The Men’s Seniors managed to secure their place in Division Two next season with a good win over already-promoted DL Westbury.

MEN’S SENIORS 8 DL WESTBURY 2

DL Westbury sent their dream A pairing to ensure they took some points from us, and Chris Cox and Andy Jeffery had their two-year unbeaten run terminated that!

Richard Chapman and Simon Brand had very comfortable wins against both pairs (6-3, 6-1 and 6-0, 6-3), and whilst Chris and Andy easily won their first rubber 6-3, 6-1, in the second rubber, Chris Arnold and Doug Wood quickly learnt how to play the court and against us!

Some very astute tactical decisions by the Westbury pair (mainly lobbing us when we came to the net) gave them the edge in the first set, and wholesale slaughter in the second, for a 5-7, 0-6 Writhlington loss.

Richard and Simon had used the dual weapons of Simon poaching fearlessly at the net, and Richard changing the pace of the ball, against this very competent pairing.

With one match to go, we are in third place, but ‘safe’ from promotion or relegation!

Andy Jeffery

MIXED 1sts 2 REDLAND GREEN 8

This was to be a tough Friday night encounter for Writhlington Firsts, against top-of-the-table Redland Green.

A late change to the line-up meant a first match of the season for the father and daughter combination of Derek and Francesca Beg. Patrick Lodge and Mandy Baldwin completed the team.

With survival in Division One looking less and less likely, and Redland looking like runaway Champions, points were going to be hard to come by. Pat and Mandy have had some really bad luck as far as tie-breaks and Champions’ tie-breaks go in recent seasons, and once again both their rubbers went the distance.

The first match against Alex and Rachel was a cracker, producing some quality rallies, an array of deft drop shots, and unbelievable angles that we know Pat and Mandy can play so well. The first set went our way, the second to Redland who came back strongly. This time though, our pair edged the tie-break, and in doing that handed Alex his first Mixed rubber loss since October 2015! A brilliant result. 6-4, 2-6, 1-0.

Their second rubber didn’t start quite so well against Steve and Kirsty, and it took a set to work out better tactics to use against a pair who were quick to get to the net and very solid when they got there. A better second set took us to another Champions’ tie break, but this time we couldn’t quite do it again, and lost it 10-5. 0-6, 6-4, 0-1.

Derek and Ces were having their own battles, and gained great credit during the course of this match. Ces’ powerful ground strokes and Derek’s trickery caused Steve and Kirsty plenty of problems, and almost did enough to take the first set... but not quite. We couldn’t quite reproduce that form in the second set, and ended up losing 4-6, 2-6.

The second match against Alex and Rachel proved to be much more of a challenge. It turned into a highly enjoyable contest for our pair; some great rallies and Derek’s serve causing problems.

Ultimately though, it was always going to be tough when thrown in at the deep end against opposition of this calibre, and no shame to lose 6-2, 6-1.

James Brocksopp