For the last away game in the Hunts League, the Mixed B team needed to take a trip to the very outer regions of the known world. Fortunately, the Wisbech pairings of Wendy and Gary along with Genia and Ryan could speak English. Not only did it feel we’d travelled long enough to be in foreign parts, the courts were different as well. – red artificial clay. A quick warm-up demonstrated just how well maintained they were because they were perfect and a pleasure to play on.
This was always going to be a tough one, as Wisbech were holding an unbeaten league record and were looking for promotion as Champions. Nikki and Jim got off to a brilliant start, going up 3-0 only for Wendy and Gary to peg it all back and then take the lead. Holding firm with a combination of long rallies and aggressive play, we finally arrived at a tie break. This time it was us that fell badly behind and although we pegged them back from 5-1 down, it was Wisbech that took the 1st set. By now, the Wisbech pair had got the measure of us and by taking the pace off the ball, not offering any interceptions and above all, not making any mistakes, showed why they’ve been a difficult team to beat.
On the other court, Caroline and Chris M were having their own problems, Genia and Ryan were aggressive players who had big serves and big hits. The 1st set quickly disappeared before the Needingworth pair could get to grips with an unaccustomed surface. Fortunately, their 2nd set gave the away team hope because Needingworth were playing much better and errors were starting to creep into the Wisbech play. After a bit of toing and froing, it was Caroline and Chris who held their nerve and triumphantly emerged from the set.
3-1 at the turnaround, all to play for. Once more the No 1’s got off to aa flying start, the difference this time was, the Wisbech pair seemed content to smack the ball as hard as they could, some great shots but mostly out so the set went fast, but in our favour. Unlike the other court, which went to the home team for a similar score of one against the head.
Both Needingworth pairs went behind in the 2nd set. The big hitting pair started to find their target, especially on the serve. Fortunately, Nikki was quick enough to sidestep most of the body serves without getting hurt too much. At 4-1 down, Jim rubbed out a particular mark just on the wrong side of the line that Nikki kept hitting. It worked, after that, Nikki never missed the line again and so the clawback began as it did on the other court. Caroline and Chris got back to 4 all and it really seemed like they were going to go all the way and pinch the set; but this was clay and the Wisbech pair played it well and the long rallies and deft angles put paid to the Needingworth comeback. With only pride to play for, the No 1’s were in no mood to lose the momentum and at 5 all, the visitors broke the huge serving of Genia; probably because she was still exhausted from the longest rally of the night a couple of points previous. Asked the question of “serving it out”, Needingworth stood firm and Wisbech got nervous. Needingworth played well in this close and fiercely contested match that could have gone either way. Sadly, on this occasion, it was the home team that won the match and their justified promotion. We wish them well for next year.