DOWNEND 2nds 8 WRITHLINGTON 1sts 2

WRITHLINGTON 2nds 8 KNOWLE 3rds 2

The Ladies again had a clean sweep of wins, for the second week running – a very impressive start to the season!

The men picked up valuable points in every match, and it would probably have been more had stalwart Derek Beg not suffered a severe Achilles injury in his first rubber of the Third Team match at Lakeview. He had to default both rubbers, and may be out for many weeks. A special mention for young Adam Benney, who stepped up from the Fourths to make his debut for the Firsts to cover an injury, and, with Nathan Jackson, managed to secure the Firsts’ only points at Downend – tremendous!

Due to Derek’s injury, we are now short of one player on Friday, 8th June, which means we will have to default unless we can find someone. Can anyone now play who originally said they couldn’t?

The last-minute replacement of Adam Benney, paired up with Nathan Jackson, played Downend’s Harvey and Mike. Good rallies on a slow, hard court – 6-3, 6-3 to Downend.

Patrick Lodge and Simon Brand played Josh and Mark. After several missed opportunities and never getting their game going, a missed set-point in the first set tie-break, Downend ran away with it, 7-6, 6-2.

Nathan and Adam had clearly got used to each other and the conditions, and played some outstanding stuff to win against Josh and Mark, 6-0, 5-7, 10-8. Great mental strength being down in the final set, 7-4, to come back and win. Good job lads!

Patrick and Simon played Harvey and Mike. After easing to a first set, 6-3, it turned into a battle. Two tie-breaks followed, and Downend won both – final score, 6-3, 6-7, 7-10.

With Darren Thompson and Chris Cox returning to the Second Team fold after their excellent First Team duty last week, Graham Steer and Andy Jeffery were confident of a better result this week. Knowle made the normal excuses at the start (“Half our club is away at a wedding!”), but they still sent a tremendous young pairing of Flavian and slim Olly.

Graham and Andy cruised the first set, 6-2, with Knowle making countless errors and double faults. But the Knowle pair then stopped the errors, and, with dynamic crosscourts and precise volleys, managed to put Graham and Andy on the back foot. Every game seemed to go to deuce, and it was 8.45 p.m. when Knowle finally wrapped it up, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 – games even, but rubber to Knowle!

Darren and Chris quickly disposed of the poorer pairing of well-covered Ollie and Mike, 6-2, 6-1, but not before Ollie got annoyed about a disputed point. They all then had a long wait for the other rubber to finish.

Graham and Andy, probably tired and deflated after their long rubber, made hard work of Ollie and Mike, but won through 6-4, 6-2. Meanwhile, Darren and Chris were having an epic battle. After picking themselves up after a disastrous 6-1 first set, they destroyed slim Olly and Flavian 6-1, and then edged them out 6-4 in a tense final set. Well played, Darren and Chris!

A great match played in good spirit, and Writhlington very pleased with eight points.

Andy Jeffery and Patrick Lodge