Round 12 July 30, Port Melbourne away: We’re in the semi’s !!!!!!!!!

 

Round 12 July 30, Port Melbourne away: We’re in the semi’s !!!!!!!!!

A fantastic win by our masterclass Team against 4^th place incumbents Pt Melb! Nick & Dean as #1 pair, and Nosti & Alan as #2 pair only dropped 12 games while winning 40, giving our best game win ratio yet (and 2^nd of all the matches played by all the teams in the Comp). The Captain is happy (finally...) J

Team	season 1st half		season 2nd half
	% games won	points	% games won	points
MCC	20%	0	61%	7
Hamton U	63%	8	59%	7
Hampton	52%	6	71%	8
Glenhuntly	46%	2	63%	7
Port Melb	48%	2	77%	8
Mordialloc	57%	6
Parkdale	43%	2
		26		37

Here is the ladder after Saturday’s matches with 2 rounds to go. 3^rd place is not really ours, as MCC have 2 easy matches ahead winning probably 16 points, while we have to play Parkdale & Mordi. The important thing is that Pt Melb have to also play the top 2 teams and we are 5 good points ahead and fielding stronger teams in both matches. That’s why the captain has declared that we are in the semi’s (barring any bizarre events):

Mens Sets 1 (Rd 12)	Pts	%
Parkdale	75.0	164.20
Mordialloc	75.0	141.78
Albert Park	63.0	124.92
Port Melbourne	58.0	108.23
MCC	55.0	124.83
Hampton	33.0	76.90
Glenhuntly	19.0	65.01
Hampton U/C	6.0	52.39

Mordi’s good players are back and walloped Parkdale 33 games to 28 last Saturday, so both teams are going to be difficult.

Match report; Saturday 30 July

This week’s titillating match report (in combination with the Big Tissue) has been composed by our man-about-town Alan, employing his jovial jingly journalistic juices to brilliantly capture the mood and events of the day:

Where’s The Captain?

Well this was it. The crunch game. The showdown. The decider. So says The Captain on Thursday evening about the looming Local Derby: Alb Pk v Port Melb. Two teams battling for a finals berth. Separated only by a few points and a postcode. Vein throbbing worryingly in temple, The Captain stresses the importance of said contest.

It would all

                 come down

                                      to this.

Combinations are settled, after Nosti withdraws because of flimsy work-related excuse. Pairings are confirmed: Nick and Mark; Dean and Alan. Who slug it out in evening damp on Thursday, after selflessly been warmed up by Yuri and Neale. Everything is locked in and nailed down.

Until Saturday afternoon.

Damp and drizzly.

When Alan arrives at Port M to find not Dean but… Nosti. All dressed up and ready to go.

“Where’s The Captain?”

“Out. I’m in,” says Nosti, before embarking on long and complicated story about leaving colleagues to get smashed and go Pole-dancing while he plays tennis.

All well and good, but Alan’s intense mental preparation for matches partnering Big Lefty is shot.

Nick arrives. With family. In civvies. Federer would never do this.

Dean arrives. With Kevin. Also in civvies. At least he has an excuse.

Port players arrive. Affable. Welcoming.

But clearly puzzled on observing competitition.

“Where’s Balicki?”

There is muttering about late changes to sides as published in Friday’s newspapers.

Play begins in drizzle. Neither side notices; nobody wants to split points.

Games go with serve. For a game or two.

And then….

Party time.

This is an exhibition.

Nick and Dean do what Nick and Dean do best. And win 10-3.

Nosti and Alan labour longer. But prevail 10-5.

A solid start.

Kevin nods his approval. Then asks: “Who’s The Captain?”

Port perturbed. But try to regroup. Then admit defeat even before final rubbers.

Because the crowd has rolled in.

Yuri is there.

Victor is there. In poncy suit. But the presence of a medical man is always welcomed by older players. Meaning Alan.

Not one but TWO Keddies, including Dr Peter (playing tag-team with Dr Victor) are also there.

But where’s The captain?

Supporters present can only admire as the non-contest is concluded with a pair of 10-2 wallopings.

Some of which are witnessed by

                                                    Yes!

                                                           Finally!

                                                                      Looking like he had planned it all….

The Captain!

Triumphant. The master tactician. Nelson after Trafalgar. Wellington after Waterloo.

And, of course, he claims credit for 8-0 result.

After all the on-court success, a’noon tea is somewhat anti-climactic. Lamingtons are all well and good, but where are the party pies? The sausage rolls? The pizza slices?

Port players, gentlemen all, take comfort in fact that Dismal Dees are simultaneously being walloped by Cats by an even more astounding margin.

And on we go.

Several matches ahead.

So let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Says The Captain.

Who, Nosti wants to make clear, has nothing to do with the Pole-dancing he had mentioned.

Next Snatch

This Saturday at home against the equal #1 team Mordi. Players are Dynamo Deano, Urbane Alan, misnamed Victor, and of course bringing up the rear as usual The Captain. Should be a toughie, but were hoping for a couple of points. Should be a hoot so bring your picnic blanket, umbrella and ipod and come watch the action!!