C’ team of Kevin Ward (captain), Jeff Smith, Michael Christmas and Dee McKibbin today entertained the Winchester ‘B’ team in the Advantage League on a beautifully sunny afternoon at Phyllis Court.  After the early excitement of some of the irrigation sprinklers briefly springing into action just after the first balls were struck, the home team started well, establishing a 3-1 lead from the first round of games.  With honours even in the second round, Winchester threatened a comeback by winning the first game of round 3 to narrow our lead to 5-4.  But then our team went into overdrive, winning the remaining seven games to secure a comprehensive 12-4 victory.

Christmas recovered very well from a difficult start to win twice, including coming from behind to win the final game 7-6, the only game to go the full distance.  While many of the games were nevertheless tight affairs, Smith epitomised the PC spirit on the day as, keen to get off to work, in his final game he didn’t allow his luckless 2-handicap opponent, starting on minus 2, the luxury of getting back to zero, thus also securing his second win.  McKibbin continued her season’s excellent form, all the more impressively for having played a 3-hour doubles match in the morning, followed by an hour’s coaching beginners, she showed no apparent need for rest or sustenance as she continued by dominating all four of her opponents, rounding off by allowing the visiting captain in her final game to run just one hoop and that from 14 yards with the wrong ball!  Meanwhile, Ward continued his impressive form by completing a clean sweep of four victories, always looking in control after battling for 20 minutes on the first hoop of the day.

Some issues with the Advantage arithmetic and a number of wrong ball situations kept referee, Russell Robinson, on his toes for the duration.  The absence of any cake for the post-match tea on the terrace didn’t prevent a convivial chat before we sent our guests back down to Hampshire, perhaps slightly with tails between legs, but nevertheless saying how much they had enjoyed their afternoon on our hallowed turf.