Pullen’s accurate serve frustrates opponents
Henley second team played Bicester at home in the Oxfordshire league and squeaked a win 3/2.
Andy Walters played the deciding match of the evening and despite the pressure and losing one game, eventually overcame Nick Barnet 3-1.
Chris Wallace took his opponent, Chris O’Brien to two match points, but could not get over the line losing 2-3.
Paul Sayers at third string had a disappointing match against Simon Fletcher and despite his many unorthodox winning shots and fast running was not good enough to take a game losing 0-3.
James Knight in the match of the evening did not allow Jon Childs any leeway and even though Childs hit apparent winner after winner, Knight was always able to retrieve and hit good shots in return, with Knight winning a gruelling match 3-0.
Derek Oswald, currently playing at the top of his form blew away Nick Savins 3-0 with a mix of power and guile.
Henley 15 points Bicester 5.
Henley 4ths entertained Oxford-based Gladiators in a bottom of the table
clash on Thursday.
Betts kicked off the evening at 5th string with a gutsy performance but his more experienced opponent controlled the ‘T’ to take the match 3-1.
4th string Gildersleve was unable to disrupt the game of his in-form opponent and lost 3-0.
However, the tide looked to be turning when 3rd string Ireland frustrated his opponent with accurate serving and decent length to win 3-0.
Pullen at 2nd string then put in his best performance of the season to destroy his opponent 3-0. Pullen’s trademark serve to his opponent’s backhand being so accurate that his opponent was heard to constantly mutter “I just don’t know what to do.”
In the end, it was all down to Smallman at 5th string. However, despite having a couple of match
points, the unorthodox Smallman tired in the 5th game to lose 3-2.
Overall, Henley lost 3 matches to 2, but a good evening was had by all.
Henley Veterans had another good match at home against Bounty 2 of Basingstoke, winning 4 matches to 1, Henley 17 points Bounty 2, 7 points.
Jim Lynn at first string allowed Neal Wright to take the first game 10/8, but in winning that game Wright was exhausted and not until the 4th game did he show further resistance coming back from 8/2 down to nearly winning the game but Lynn managed to win the match 8/10, 9/1, 9/4, 9/7.
Trevor Cox was nowhere near his best form but was too good for Jose Canero in a scrappy game winning 9/5, 9/3, 9/3.
Roger Booker breezed past Mark Barrett at third string with his tricky shots proving too difficult for Barrett with Booker winning 9/5, 9/7, 9/7.
Chris Pullen was too cunning for a slightly overweight Peter Jones and despite losing the first game prevailed winning 6/9, 9/5, 9/4, 9/2.
Jill Campion had to retire in the first game against John Downer giving Bounty their only success of the evening.
The veterans retain their position in Division 2 of the Berkshire vets league and despite being docked points for an out of order team last week still have a good chance of promotion.
The Oxfordshire League Tables can be seen here.
The Berkshire Veterans League Tables can be picked up here.
