Pipping Poopdale

It Takes Two

Roosters v Parkdale 22 June 2013

via Gump Media

Bruce's knee cap: a bit like Daffy Duck's beak seems to have shifted during the match

So much for Roosters rosters.

From the original team selected, ONE player remained available as a sunny winter Saturday dawned. Way to go, Forrest. As for the rest, hmm, here we go: Neale in for Brian; Nick in for Dennis; Yuri in for Vic and then (late change, as the Seven helicopter swooped over Chateau Worontschak) Bruce in for Yuri.

But we had a team. Just. For a crucial clash against our old foes and friends from Parkdale. And in they wandered, Perry and Barry (looking sharp), old Peter (who still gives Dennis and Deano nightmares) and new recruit Tom, who distinguished himself by heading first for the wrong Albert Park courts.

Early match-committee meeting settled on Bruce and Neale as one pair; a victory for the Tuesday-night mafia. This left Caviar Nick with the skipper, which was stiff for Nick as, for extended periods here and there, his partner was more Gump than Forrest.

Conditions were lovely, except for savage sun into the eyes of anyone facing north. Records were probably set for the number of lobs tossed up from the other end.

A good crowd rolled in – many thanks to the usual suspects, plus Yuri, who limped in as the SOLE Rooster in the stands – to see the respective top pairs go at it. A great battle it proved to be, with Perry and Nick duelling in style across the net. Close match most of the way until Parkdale got a late break. Still, the home team was one point from squaring it up at 8-all. But no. Not quite. Perry brought visitors home in style, 10-7. Meanwhile, though, the Tuesday night tandem team were rock’n’rolling in style, Bruce and Neale thumping serves and groundies to claim an emphatic 10-3 victory.

Network Seven went to a half-time commercial break with Albert Park up by four.

And every one of those games proved useful. No panic in the stands when Nick and Forrest surged ahead in the reverse matches while B and N looked solid at 2-all. But then, possibly distracted by Jim Courier hyperventilating in the commentary booth, B and N went under the Perry steamroller 2-10. Putting Parkdale ahead. Temporarily. Nick served it out on Court Two for a 10-4 result. And when the maths were done, well, couldn’t get much closer. Two sets all. Roosters home, just, 29-27.

But two games will do it. Two games means Rooster crowed in the late afternoon sunshine. Victors once more.

A very genteel afternoon tea was served; the highlight being, again, cake from Bis and the Hinneberg girls. Neale NOW knows how the oven works, so next time there WILL be hot savouries. Big thank you to Bruce for coming off the bench so late in the week. Thanks again to all supporters.

We think that's a "2"

On we go. Away at

Hampton AWAY next Saturday.

Team, as it stands, Neale, Yuri (foot permitting), Forrest and XXX???

And finally...