Winter 2013 Week One

by former Captain and Club Champ Nick 

“Power” is defined in the English dictionary as

“control and influence over other people and their actions”, and “Bold” is described as

“willing and eager to face danger or adventure with a sense of confidence and fearlessness”

So it was that at the start of the Winter 2013 Bayside Tennis season, our new skipper, call sign “Forest”, boldly exercised his power on the Rd 1 Roosters line up.

On home soil, and with but a fleeting glance at our opposition Hampton, Forest stamped his authority over the team by throwing away the script and pairing Nick and Neale, as in his words “our gun no. 1’s” and putting himself with Yuri with an optimistic “we’ll make every game count”.

Yuri, who had just returned from rainbow land with a fresh coat of neon paint for his shoes (refer below), looked at Nick and said in a resigned voice “that will make the blog”. Neale eyebrows raised as high as his every ready grin and Nick just nodded to acknowledge that a new world order had arrived.

As matches were about to begin, Forest walked through the Rooster ranks starring at each combatant with steely resolve and then spoke directly forth with.........

“Follow me if I advance
Kill me if I retreat
Avenge me if I die.”

History is written by the victors, and when Forest looks back at the origins of the 2013 Winter season, he’ll be comforted by the victory plaudits that were bestowed upon him on that fine autumn day.

Whether it was out of love or fear, the Roosters delivered Forest the chocolates. A whole box of them! The Rooster No.1 gun’s fired with both barrels and did not drop a serve all day, and broke the opposition as regularly as the line-up at Bells Beach. The damage was 10-1 and 10-0 in the reverse doubs. Yes, the first donut scalp of the season on home soil.

In keeping with the new regime, the donut scalp was laid reverently at the feet of captain Forest in solemn respect of his tactical genius and Forest saw that it was good.  

With scoreboard damage inflicted, it was always going to be tough for Hampton to counter. And the combination of Alan and Yuri took their first  pair all the way to 9-9 before being cruelled 9-10 at the post. But this flesh wound would not deter the boys from recording their own victory.

With a rallying cry not heard of since ancient Greek times (or at least since last year’s Men’s doubles final), Forest flung off his arm cast into the gallery (thanks to the two Peters’, Jo and Michael for supporting) and Yuri brought in more bricks to the impenetrable wall, and the boys posted a victory in the reverse doubles to give the Roosters the day 3 rubbers to 1.

As a very enjoyable afternoon tea flowed over court 1 (including the return of the infamous carrot cake), the new skipper sat tall in the saddle  surveying the battle field and with quiet satisfaction was overheard to say

"A day may come when the courage of Roosters fails, but it is not this day."   

   

To this, his new minions scuttled around him whispering feverishly in the shadows of his great statue, that just maybe, perhaps, potentially, perchance possibly, could this be the first season that the Roosters go all the way and WIN the flag?

I dare not trust a hope, and despite Tom Waterhouse’ odds, it’s very exciting season ahead. 

  

Let Us Eat Cake: Thx Bis + the Girls...Yum

To Come...and subject to change

May 4: Home v Hampton (3-1 WIN)

Nick Yuri Neale Alan

May 11: Away v Glenhuntly

Peter Neale Yuri and Bruce

May 18: Home v Hurlingham Park 1

Nick Brian Mark Vic??  [or Neale OR Yuri]

May 25: Away v Beaumauris

Peter Alan Brian Neale

June 1: Home v St Pats Murrumbeena

Peter Nosti Mark Alan

June 8: NO PLAY

June15: Away v Hurlingham Park 2

BYE

June 22: Home v Parkdale

Dennis Vic Alan Brian

June 29: Away v Hampton

Nick Neale Yuri Alan

July 6: Home v Glenhuntly

Dennis Nosti Mark Brian

July 13: Away v Hurlingham Park 1

Neale Yuri Alan Brian

July 20: Home v Beaumauris

Alan Nosti Mark Neale

July 27: Away v St Pats Murrumbeena

Nick Brian Yuri Neale

Aug 3: Home v Hurlingham Park 2

BYE

Aug 10: Away v Parkdale

Alan Neale Brian and Dennis?? (‘Cos the sniff of finals will be in the air)