Your intrepid reporter turned up at Chiswick TC for the last men’s National League match of the season on Sunday to find two young fellows and a young girl causing mayhem, throwing a tennis ball onto the roof to see where they fell, yelling, shrieking and having fun. Two frazzled-looking parents smiled a sheepish how-do-you-do, it turned out that the two boys, Nandan, aged 12, and Daniel, 13, were among our opponents for the day, alongside veterans Paul and Joe. 

In the singles round, Nandan didn’t last long against Roger, who was making his CTC team debut. Roger won 6-2, 6-1, at which the young fellow (Roger, not Nandan btw) slumped on a chair on the terrace and sat motionless for the next 20 minutes. Joe’s match against Ed didn’t last long either, Ed winning 6-0, 6-2 and not actually losing a point for the first 4 games. The 13-year-old Daniel, who was actually Lowlands player 1, was a tougher opponent, but Nat managed to negotiate him 6-2, 6-4 in a match that was tighter than the score suggests. The match of the first round however, was Tristan’s match against Paul, an attacking baseliner who hit the ball hard and aimed for lines on forehand and backhand. Tristan did very well to win the match 7-6, 6-3.

Score after the first round: Chiswick 8- Lowlands 0.

In the doubles, Tristan and Ed didn’t have too much trouble beating Joe and Nandan 6-0, 6-1. Nat and Roger struggled at first in the doubles against tough opponents Daniel and Paul, but came back superbly to win 3-6,6-2,1-0 (9).

Final score Chiswick 12- Lowlands 0.

After the match, both teams, including the parents, sat down to salad with tinned fish followed by watermelon in a very pleasant and convivial atmosphere. 

Well played everyone, this was a splendid result and there was some excellent tennis. Tristan was the stand-out player in the singles round, defeating Paul, who was probably Lowlands’ best player; but Nat and Roger’s win in the doubles was equally impressive, and overall I nominate Nat as Man of the Match for winning two tough matches. Well played everyone!

With 4 teams now tied on 2 points but with 2 matches unplayed/ unrecorded, this result actually leaves us with a decent chance of avoiding relegation, we just need Thistleworth to beat Lowlands and Harrow Baptist (which from what we’ve seen of the three teams, they should do…)

We have 4 more matches to play in the Middlesex League and we currently need more players for all of them, so please let Ed know if you’re available. Let’s keep the positive momentum going!