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SleM writes
After our lesson at Kent, we were looking to bounce back strongly in another potentially tough match. This task was made to look even more difficult as three of the solid C Team regulars, Lee Manister, Brian Petty and Steve Rains, were missing, plus we lost Bluey Noel to the B Team. In fact, only 5 of the players that started against Kent were in the starting line up this time. It was going to be interesting to see how those who stepped in performed and the key for all of us was to try and get back to the way we started the season by being confident and positive.

Although Mark Miller took the opener, we then went 2-1 down, before Liam Pearson and Darren Porter put us 3-2 up. We then lost the next four to go 6-3 down, however, this turned out to be our low point in the match and we then really kicked on (probably in part thanks to the timely food break!). Darren Dods and Simon Le Marchant won the last two of the first session to get us back to just one behind.

Although we lost the opening frame of the second quarter, we then rattled off the next five thanks to wins from Dan Barthrop, James East, Liam, Darren Porter and Bob Taylor, to go 10-7 up. London then mounted a mini revival, winning 3 out of the next four, with only Chris Pidgeon standing in their way. Simon, however, won the last frame of the quarter, to give Surrey a 12-10 lead at the half-way point.

We then won 2 of the first three frames of the third quarter, thanks to Dan and James, however, London then won the next three to make it 14-14. Rather than going into our shells at this point, we put in what turned to be a decisive spurt, as Dave Tootill, Chris, Jim Miles, Darren Dods and Simon all won to put as 5 ahead at the start of the final session of the match.

London then took 3 of the next 5, with only Dan and Liam standing in their way, however, Luke Willsher stepped in and won his frame to ensure at least a draw. Dave then followed this up by taking the frame that took the Team over the winning line. We then only lost one further frame, thanks to wins from Chris, Darren Dods and Simon.

The final score was a comfortable 26-18 win and, in my opinion, was our best Team performance of the year so far, particularly bearing in mind the disappointment of the last two matches and some of the players that were missing.

There were a number of good performances, notably from Liam, Dan, Chris and Darren Dods, who all got 3. The proud captain, Simon, won all 4 and the Man of the Match award, however, it was the Team performance that stood out on the day, as it was probably the most vocal and "together" we have been all season. Lets hope that we can take this into our next match at home to Hampshire on 21 June.

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