Meersbrook Park played out an end of season tie with Firth Park (on Friday 15th September) under the lights, securing the Doubles Title in Division 3 of the Sheffield Works League. The match finished 5-5 overall, leaving Meersbrook Park in 4th in the overall standings, just 3 points of 2nd placed Whitely Woods.
The evening was something of a celebration of the new wave of players who, under Terry’s experienced leadership, have come together and formed a winning team. Of the 8 players contributing on Friday, only Anges and Cei had previous season experience. The other 6 were in their debut campaign, with the majority of those having played only a handful of games. These facts were far from obvious on the green. Every player looked at home and played competitively. Indeed, the old hands, Agnes and Cei arguably struggled the most. They were against a really high class Firth Park pairing – both of whom were in the top 40 singles players in comparative Social League this season. Cei and Agnes have probably contributed more points than any other pairing towards our doubles crown this season, so we can forgive them a night off.
They were replaced on the green by Paul T and Tom. These fine young men have become doubles specialist in the course of the year and overcame a team of seasoned campaigners to clinch a 21-16 win in fading light. The win left clear blue water between Meersbrook and second placed Bradway B at the top of the doubles table; a remarkable achievement for these two and all the other doubles players who have contributed in the course of the campaign, including Paul J, who generously offered to sit out on this fixture with the title already secured.
Alex and Steve have also contributed doubles wins this season but were involved in singles matches against Firth Park. Each played out as somewhat epic encounters. Steve’s game began in beautiful afternoon sunshine and seemed to go on forever. It genuinely started in summer and ended in autumn. In between there were an infinity of single point ends, dead ends, and long waits for the doubles games to move across their playing lines, which did so with the speed of growing grass. This, added to Steve forlorn trudging to the jack when it looked like he had lost, which resembled the zest of a beach donkey carrying Billy Bunter strapped to a barrel of beer, meant it was dark when they came off. Steve had battled to a 14-12 lead but whether it was the fading light, heavier grass or change in tactics of his opponent, he was unable to press home the advantage. Despite several very close woods, he failed to secure another point.
Alex, who like several of the team were caught out by the early start time for the match and didn’t get a roll up, quickly fell 6-1 down. His opponent was using short marks and so, with the jack in his hand, Alex switched to his favoured corner to corner approach. This proved fruitful and the match fell into a pattern of scoring streaks with the jack as the two players played to their strengths. Alex was eventually able to come out with a creditable win to 17.
Jim is now very much a singles anchor for Meersbrook Park, although he too contributed important doubles points at the start of the season. By his own admission this was not his best night. Conditions were however difficult for those going on under lights with a very heavy dew on the grass on a green that was slowing with every minute. He lost to 16, a score good enough when combined with Steve’s losing 14 and Jon’s win to 9 to secure the aggregate singles points and levelling the overall match at 5 a piece.
Celebrations were taken (fittingly) to the Crown. There was a real sense of positivity about the 2024 season. A collection of newbies have become a formidable team of competent and confident performers. It was agreed that we need to encourage more of the talent that we know exists within the club to make the same transition next season. We’ve taken a chance and jumped in the deep end. Not only was the water nice – but we’ve come out the the doubles title!