We had a bit of a Neston nightmare yesterday. At midday our banker at No.2, Sam Osborne Wylde, pulled out due some serious hip issues. Jonah Bryant is also injured so couldn't fill in for his mate Sam. Rob Owen must be training those boys too hard!
Sam Wileman offered to step in to play at number 5, but all players had to move up a position.
We made a great start when Emily was too good for Jamie Silvester (above), and Josh Owen was simply amazing in his match. This was by far his best performance of the season. He pulled off a wonderful win against Matt Gregory, when he was a massive underdog going into the match (below).
2-0 up and things were looking reasonably rosy, but we knew we were second favourite for the other three matches.
Ben Smith couldn't find any rhythm or consistent form against Welsh number 2, Emyr Evans. He lost 3-1 when we were hoping he could pull off the victory against Emyr, who he's beaten several times before.
Sam was up against a very fired up Mark Thomason, and even though he saved 4 match balls, he couldn't quite take the match to a fifth game, where anything could have happened.
It was all down to Lewis against Irish No.1, Sam Buckley. Each game was so tight up until 6-6, where Sam would have a run of points, as the pressure of his dominant play would take its toll on Lewis. Lewis put in a good performance but unfortunately for us, Sam was just a little too good, especially when play switched to the forehand side.
So, we lost 3-2, but luckily we have a nice cushion at the top, but Bowdon can reduce that gap to really put the pressure on our last 6 matches.
We have no match next week, but we're back at home on 11th February when we host The Northern. It looks likely we'll have Rui Soares and Ben Smith topping our order.
Andy Whipp
Photos: Richard Bradbury