The good start continues! The Late Summer season is two weeks in and Writhlington have had two clean sweeps! Both Ladies and Men’s Seniors won 8–2 against teams that had won 10–0 in the previous week, which bodes well for future matches.

The Mixed Firsts are marginally ahead in the match against Backwell (who also won last week!), but there is a rubber to finish later in the week, mainly due to a late start by Backwell.

The Mixed Seconds had an impressive 6–4 win at Bath, with Bev Roberts and Richard Chapman being the main difference between the two teams.

A reminder that there is a Club Day on 14th August, 10 a.m.–12 noon, plus the usual Club Nights on 9th and 16th.

Men’s Seniors

Writhlington 8-2 DL Westbury

It’s been a very long time since I have written a match report. So long, in fact, that I have lost all my templates that I use to just change the names and the scores and Andy didn’t notice! So, this one I’m having to do from scratch.

An afternoon telephone conversation with the Men’s Coordinator confirmed that he had put the asterisk against my name purely by accident whilst typing the previous week’s email and, reluctantly, he couldn’t be bothered to change it. There followed a one hour 45 minute discussion about the evening’s tactics interspersed with comments about my commitment, lack of availability and training. (Actually that’s wrong – it was 1 hour 42 minutes . . . Andy).

So, at approximately 6.15 p.m., the team of Pete (Skip) Caddick, Derek (The Magician) Beg, Ray (Mr Commitment) Clarke and Andrew (I am the law) Tibber arrived at HQ.

After a very enthusiastic warm-up, Ray and Andrew took on the DL pair of Andy and Terry, unusually both left hookers! The Writhlington pair took control from the start and with Ray patrolling the net and Andrew solid on the baseline, they took the rubber in straight sets. 6–2, 6–2.

On the other court, the partnership between Pete and Derek was rekindled after a few seasons’ absence. They were playing a solid pair of John and Steve. It all clicked back into place for the Writhlington pair from the first game, when John’s serve was broken. The Magician was playing his whole repertoire of shots; inside out, delicate drops and that acute angle forehand volley that no-one can get to. Backed up by Pete, they also took the rubber in straight sets. 6–2, 6–2.

Pete and Derek then took on the two left handers. All seemed to be going swimmingly at 6–3 and 3–1 up. However, the wheels came off temporarily as the Writhlington pair started to play the wrong type of game against the visitors, trying to hit the big winner too early and they lost the second set 4­–6. They went back to basics in the final set and were very quickly 4–0 up, closing out the match 6–3, 4–6, 6–1.

The first rubber obviously took its toll on the Writhlington pair, especially when, half-way through, Andrew had a severe attack of cramp. We were unsure whether it was Ray’s first aid skills of stretching Andrew’s hamstring that made him recover so quickly, or whether it was Ray’s offer of rubbing some “Deep Heat” into his upper thigh that did the trick. Unfortunately, they were struggling after that and lost the rubber 4–6, 4–6.

The match was played in great spirit, just as a vets’ match should be. Although the visitors didn’t join us for a drink at The Fromeway, Pete was pleased to be in the bar and “not” be depressed, keeping (or starting) his 100% record as captain in Men’s Vets 2016! Starting the season with 2 x 8-2 wins is very encouraging, especially as eight different players have appeared on court for us!

Ladies Seniors

Cleeve Hill v Writhlington win 2–8

Rachel Gibbs and Tina Lindley took on Dawn and Anita. Mobility was a bit of an issue for Dawn, having had 33 operations on her knees and Anita wasn’t much more mobile. An easy rubber, with a notable second serve ace for Rachel, they were 6–0 up and 5–0 up and hoping for a double bagel when concentration lapsed and they dropped a game but won 6–1 overall.

Sarah Dawe and Janie Bullus then played them and it was a one-sided match where at one point, Dawn managed to hit herself with her racket on her left eye (Louise-esqué) and we had to wait for about fifteen minutes for the swelling to subside. Quick win 6–0, 6–0.

Rachel and Tina then played Gill and Sheila, a much stronger pair which was difficult after the first rubber. Mistakes started to creep in and unfortunately lost the rubber 3–6, 2–6.

Sarah and Janie took on Gill and Sheila. Sunny, but incredibly windy conditions made Sarah’s first serve unreliable, but we were able to generate enough pace to get it past them, or they would get a racket on it but it would end up in the house next door, after losing three balls, we only had one left, they had to get some more. Win 6–3, 6–1.