Winter Week 2

Our new sponsor now with 2 new flavours:
Mark Zer0 and Al Zer0

From ZERO to HERO and back again 

This week's match report by roving reporter, disgraced former captain and future Club President Nick Hinneberg

– a tale by the Albert Park Men’s Doubles team in Rd 2

The wind blew hard and the rain threatened a wash-out as 4 gallant Albert Park journeymen marched up the path to the MCC gate.

Alan and Mark, Nick & Kneil had bravely answered the Rd 2 call, but no one could have guessed that history (high and low) was going to be written that day.

Nieel's estimation of the size of Mark's balls

The MCC Team oozed home court confidence as proceedings got underway a little after 1.15pm. And they showed no mercy on court 2 by dispatching with ruthless serve and volley efficiency, the plucky duo of Alan and Mark. All of a sudden they had skipped out to a 6 – 0 lead, but there was to be no come back in this first to 10 game duel. The legend of the ZERO was to be born that afternoon because at approx 2.05pm, Mark and Alan yielded 10-0.

On the court 2. Nick and Neeal were fighting a rear guard action – that is, they were always behind and trying to overtake their opponents lead. Neither player could buy a decent serve but  kept their opponents honest. They went down 10-4.

So at 2 rubbers to ZERO down it was time to regroup. The 4 journeyman rallied together. They had each faced tennis adversity, had stared down the jaws of despair and laughed at the armpit of defeat. Surely a Phoenix could rise from the ashes and avenge them.

With the wind blowing harder and the trusty old Slazenger balls getting furrier, the men of Albert Park picked up their weapons for battle in the reverse doubs. Would switching courts help their cause? Would several seconds of detailed tactical discussion make any difference?

Mark and Alan on court 1 were needing a lift, needing inspiration and desperately needing a game on the board to banish the ZERO voodoo. But tennis can be a cruel companion and on this fateful day it was holding them like a parent with 3 year twins crossing the Monash in peak hour – very, very very, tightly.

ZERO was the sum of their toil AGAIN and with that result, their deeds were immortalised in club history for time eternal, to be duly recorded in Club chronicles and team social night folklore. However, chivalry is alive and well as they dusted themselves off and keen of spirit, lent their support to their comrades on court 2 who were having a see-sawing battle.

I will skip to the SUMMIT MOMENT of this court 2 clash quickly. Suffice to say, Nick and Niel had trailed the MCC pair all match, but with Herculean effort has squared it up at 9-9. And now it was Neeal’s serve to finish it all off.

At deuce you could not have scripted a closer ending.

Not 1, not 2 but 3 match points were saved by the Albert Park team, and EACH one of them from Kneel’s blade. Here are some of the thinking’s of this great man with such clarity of purpose and single mindedness burned into his mind.

Dunkin Al: sweet but zero substance

Facing match point 1 – “No way are we going to lose this”. (Neillle hits a forehand winner during rally from deep behind baseline)

Facing match point 2 – “I’m too angry to lose to these guys” (Neeale serves down a 200km SECOND serve that is unreturnable)

Facing match point 3 – (and my personal favourite.......) – “I’m going to put him in the trees” a la Arnold Schwarzenegger style in Predator– Neaale’s first serve out wide into backhand corner is unreturnable.

Look up “balls of steel” in the dictionary – and there is a picture of NNeale. The HERO of the afternoon.

With their spirit was broken, our victory came soon after 10-9. We lost the day 3-1 on rubbers, but gained some great tales for the future.  

We will never know if the “coke ZERO” offer by the MCC team at arvo tea later was cruel, in poor taste or just downright funny – but it tasted great and the sandwiches were awesome.  And so, peace descended on the hamlet of MCC, and we all will live happily ever after
(at least until the rematch in Rd 7!).

    

So on to next week at home V the Parkdale Pooves and it's

Deano (first game back) Al (Zero) Yuri (first game in 5 months) and the in form (first game in a year) Brian

Hit up 6-30 Thursday. Be there!

STOP PRESS:

 
IN NEWS TO HAND ALL FURTHER MATCHES FEATURING ALAN AND MARK WILL BE TELEVISED ON THE 0-10 NETWORK

May 5 V PORT MELBOURNE PILLOW BITERS (home)

brian yuri mark nel                                         WASHOUT

May 12 V MCC MAGGOTS (away)

neale nick mark alan            3-1 LOSS Mark&Al 10 zip x2

May 19 V PARKDALE POOVES (home)
deano alan mark brian                         DRAW


May 26 V GLENHUNTLY GIRLS (away)

mark nick yuri dennis alan


June 2 V STELLA MARIS HEATHENS (home)
mark nick nosti vic deano


June 16 V PORT MELBOURNE PILLOW BITERS (away)
 nosti dennis brian neale

June 23 V MCC MAGGOTS (home)
brian nick vic yuri mark


June 30 V PARKDALE POOVES (away)

July 7 V GLENHUNTLY GIRLS (home)

July 14 V STELLA MARIS HEATHENS (away)

July 21 V PORT MELBOURNE PILLOW BITERS (home)
July 28 V MCC MAGGOTS (away)

Aug 4 V PARKDALE POOVES (home)

Aug 11 V GLENHUNTLY GIRLS (away)

Aug 18 V STELLA MARIS HEATHENS (home)

Aug 25 SEMI-FINAL nick dean

Sept 1 FINAL nick dean