LEAGUE

Egerton are

a knockout EGERTON captured the Winter League Knockout Trophy last Sunday, when they defeated Longsight, who found their third 40+ game handicap in a row too much.

The previous Friday Longsight had carved out an admirable semi final victory, after giving 45 games start to Bolton School B. Not that the latter simply rolled over, indeed for much of the match they threatened to prevail.

Cometh the hour, cometh 'The General', and Allan Sharples led his squad in fine fashion.

Sharples' partner Jayne Sayner herself made several important net interceptions, held serve on no less than three occasions, and with Allison Brooks formed a ladies team which gave the exalted Bev Gregory/Yvonne Lancaster-Hunt pairing plenty to think about. If lacking some of the latter's finesse, they ducked and dived, slid and sprawled, and chased, in attempts to keep themselves in the point and the clock ticking.

Chris Cotton also played well, abandoning his usual silky smooth game for some red-raw bare-knuckle baseline brawling with Longsight's bruisers, the honourable Michael Smith and Paul Nicholson.

Despite this spirited resistance, Longsight's apotheosis in leading Longsight through a demanding campaign to a glorious victory proved in fact, to be a match too far.

Nicholson hit his share of winners, but too many double-faults while Smith began well, serving and smashing to good effect, but off the ground clearly lacking his grandmother's vigilant concentration. A newly opened knee wound, and subsequent loss of a set were the first sign of Longsight's wheels coming off.

Efficient

In all this, Mrs Gregory and Mrs Lancaster-Hunt attempted to shore up an increasingly gaping hole.

Mrs G gave her usual assured display, careful, crouchen precision play, her low-slung forehand ladling out the pain and quietly efficient at the net. If her game lacks some power then it's perhaps as well. Mrs L-H played well, hit forcibly, hunted down lost causes, and formed a mutually enjoyable good-humoured partnership with Nicholson.

Egerton were always in control, and heroes to a man. If Emma Foxhall was less consistent off the ground than usual, she still displayed a casually consummate skill on the high backhand drop volley, and some startlingly sharp forecourt reflexes. Mike Heaton's remorselessly heavy and accurate hitting forced many an error, and his solid serve also chalked up the games.

Mike Foxhall gradually adjusted to the pace, defended stoically, and sniffing Longsight's failing male resolve, went for the jugular.

If there was an Egerton star, it was Joy Cameron who covers the court like a Botticelli breeze. Always willing to go for her shots and she attacks the ball with palpable relish.

So -- congratulations to Egerton. Silverware (may be) in their first season. Commiserations to Longsight, who have enjoyed an all-round successful season. A good match, played in entirely the right spirit, and a fitting climax to another winter season.