Cos it's my blog I'll indulge in a bit of fiction. So, here is THE game between these two mighty players!
Foam v Haggisv
Commentator 1: It's finally here! The great tussle between two giants of the game of table tennis. Conditions couldn't be better on the centre court, and both players look fit and ready to go.
Commentator 2: It certainly looks to be a tough match, especially because the chief umpire is Reborn - and we know what a stickler he is for the rules. How do you think this game will go?
C 1: (shaking his head) It's going to be a close call, but my money's on Haggisv. Foam has always admitted to inexperience playing against pips and his opponent is dangerous with them.
C 2: I think your right, but I wouldn't dismiss Foam just yet. Having seen him playing at the Geelong Vets recently, I saw a man who gives it his all. He's also very good under pressure. It'll be interesting to see what tactics he employs tonight, especially with Reborn in the umpire's chair.
C 1: You mean his suspect four inch serve?
C 2: (laughing) How easy is it to compare four inches to six? I just hope Foam doesn't concern himself with that little controversy. I think we all want a good match. A good match that flows without too many interruptions.
C 1: They're coming out onto the court now. Haggisv is looking relaxed, stretching a bit and taking a drink of water. Foam looks the same. They're handing their bats to the umpire for inspection. Reborn seems to like what he sees and hands them back to the players.
C 2: I think part of the excitement of this game is that neither of these players have competed against each other.
C 1: That's true, and both have experienced a string of successes recently.
C 2: Looks like Haggisv will be serving for the first set. Both players are ready.
C 1: Haggisv serves deep into Foam's backhand side and manages to punch-block it back. Haggisv is winding up - whoa! - he returns the ball with heavy topspin and it loops to Foam's forehand. Good footwork sees Foam counter hit and the ball goes wide and clips the edge of the table. Foam raises his hand in apology, but first point to him.
C 2: Not a great way to win the point, but I'm sure both players will take what comes.
C 1: Haggisv serves a short, spinny ball into the centre of the table and Foam pushes it back. He manages to keep it short and his opponent flicks it with his backhand pips. Again, exceptional footwork sees Foam retreat from the table and bring the ball onto his forehand. He digs the ball up and sends it flying back over the net. Haggisv confidently loops it back, but it goes right into opponent's strike zone and Foam counter loops it low and fast into Haggisv's body. Another point for Foam!
C 2: Well, this must give Foam some extra confidence. I bet he never thought he'd get the first two points, especially on the receiving side. I think this is turning out to be a great game.
C 1: Foam to serve. He tosses it up, but his fouled by the umpire. He doesn't look happy. Reborn gestures that he felt the toss was too short.
C 2: Foam does look annoyed now, but he needs to compose himself.
C 1: He serves again, but this time Reborn doesn't react. Haggisv turns the ball onto his pips and Foam's return sails over the table. 2-1. The next serve is also good and both players settle in to a grand display of forehand counter hits. Boy, Haggisv sure puts a lot of side spin on his shots.
C 2: Foam is quick, though. This is a good rally!
C 1: Ouch! Haggisv's might have put a little too much side spin on that last ball as it fails to find the table. 1-3.
C 2: The next serve from Haggisv is deep and it hits the edge of Foam's bat sending it flying into the air. 2-3. What's this? The umpire has just fouled the next serve. It looks like he didn't like the way Haggisv was holding the ball before tossing it up. I can only guess that Reborn thought his hand wasn't completely flat before the toss.
C 1: His next serve is okay and both players get stuck pushing short balls. Foam goes for a forehand flick, but it clips the net and races off the side of the table. 3-3.
C 2: Looks like both players are having a word to the umpire. Reborn's just shaking his head with his hands raised in defense. Both players return to the table.
--- Moments later ---
C 1: The score stands at 9-5 in Haggisv's favour. Foam to serve. It's long and right into his opponent's crossover point. Haggisv manages a soft return, which is smashed away by Foam. 6-9. He serves long again, but this time Haggisv hits the ball hard and fast, and it forces Foam to step back and block. Haggisv winds up again and the smash makes Foam dive to his forehand where he connects with the ball and lobs it up. The ball eventually lands in the middle of the table and Haggisv kills the ball with an almighty whack! 6-10.
C 2: Looks like the first set is going to Haggisv.
C 1: I wouldn't underestimate Foam's determination, yet. He forehand flicks the short serve and it skids passed Haggisv. 7-10. The next serve is to Foam's backhand, long and with plenty of topspin. Foam slashes at the ball and it just makes the edge of the table. He apologises again. But I think that's the first smile we've seen from him for a while. 8-10.
C 2: Yeah, he is a very serious player. He can afford to smile right now, especially as he gets to try and serve himself out of trouble.
C 1: His first serve is pulled up again by the umpire. Reborn indicates that he wasn't happy with the height of the toss. Foam moves to the other corner and serves mid-distance into Haggisv's forehand, but his return is a little awkward and it gives Foam an opportunity to drive it back with speed. Haggisv blocks and is forced into an attack verses defense rally. He tries to change the flow, but he misses the ball completely. Deuce!
C 2: Wow, this is just the first set. I think we're in for a great night of table tennis.
C 1: Haggisv serves fast and deep. Whoa! It shoots straight passed his opponent, who looks at his bat and shakes his head in disbelief. 11-10. Foam tosses high and serves short to Haggisv's backhand. He returns it with his pips, but it's a little too high and Foam makes short order of it - smashing it down the line for a point. 11-11.
--- Moments later ---
C 2: Do you think they can apply the expedite rule to a situation like this?
C 1: I've never seen anything like this. The score stands at 55-54 in Foam's favour, and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere near a result. Both these players are visibly exhausted, but they're managing to find extra reserves of energy.
--- Many moments later ---
C 1: This is ridiculous now. The first set has been going for almost two hours and the score stands at 121-120 in Haggisv's favour.
C 2: It's not made any easier with all the re-serves because of the umpire's decisions. Regardless of that, and I'm not going to start nit-picking the umpire's decisions, this has been an amazing game. Do you think we'll see a result soon?
C 1: The game's just gone to deuce, again! Both players call time-out.
--- Almost sunrise ---
C 1: I think a decision is being made to call this match a draw. With the score on deuce at 348 a piece, it doesn't look like either player is able to force a result.
C 2: Yeah, the umpires have been talking for a long while now and it seems they've come to a decision. Reborn's waving his hands to us to indicate that the match is over. Both players just manage to muster up enough strength to shake each other's hands. They finish by shaking the umpire's hand and shuffle off to the dressing rooms.
C 1: What a game!
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Last edited by Oskar on 20 Apr 2012, 12:24, edited 1 time in total.
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