Last week brought mixed fortunes for the team. They lost out 3-2 in a tough battle with The Northern but then league leaders , New Brighton slipped up against strugglers, Prestbury. That moved Northern past Grove Park into second place in the table, but leaves just five points dividing the top three teams.
The performance of the night went to Ky Hibberd who had an epic encounter with the physical, Chris Clark. The match was ugly with no flow to the game but that just made it all the more tense and exciting. There was nothing between these two players at any point and so it eventually moved into a fifth and deciding game. There were lets and strokes aplenty, some great shots and quite a few shocking ones, but at the end it was Ky who keep his head to play the winning shot and take it 11-9. That extended his winning run to an impressive eleven matches. Alex Cutts, the 20 year old from Sheffield, was the other Grove Park winner. After taking a two nil lead, he let it slip, but came home comfortably enough in the fifth. In the absence of Laurence Delasaux, Andy Whipp predictably despatched Dave Barnett without to many problems. Yawar had a chance to steal the second game against Aqueel Rehman but ultimately struggled to keep up with the pace of the World No.130 and Austrian No.1. Perhaps it was at No.3 where Grove Park could have snatched an unlikely win, but Morgan Hibberd was lacking his usual touch against Durham youngster, Josh Harris, and went down 3-1
This week the First Team will be looking to avenge their 3-2 first half defeat against mid-table, Fairways Lodge. Northern play New Brighton this week so a big win against the Prestwich side could push the First Team back to the top of the table, as the top two take points off each other. This is the last chance to see the First Team play at home until 23rd February! So please come down and support the team.