Sunday, March 20, 2005
Magdalen pair battle South London League match in the sunshine: Willcocks nicks it 6-3, 6-0
Gavin Rose and Roger Willcocks thrashed it out in the hottest day of the year so far in a nail-biting thriller. Well, nearly. In a game characterised by double faults, unforced errors and downright inconsistency, Willcocks hung in there long enough to take the three points. Strange how it goes, though. Willcocks won the first five games, Rose won the next three and Willcocks won the final seven.
Maybe there's a mental aspect to this game. "I wondered why he took his baseball cap off at one end ad tightened his shoe laces from time to time," said a perplexed Rose.
Gavin Rose and Roger Willcocks thrashed it out in the hottest day of the year so far in a nail-biting thriller. Well, nearly. In a game characterised by double faults, unforced errors and downright inconsistency, Willcocks hung in there long enough to take the three points. Strange how it goes, though. Willcocks won the first five games, Rose won the next three and Willcocks won the final seven.
Maybe there's a mental aspect to this game. "I wondered why he took his baseball cap off at one end ad tightened his shoe laces from time to time," said a perplexed Rose.
Magdalen shocked by Bill Buah's no show
Some claim he's done it before. Some say he's badly organised. Some say he's a pain in the arse. Whatever. At the champagne tea intended to be a bit of farewell to Dave & Lynn, the festive mood was overshadowed by speculation as to Bill Buah's motives. "Still," we heard one disgruntled former partner, "some of his calls were embarrassingly dodgy and there could have been trouble."
Some claim he's done it before. Some say he's badly organised. Some say he's a pain in the arse. Whatever. At the champagne tea intended to be a bit of farewell to Dave & Lynn, the festive mood was overshadowed by speculation as to Bill Buah's motives. "Still," we heard one disgruntled former partner, "some of his calls were embarrassingly dodgy and there could have been trouble."
Willcocks and Webb triumph without hitting a ball
"Well," jibed one Magdalen regular, "they can barely hit a ball anway."
"Well," jibed one Magdalen regular, "they can barely hit a ball anway."
Bill Buah hands victory to Webb and Willcocks on a plate
What a plonker! Finals day in the diary for yonks and Bill "has some other commitments".
What a plonker! Finals day in the diary for yonks and Bill "has some other commitments".
Magdalen Men's veteran triumph for Willcocks and Webb in no-set thriller
The crowd wanted a re-match. There had been talk about Patrick "cross-court" Dower's injury in the summer. Strong words had been uttered: Webb was accused of dropping balls deliberately short to his hobbling opponent. Bill Buah had miscounted the score.. (yeah right). Revenge was required: the hype was uncompromising. The repeat would be the true test. But Bill Buah never showed. "Chicken," said Webb.
It's a disgrace that Willcocks & Webb extended their unbeaten run and winning the tournament on two walkovers. It's even worse than Arsenal and Man United fielding second string sides.
The crowd wanted a re-match. There had been talk about Patrick "cross-court" Dower's injury in the summer. Strong words had been uttered: Webb was accused of dropping balls deliberately short to his hobbling opponent. Bill Buah had miscounted the score.. (yeah right). Revenge was required: the hype was uncompromising. The repeat would be the true test. But Bill Buah never showed. "Chicken," said Webb.
It's a disgrace that Willcocks & Webb extended their unbeaten run and winning the tournament on two walkovers. It's even worse than Arsenal and Man United fielding second string sides.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Wind at Magdalen assists Willcocks in scrappy South London league tussle
Chris Lloyd, who's already put David Maule - who trounced Willcocks - to the sword, came with high expectations. Battling through the breeze, Willcocks and LLoyd held serve all the way to 6-5, when Lloyd, feeling the squeeze and troubled by the crowd support for Willcocks, served up a double fault to lose the first set.
Willcocks stuck to his steady play to maintain supremacy, assisted by an interruption from Magdalen ladies seeking a court booking, and secure the second set 6-2.
Chris Lloyd, who's already put David Maule - who trounced Willcocks - to the sword, came with high expectations. Battling through the breeze, Willcocks and LLoyd held serve all the way to 6-5, when Lloyd, feeling the squeeze and troubled by the crowd support for Willcocks, served up a double fault to lose the first set.
Willcocks stuck to his steady play to maintain supremacy, assisted by an interruption from Magdalen ladies seeking a court booking, and secure the second set 6-2.
Willcocks chokes again in South London League
Astonishing, really. After 4 early service breaks, Willcocks chisels out a 5-3 lead against Adrian Crawford in the South London League. He blows the lead, letting Crawford sneak back to 5-5. Girding his loins, Willcocks piles on the pressure, holds his serve for 6-5 and powers to 0-40 on the Crawford serve. Three set points. Nowhere near enough. Crawford wins five straight points and lobs his way through the tie break to win the set.
Willcocks was broken and crumbled to a 1-6 loss in the second set. In the post-match analysis, Crawford revealed his strategy: "Seeing Willcocks come to the net on shots that weren't really deep enough, I had a target. A mixture of passing shots and lobs did the trick." Willcocks is a tall man compared to Crawford.
Astonishing, really. After 4 early service breaks, Willcocks chisels out a 5-3 lead against Adrian Crawford in the South London League. He blows the lead, letting Crawford sneak back to 5-5. Girding his loins, Willcocks piles on the pressure, holds his serve for 6-5 and powers to 0-40 on the Crawford serve. Three set points. Nowhere near enough. Crawford wins five straight points and lobs his way through the tie break to win the set.
Willcocks was broken and crumbled to a 1-6 loss in the second set. In the post-match analysis, Crawford revealed his strategy: "Seeing Willcocks come to the net on shots that weren't really deep enough, I had a target. A mixture of passing shots and lobs did the trick." Willcocks is a tall man compared to Crawford.
