Kings avenge first round defeat with a match for the ages!
 

The Warriors hosted Kings at Greenleys this week. Thankfully, all teams turned up on the right day, after the Warriors arrived 24 hours early for their first round!
 

Ricky, Diego and Ollie faced off against Nick, Guy and a special guest appearance from the ex Kings captain, Ian Brown.

The depth of Greenleys was on full display tonight, as 7…. Yes, you read that correctly…… 7 matches went the full 5 sets!

I’d love to know the record for the MK Premier - It can’t be far off!
 

The format was the same as the last Kings match, with no baby Howard to cheer them on, Nick needed to play all 3 matches and then scarper (just in case!)

First up with the ever improving Ricky - Captain vs Captain to kick things off, and the first of the 7 five setters…….. Ricky has improved significantly since entering the realm of the Premier league, and I’m sure he’ll continue to do so.

It wasn’t to be for him tonight though, as Howard claimed the win - 11-7 in the 5th.

Next for Howard was the youthful Ollie, who was 2-0 down before he could blink.

However, Ollie hadn’t read the script, and fought his way back to 2-2, before taking a commanding 9-2 lead in the 5th.

7 points later, and we are square at 9-9….. Only for the young Warriors star to find some needed form, and close it out 11-9.

10 sets down, and Howard is blowing at this point……. Alas, no rest for the wicked, and next up is Diego!

This match produced the best rallies of the night (so far), and it was a topsy turvy affair. Howard took the first 2, before Diego found his groove, and dominated the next 2.

2 nil up….. to 2 all? Where have we seen that before……

Entering his 15th set in a row, Howard tried to find some energy to match the exuberant Diego, and it was a close set throughout.

Diego managed to get himself to match point, with a 10-8 lead, before Howard fought back to level the match at 10-10.

2 points later, and Howard claimed victory…….. A very tired victory!
 

Ian Brown took on Ollie next, and the old timer rolled back the years to claim his best victory for a long time - A fine 3-2 win over the youngster.

Guy and Ricky were on next, and despite going 2-0 down (winning just 11 points) - Guy found some rhythm to come storming back for a 11-9 victory in the 5th.

5 matches played…….. 5 five setters……..
 

Diego beat Ian 3-0 (although 3 close sets), before Ollie capped off a very good night with a drawn out 3-2 victory over Sparrow.

Tricky Ricky lived up to his name taking down Ian  3-1, before Guy breezed through Diego 3-0.
 

Heading into the doubles, the Kings held a 5-4 lead.

Somewhere in the world it was 2am in the morning….. I’m sure it felt like that for the players at Greenleys as well.

At least the doubles was a quick affair……..

12-14, 13-11, 13-11, 7-11, 5-11……… The Brown Sparrow combo seeing the Kings over the winning line (incidentally….. Brown Sparrow would be a great code name if anyone needs one…..).