Published 28/04/2024 13:49 by David Wackrill.

courtesy of Nick Howard

Kings save the best until last as they spoil the champions party.

Needing just 2 points to claim yet another MK Premier title, MK Spinners rolled out Jecu, Tim and Gareth to face off against the familiar trio of Nick, Guy and Jordan.
Those 2 points weren’t going to be easy to come by, as the Kings were hoping to guarantee at least a 4th place finish, yet dreaming of 3rd - A long long way away from the foot of the table, where they were at Christmas.
Nick and Tim set the tone for the evening with a brutally long 5 setter in game 1. Tim doing very well to claw his way back from a 2-0 deficit, and whilst no one likes to dwell on nets and edges….. It’s fair to say that Tim had his season’s worth in this match.
But it’s not how many you get, it’s when you get them, and Howard picked the right time to get his first edge of the match when serving at match point in the 5th….. Disgusting behaviour from the Kings captain!
After coming back from 6-2 down in their first set, Guy nicked it from Jecu at the end. A momentary lapse of concentration for the Spinner saw the 2nd set disappear in a flash, and whilst the 3rd was close, Guy was never in trouble.
Jordan and Gareth played another epic in match 3. Some cracking rallies and shot making from both players went right to the death, with Gareth finally getting over the line 11-8 in the 5th.
3 of the 4 open doubles finalists were on display in the doubles match, with Tim standing in for Alan this time. Jecu and Tim did slightly better than Jecu and Alan in the final, managing to take an end off Nick and Guy, but the Kings pair turned on the style to win it in 4.
Match 5 produced the 3rd 5 setter of the evening, and the longest one yet!
Tim was looking to get full value for money as he chopped and blocked his way against Guy, who hadn’t quite adjusted to the pimpled Spinner.
But 5, very long sets later, Sparrow fell over the finish line 12-10 in the 5th.
At 9:30pm, we were just about to start match 6!
Thankfully, a short match, and a reverse of the previous score line where Gareth beat Nick 3-0.
Howard having a purple patch, and couldn’t really miss, wrapping it up in double quick time.
Jecu and Jordan kept things moving quickly - A 3-0 win for the Spinner on this occasion, which also gave Spinners their 2nd point of the evening, and their name on the converted Premier League trophy.
Congratulations, and well deserved!
Guy and Gareth was another quick one, the Kings star recording a well deserved hat trick by beating Jones in 4.
One more 5 setter was on the cards, and if you hand’s guessed it, Tim “5 setter” Cheek was in action against Jordan.
Credit to Moss, coming back from a 2-0 hole to take it to 5, but the wily Cheeky Spinner found some form to win the 5th comfortably.
Which left Jecu and Nick to finish the evening, in a match that ended up giving Spinners their heaviest (and only 2nd) loss of the year.
Howard providing too much fire power this evening, for his own hat trick and a share of the 7-3 win.

For anyone still reading, I’d just like to say “thank you” - With Covid and my own back surgery last summer, it’s been fantastic to get playing again, and the atmosphere is always excellent.

This is our final match of the year, so we are now 11 points clear of Sasaki in the race for 3rd….. But they have Pumas (who they played tonight) and LB Van Hire to play, so they are odds on favourite to pick up the most important prize in table tennis…… 3rd place.
It’s been a pleasure, and I’ll see you all next season.