v Durham & Cleveland 13th August
Norfolk arrived at Easton on 13th August with optimism high to continue their unbeaten run. Their opponents had lost all three of their previous matches fairly easily.
On a punishingly hot and humid day players were keen not to string the games out too long! The team comprised Mike Hutson (Captain), Jim Lovett, Richard Palmer and Keith Arnold, with Cris Gates coming in as sub to partner Richard Palmer for the second rubber
Hutson and Lovett proved far too strong for the Durham first pair and rattled off a straight sets win 6-3 6-2. After a bit of a tussle Palmer and Arnold reached 4-4 in the opening set and then found their form to close out a straight sets win 6-4 6-1.
With the match outcome looking fairly safe it was decided to rest Keith Arnold in order to preserve his finely tuned hamstring for the expected heavy workload against Lincs in two days’ time, with Cris Gates coming in to partner Richard Palmer.
As expected, Hutson and Lovett proved far too strong for the Durham second pair and they cruised through to a 6-2 6-1 win, thus securing the match for Norfolk. Cris and Richard took a while to find some form and their first set was lost 6-1. Things were much better in the second set, but unfortunately chances to take the rubber to a deciding tiebreak went begging and it was lost 1-6, 5-7. However, the match was a comfortable overall 3-1 win for Norfolk, leaving the season on played 3 won 3.
v Lincs 15th August
A large Norfolk contingent including spouses, partners and friends made the long trip all the way to Grimsby for the final match of the season against a side rumoured to be strong. If you have ever driven far in Lincolnshire you will never complain about the roads in Norfolk again!
Three of the team and their spouses had checked into the quaintly named Healing Manor Hotel, with a baffling but welcome upgrade for Mr and Mrs Palmer to the bridal suite!
After a hearty breakfast the team assembled at Grimsby Tennis Centre to play outside on a grey and windy day – a marked contrast to the Durham match. Jim Lovett was unavailable for the match, so with the troublesome calf (leg muscle, not small bovine) deemed healthy Doug Mace returned to the team, with Cris Gates making the long day trip from Norfolk as substitute.
As expected, the Lincs team turned out to be as strong as expected, and any wobbles in form were punished. The wind was also very challenging and increased as the match went on, but thankfully the forecast rain stayed away. Palmer and Arnold went down 6-3 6-3, a scoreline that seemed a bit harsh, but a loss nevertheless. Hutson and Mace had an absolute thriller. After losing the first set 6-2, they regrouped for the second and served for it at 5-4. Lincs fought back to take the lead 6-5, but the Norfolk pair held firm to take the second set to a tiebreak, which they won, with Mace getting everything back and creating visible frustration for the opposition with his lobs and dinks. That steely resolve continued to the match tiebreak, which the Norfolk pair won to level the match at one rubber each.
For the second round Cris Gates was brought in to partner Mike Hutson, but they were very much second best and went down 6-1 6-0, effectively sealing the match for Lincolnshire. Palmer and Arnold’s match was an exercise in frustration as they lost the first set on a tiebreak, having been 5-2 up and playing well, and then from 2-1 up in the second set they lost five games in a row to lose the rubber overall 6-7 2-6, leading to a 3-1 win for Lincs.
So, a slightly anti-climactic end to what in many ways had been a very encouraging season, with new players coming in, but some frustration with injuries. Promotion might be a possibility but will depend on the outcomes of other fixtures.