Mursley Swallows 3-7 Milton Keynes Hit 'n' Hope

Monday 4 February 2019

Game Result Score Match score
1 Roger Shelton lost to Marco Hahn (1-3) 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 4-11 0-1
2 Peter Sear lost to Ivor Howard (0-3) 8-11, 6-11, 4-11 0-2
3 Martin Johnson lost to Mike Ainsworth (2-3) 11-7, 10-12, 6-11, 11-8, 4-11 0-3
4 Martin Johnson and Peter Sear lost to Marco Hahn and Ivor Howard (1-3) 8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 6-11 0-4
5 Peter Sear lost to Marco Hahn (0-3) 5-11, 10-12, 6-11 0-5
6 Roger Shelton beat Mike Ainsworth (3-0) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 1-5
7 Martin Johnson beat Ivor Howard (3-2) 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9 2-5
8 Peter Sear lost to Mike Ainsworth (0-3) 7-11, 8-11, 8-11 2-6
9 Martin Johnson beat Marco Hahn (3-2) 6-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9 3-6
10 Roger Shelton lost to Ivor Howard (0-3) 2-11, 12-14, 5-11 3-7
Team Legs won Legs average (%) Points won Points average (%)
Mursley Swallows 13 34.21 317 45.35
Milton Keynes Hit 'n' Hope 25 65.79 382 54.65
Team Player Games played Games won Legs played Legs won Legs average (%) Points played Points won Points average (%)
Mursley Swallows Roger Shelton 3 1 10 4 40.00 182 82 45.05
Mursley Swallows Peter Sear 3 0 9 0 0.00 162 62 38.27
Mursley Swallows Martin Johnson 3 2 15 8 53.33 284 140 49.30
Milton Keynes Hit 'n' Hope Marco Hahn 3 2 12 8 66.67 221 121 54.75
Milton Keynes Hit 'n' Hope Ivor Howard 3 2 11 8 72.73 204 118 57.84
Milton Keynes Hit 'n' Hope Mike Ainsworth 3 2 11 6 54.55 203 105 51.72
Match date Monday, 4 February 2019 at 19:30
Competition League
Division Division Two
Venue Mursley Village Hall
Season 2018-2019
Legs played 38
Points played 699
Published 28/03/2024 18:50 by Martin Johnson.
Musley Swallows hosted MK Hit 'n' Hope, who were one place (and a few points) above them in mid table, with Hit 'n' Hope boosted by the recent return to the team of top of the Averages, Marco Hahn, to join regulars Ivor Howard and Mike Ainsworth, whilst the home team were the usual Peter Sear, Roger Shelton and myself (Martin Johnson).

With Roger needing to get back home early, due to family issues, Hit 'n' Hope kindly agreed to playing out of sequence, but that didn't seem to phase them, as they started much the better.  First up it was Roger v Marco, and whilst Roger took the first game, Marco was soon into his stride, hitting more and more topspin winners as the set progressed, to win in four games.  Peter fared no better against the ever consistent Ivor, going down in straight games, as very little got past Ivor's steady defending, in combination with some big topspin winners.  I was next on against Mike, and it was the usual close contest, as I went one game up, only for Mike to find some excellent forehand kills to go 2-1 up.  I battled back in the 4th to take it to a decider, but Mike's hitting just got better and better as he ran away with the final game, to put the vistors 3-0 ahead.  Roger then played his remaining two singles, before heading off, and like Peter, had little joy against Ivor's consistent play, going down in straight games, but Roger finally put Swallows on the scoreboard in his final singles, with a straight games win over Mike, to make it 4-1 to Hit 'n' Hope.  The away team maintained their momentum, however, as firstly Marco/Ivor combined to beat Peter/myself in a good doubles, over four legs, and then Marco extended the lead to 6-1 with a three games win over Peter.  The longest set of the night followed as I took on Ivor, and it went almost point for point throughout, as neither player could gain any ascendency.  I took games 1 and 3 by 11-9 scorelines, Ivor did likewise in games 2 and 4, and inevitably it was 11-9 yet again in the decider, with Ivor very unluckly when it finished with an edge as I lead 10-9.  In set 9, Mike's attacking was flowing again, as he came through in straight games against Peter, to put Hit 'n' Hope 7-2 up.  The final set was another classic, with Marco playing myself, and Marco took game 1 and then shaded game 2 at deuce.  I battled back to square things up, with wins in games 3 and 4, to go to the full five games yet again!  Marco had a slow start in the decider, but after the change of ends, started clawing back the deficit, and at 8-9 and serving, it looked like he was going to even things up, but I guessed right on the service reurn to hit a winner for 10-8.  Once again, Marco hit back on the next point, but I just did enough, so winning my second of the night in the deciding game, again by the narrowest of margins (11-9), to leave the final score on the night as 7-3 to Hit 'n' Hope.

On the next table, in form MK Classics were meanwhile beating Mursley Hawks 8-2, although Hawks were without star player Mervyn Phillips - off sunning himself in the Caribbean.  However, in his absence, Mervyn returns to the top of the Averages, courtesy of Marco's rare loss.