It’s been a long time coming but the final home mixed match from the Summer league finally got underway when some old friends from Huntingdon came to visit a dry and warmish but windy Needingworth.

Nikki and Jim, who at the previous night’s Club practise both looked like they’d never seen a tennis ball before, faced off against Sheila and Graham who looked quite formidable in warm-up.  Looks can be deceiving because in a flash, advantage to Needingworth with a bagel set.  The second set was a much more friendly affair where it was easier to break than to hold.  Facing defeat at 3-4 down, the home pair rediscovered their form and cruised to victory.

Jane, fresh from the Great North Run, where she narrowly missed out winning by a mere couple of hours partnered up with Colin to play Rachel and Roy.  With much creaking and groaning, the 1st set went to the visitors.  The 2nd set was nip and tuck all the way with Roy trying to capitalise on Jane’s post half marathon stiffness by craftily using the drop shot and then the lob.  Colin was having none of it though and tested his new hips to the full and motored round the court like a teenager, deftly returning the ball into difficult positions.  Success – a valuable set to the home team.

With the 2nd rubber underway, Nikki and Jim continued to dominate and despite some great defending from the Huntingdon’s pair, Nikki’s penetrating returns proved to be too hot to handle and a 1st set win was secured.

Despite lots of rigorous stretching to ease the stiffness and lactose build-up, it was clear that Jane was still suffering, but like a true warrior, she continued to give her all.  Unfortunately, in the 1st set, it wasn’t enough and by losing the set, gave Huntingdon a glimmer of hope to secure a draw.        

The Needingworth 1st pair continued their good form but by now, Roy had taken command of the situation and re-arranged their court position so that there were no longer any easy points.  Even at 5-2 up, there was always a nervousness that Huntingdon were on their way back.  It looked even worse for the Needingworth pair when Nikki found herself 0-40 on her serve.  Using the philosophy of one point at a time, the home side not only got back to even terms but a couple of rasping Nikki forehands, especially the final one secured the game and the match.  We won’t mention Nikki acing Roy as it might have been wind assisted – but it was funny.

With the match secured and the end in sight, the Needingworth 2nd pair dredged up one last monumental effort to win their own battle.  Once more it appeared it was easier to break than to hold, and how true it was when Needingworth served for the match.  What a cruel game tennis can be.  However, at 5 – 5, a timely reminder that the chips were on the line was clearly the pep talk Jane and Colin needed to push themselves over the line.  With Jane totally spent and Colin believing he’d done his own half marathon; it was down to the Pub where life just got better and better.