Match Report Monday 15th July AKA ‘Clash of the Handbags’

With the usual suspects all away on some kind of duty, Jim ‘Gump’ Planning his bar mitzvah and Gary ‘lights out’ planning his latest cyber hacking scandal it was Nik ‘Robin Hood’ Tucker who was the surprise omission after he was trying on his new Ben Sherman Shirt ready for Danny Dyer the Musical Audition at Colne Muni.

Anyway….

Controversy surrounded the evenings TT Proceedings in what proved to be a crucial week in the promotion and relegation battles. The 2 unbeaten giants Daz ‘Sharp Blade’ Wright and Tony ‘Hey Tony’ Holden gained more wins to make their title credentials a little bit more rosy.

However it was the at the bottom end of the champions league that the action really took place. Pre race, WADA called in for a Urine sample from Danny ‘Flash’ Scanlin and despite passing with flying yellow colours he was cleared to face Ken ‘Big Jen’ Jensen. After drawing their handbags with flash sporting a black prada lucky lucky man special and Big Jen waving his pink Tod Market Versace special it really could have gone either way.

Anyway here is the rest of the Match report to settle any dispute in points in the Future.

NO VOLLEYS with an exception (see highlighted)

NO HANDS TOUCHING THE TABLE

See you Monday

Sharp Blade

RULES

ADDING UP THE POINTS
The winner of a match is the one who wins the first THREE (big league) or TWO (champs & europa) games ( or according to the competition set)
A game consists of 11 points
There must be a gap of at least two points between opponents
If the score is 10-10, the game goes in to extra play until one of the players has gained a lead of 2 points
The point goes to the player who successfully ends a rally
The score of the server is always announced first

SCORING
A player scores a point when his opponent commits one of the following errors:
He isn’t able to return the ball.
He returns the ball outside the opposite side of the table.
He lets the ball bounce more than once in his own court before returning it.
He touches the ball several times successively.
He strikes the ball in volley (without it bouncing on the table) above his side of the table.
He moves the table during play.
He touches the net or a post.
His free hand touches the table.
He makes a bad service (see service)

RULES OF THE GAME:
If the ball touches the table surface, it is declared in
If it touches the side of the table, it is declared out
A player is not allowed to strike the ball in volley, unless the opponent’s ball leaves the table and I strike the ball in volley behind the table, in which case the point would be given to me.

SERVICE
The initial order of serving is decided by lot. Service changes every 2 points, except during periods of extra play where it changes each time. Service must adhere to the following rules :
The ball rests freely on the open palm of the hand.
The hand holding the ball must be above the level of the table.
The ball should be projected upwards (at least 16 cm)
The ball should be struck when it is falling and behind the table.
The ball should first bounce in one’s court, then in the opponent’s court.
Service can be diagonal and also in a straight line in singles
Service can be replayed when :
The ball touches the net or its supporting posts before touching the opponent’s court (”let” service)
The ball touches the net then is struck in volley by the opponent without it touching his court.
The receiver was not ready at the time of service.

DOUBLES
Service must be diagonal, from the right half court (marked by a white line) to the opponent’s right half court After that, play can cover the whole table, but each partner must take his turn.

Service changeover in Doubles:
A1 serves to B1 (2 services),
B1 then serves to A2 (2 services),
A2 then serves to B2 ,
B2 serves to A1 and continuing in this way for every 2 services. Following service, each player takes turns to return the ball.
In addition to the aforementioned cases in singles, a doubles team scores a point when its doubles opponents make one of the following errors :
At service, the player lets the ball bounce on the left half court, on either side of the court.
A player strikes the ball when it is not his turn.
Obstruction is not an acceptable claim for players of the same doubles team