Last night, had a match against a team who were joint 2nd in our league, 1 point behind my team, in 1st position. They played their team who as of yesterday:

Player 1: 91% average

Player 2: 86% average

Player 3: 47% average

If you've been reading my previous blogs, you'll know that I've been struggling with my match play recently. It really hit my confidence, and I just felt like I'd forgotten how to play TT properly and win! This match had a lot on it as whoever won would jump well clear of the other into 1st position in the league, and I had been nervous that I would just fall to pieces against these better players. Whilst I've still be clawing results out recently, I've not felt comfortable at all, and certainly haven't been playing TT as fluently as I can (even on a bad day)..

1st game on saw me play their Player 1. 1st end, I don't know what happened, I think I lost it 11-4, and it was really dreadful. I'd had a good knock before, but I kept missing every single shot, by no small exaggeration. I think the other player thought it was his lucky day. I was feeling pretty bad at this point, I felt like I was going down that hole again where I can't play! The guy had anti on his BH and inverted on FH, very consistent BH and blocking, and strong FH. Only his serves let down his general game IMO. I knew I had to play better to win, and I found myself 8-0 up in the 2nd! I think I won this end 11-3. So really, from here, it was back to square 1; best of 3. From here it was much tighter, and it ended up going to 5, and I won. I felt we were both evenly matched, but I played the better game and I had a few more attacking options, and I managed to hold back his attack. I even went back and lobbed a few which he hit off the end - a sure booster for me, and demoralization for my opponent! Really happy.

Next game was against their 3rd player, no problems here, reasonable player, but no threats to be worried about, 3-0.

My final game, against their 2nd player, whos also a guy I practice with at Draycott. He's beaten some of the top Draycott players, and is a very on/off player, with strong attack, serves, touch etc, but falls apart at time. In practice I'm 50/50 with him, and it showed here.  We were both in each others slipstream throughout the match, but he took the 5th with which was, from my POV, some beautiful shots. I know where I went wrong, and how I could have played better etc, but this guy really outplayed me in the final end, the shots stunned me! I was playing well, and getting my openers on, but he was really on them, some of the touch shots he played off them were immense, and when I attacked, he went back, then countered brilliantly. This was what I was feeling at my end, anyway!

So yeah, we won 7-3. The guy I lost two beat one of our other players in 5 and lost to our other player in 5, IMO he was the best player of the night, producing some winning shots out of nowhere, very regularly!  The win against their other good player gave me alot of confidence, and even my loss, I really feel like I'm back on track with my TT. Played more like how I feel I should play, but I still have alot of loose ends to tie up. Aside from my game, there was some really great TT played on the night, the best match for a spectator I've played in all season.

Weak points now: Shot choice (mainly on placement, not my position) and loose ends on attacking; missed a few that I know I should put away (need more composure in big rallies). Serves are always weak, got to sort that over summer!

Last night was a tight one. We were struggling for players, so had to play myself, our captain (weakest player on paper), and then a young lad from 2 divisions below. I knew it was going to be tight; as well as playing a weak side, I'm not at my best at the moment, and a win was pretty much reliant on me getting 3.

It was a return visit, and I'd won 3 comfortably last time, but just recently I've lost my match mojo! First game on, I went 2 up, not by any skill, just from hitting the table, the guy won the next 2 and then I won comfortably in the 5th by actually attacking. This 5th game is what I do normally, although its feeling very awkward at the moment.

Next game was against the junior of their team, and I was very lucky here. Again, I didn't feel as though I was actually using any skill during the game, just experience. In the 4th he had 4 match points all at deuce, of which I somehow won them all; alot of luck, combined with the fact I think he was abit nervous as the prospect of beating a player at the top of the averages. I won the 5th and went on to claim the 4th. I won the 5th comfortably on paper, but it didn't feel comfortable!

Final game was against their weakest player and he was quite weak, had no real weapons, so it didn't really matter how I played, he just kept missing the ball/table, won 3-0.

We won 6-4 and they conceded the final game as it was getting late and they had to get out (was played at a school). Win or lose the final game, it would have made no difference to the points. Our 2nd player was playing great and won 2/2 of his games. Our young junior playing up for us played fantastically in parts, but just couldn't contain the match when he got ahead. I felt sorry for him, seems to have alot of potential, just couldn't seem to get that winning feeling.

So overall, we won, no problems, but it didn't feel good for me. It didn't help that the tables were dead, no bounce whatsoever (an old Butterfly Nippon  table on dodgy floor). Even so, the fact is, I'm not upto scratch at the moment, and to be fair, they did play the right game against me, considering my weaknesses on the night.

It was the same situation last week. This time though we had already won the game, and in my 3rd game we ended up playing on 2 tables to finish quickly, and I just had no bite to my game. Just felt abit empty whilst playing, no real care. Mind you, we had won already, but I should still be bothered shouldn't I? Again though, the guy (an older chap, who lobs) won in 5, and despite playing really well, he seemed shocked to beat me. I was actually pleased for him, he did play a good game, there's no denying that, and he was really gracious about winning. He'd won their team a consolation point too, so they were really pleased about it.

I know I'm not working hard enough in games at the moment, that's for sure. Last night I was thinking how little I was working my legs, especially my thighs. If I'm moving and looping well, my thighs usually ache. 4/6 of my last matches have gone to 5, and these are matches that really I should be winning in 3/4. I know it sounds big headed, but I am realistic about my game. My average is where its at at the moment because I'm having a good season (much much better than I ever expected), and I always judge myself from paper wins/loses rather than what I believe/think - I know what I'm capable of though.

I don't know why I'm complaining, I'm still on 92% and we are top of the table now, its just so hard when your expected to win. I just don't feel like I'm up to scratch in matches at the moment that's all. Important match next week, I need to make sure I'm playing better then or else they will have a field day against me!

First game of the year, and we won 9-1, I won my 3/3, in 5,4&3.

The game in 5 was the key game of the match for me, because it was against a guy I've known since I started league TT, and he's always been very good and I'd never beaten him (until now!). Won the 1st game, then lost 2nd and won the 3rd, he won the 4th and then I won the 5th 12-10, after being 11-9 down. This may sound tight, and it was really, but I always felt like I was behind, even when I was actually ahead. Only reason for this is that I kept missing my BH opening loop over and over again. I was counting even, 8 times in one game, thats 8 points I just gave to him, for free! I know why I miss it, I've been through it with blacksheep - sometimes I don't go forward through the ball and I try to go up it too much, and so, giving myself a very difficult shot to time; whereas going forward through the ball as well as much, ensures impact on the ball!

Thing is, whilst I know what I should be doing, for some reason, its not as ingrained in me as it should be (in the past its been good). I'm not sure what I've adjusted recently, but it just doesn't work, unless I'm constantly thinking, go through the ball! Anything I can do, apart from just practice it over and over?

Christmas is over, the New Year has begun, and I can't wait to get back into TT.

Derby

After 7 games (9 being halfway), its very tight at the top of the table (my team: LE4): 

http://www.tabletennisuk.info/tables/derbys/derby/autotables-div1/derby_1.php

Had to postpone the 8th game (against CD3 ), and the 9th is next Wednesday (against Sawley)

Also in the Derby league, we have got through to the last 8 of the handicap cup, bring on the quarter finals in Feb.

Nottingham

In Nottingham, I've still not played another league match (div3), but played in the cup last 16 before Christmas which we lost. It wasn't without its positives however: my handicap had been moved into division 1 level, and the match being against a division 1 team, I ended up starting from behind (ranging from 4-8) to 21. I won 2/3 2-0 easily, and the 3rd, the guy probably shouldn't had had so much of a start on me. I simply ran out of ideas trying to salvage myself back from behind.

GP's

I've still only played Liverpool and Newcastle this year. Couldn't make Doncaster this weekend, but its been postponed due to the snow. Pushed back to July, this gives me chance to make sure I'm available for it. Passing my driving  test wouldn't go a miss too, everything will be so much easier when I can drive. Hoping to play Blackpool in April. Noticed for the Doncaster draw, a guy I lost to 3-2 at Newcastle was the top seed in band 5. I've just got to keep on playing the tournaments, and eventually I'll get a break though.

My game at present

I'm playing well, but this will only become apparent when I get the chance to get results in matches. Practice at Draycott, I've realised there is no more value in playing games (as there was earlier in the season), as its got to the point where I've played everyone there so much I can gain nothing from it. I need to do some drills again as I've got abit sloppy in some areas where I should be tighter.

You can see my league table here my team being LE4:

http://www.tabletennisuk.info/tables/derbys/derby/autotables-div1/derby_1.php

The top 3 teams are all equal on 19 points after 7 games. There is also a team lower down stuck on P4W3 who could also be equal on 19 points, however they have been struggling to get a team out, and unless they sort it soon I can't see them challenging for the top; with their best team they are more than capable though. We only have left to play CD3 & S2 and then we have played each team once.

Next Wednesday will be my last match before Christmas and it's against CD3 (see table), so a win against them would sit us in a very nice position for the Christmas break. Our only loss was a 6-4 loss against RR1 with our weakest side, so next time round we should given them a better match.

For the non-UK people who may be this, a quick roundup of how my local league matches work:

Derby league : 3 vs 3 = 9 singles + doubles = 10 matches played best of 5, 11 up. 3 points for a win, 2 each for a draw and 1 point for a 7-3 or 6-4 loss.

For the better teams this makes things quite absolute, but if you really want to break clear of the pack, you need to aim for an 8-2 win against your rivals.

Played up in Derby Prem again last night. It was a Derby match against our club's 1st team.

Was great to play up again, but both times I've been asked to play up its been against the 2 best teams in the league. I would have preferred to play a mid-table prem team to have a better go at them. To get an idea of standard, the 3 players were all 75%+ in Derby Prem and 40%+ in Nottingham Prem. I lost all 3 3-0. Against the 1st two I did alright, if I'd have played JV last (I played her 1st) I would have definitely taken an end at least, but still, she certainly knows what she's doing, and is very controlled. Had some great rallies though, nice and long, and this was the most fun out the 3 games. I really think that being able to have long rallies in a match situation really shows I'm doing somethings right (and other things wrong!). CA just had a fantastic flat hit BH, just flew from any height, even low down, and SM, well, hit some good shots here and there, but just too good for me, really good serves.

Overall, just abit too much class for me yet, and I'm not used to that level of intensity. Certainly the 1st two JV&CA, this is the kind of standard I'm aiming to get to in a years time. I don't know if this is a reasonable aim, but I don't see why not. SM is just another level up- doesn't matter how good my shots might get, just need more and more experience. There's still a gap between me and the standard I'm aiming for in a year, this really proves that I need to work my way up, and work harder, rather than hoping to keep playing as I am and magically be able to beat them.