A week in which some of us went along to the School Conference Room and a weekend of Mixed Alpha doubles at home to Lymington on Saturday, Men’s A-Team at Salisbury and Men’s Cs (Charmers) at home to Winchester D on Sunday. Junior matches being postponed due to lack of players and other reasons so that is all you are going to hear about – except (deep voice please) “The Legend” (normal voice) tells me he has a bad arm, Murray made the final and there was some great rugby on the telly on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Men's A-Team at Salisbury.

The highlight of the week was the gathering in the Thornden School Conference Room on Thursday. I knew immediately that it wasn’t the AGM as the bloke standing up at the front was making sense although come to think of it I am not sure why I thought that. I do now know that Tim Cook (for twas he who was waxing lyrical)has clouds coming out of his ears, has a balloon in his head and wanders round with a huge lump of stone that people have been chiselling away with for the past years – figuratively speaking that is. Brings a whole new meaning to “a chip off the old block”. Ask Geoff if you want the real gear: he was taking notes prodigiously throughout, or look at your emails for the link.

So Saturday afternoon at 13:00 the Thornden team turn up: mind you, Lymington arrived at 12:40 and spent their time checking our changing room, staring in awe at the standard of our junior’s being coached and so on. Fortunately the junior’s did not vacate the courts until 13:00 so at least no advantage was gained by their early arrival. Mark Wellby & Christine Johnson played at one. Christine had left her racquet at home so she borrowed one from Abby, one from Paul Scullard and then Mark leant me his spare "Head") Now by my reckoning that makes three racquets – surely that’s contrary to the rules. So Mark & Christine were now a matched pair withidentical racquets and hoodies – visually speaking only I trust. They were doing OK but Christine was still not comfortable with the racquets so phoned up Julie Kelly at change of end as she (Julie) has exactly same racket as Christine. She brought it up and so Mark & Christine won the set, and eventually the second - which was not surprising with four racquets. Abby (nee Morris) Whatley & Nigel Green lost in the championship tie break, but they only had one racquet each . So the score was 1 1 at the break and all to play for in the second half. Round 2: Mark & Christine took the first set fairly easily but then found themselves 15-40, 3-5 down, fought back to win the game and then went on to win the set 7 5 - just as well as the rain had started and Christine could not have managed a umbrella as well as four racquets. Again Abby and Nigel lost in the championship tie break, frustrating but they said it was a good rubber. That left the match tied at 2-2, so overall a good afternoon was had by all.

So we had a visit from Angus overnight but he was on his way to Sussex and Kent it was all clear by 10:00 for tennis at home and away (great name for a TV show that). Why on earth we Sassenachs have to have a Scottish named storm I do not know: lots of alternatives beginning with A – Arbothnot, Algernon, Andromedes, Acrissius, Actaeon, Agamemnon to name a few. You know, we need something really Anglo-Saxon. Anyway, back to the Tennis before the next storm arrives – this could be a really long winter for you if all the names are like “Angus” really whatever next – Barbara actually, not nearly so bad no cattle named Aberdeen Barbara as far as I know.

So on a cold windy morning the A-Team made their way to Salisbury for a cold and windy encounter. Paul Scullard & Harry Dunnett in #1 slot had a cruise to win 6-2, 6-1 against the Salisbury #3 while Mats Colling & Tim Cook halved their rubber 6-4, 2-6. James Blair & Carl Richardson lost 1-6, 3-6 so all square at end of the first round. Paul & Harry enjoyed a tight #1s match losing 6-7, 1-6, Mats & Tim halved again 2-6, 7-5 and so did James & Carl 3-6, 6-2. So we were down a half as they started the last round. Paul & Harry halved their rubber 5-7, 6-1, Mats & Tim lost 0-6, 4-6 but James & Carl won 6-1, 6-1. That is it: lost by 4 rubbers to 5 but all were happy to finish and warm up in the Salisbury log cabin.

After the storm had passed, finding a team I mean (Jon out Flu, Lindsey out Back injury, Steve J out flu Saturday morning) the Captain calling on the reserves Chris Wright in, Arek in, and lastly Stu in. So a change of line up new no 1s Chris Osborne & Slavek Kornijczuk started with a half 6-4, 3-6 while Chris Wright & Matt Pickett won 6-2, 6-3 and Stuart Ray & Arek Kudla lost 3-6, 4-6: all square.  Second round Chris & Slavek won 7-5, 6-2, Chris & Matt halved again 2-6, 6-0 and Stuart & Arek won won 6-2, 7-5 to be 4-2 up at half way. Last round and Chris & Slavek stormed to a 6-0, 6-3 win, Chris & Matt were a little gentler 6-2, 6-3 win and Stuart & Arek decided to ease off and lost 5-7, 3-6. So a comfortable 6-3 win to confirm their leadership as the New Year beckons. Next stop is Totton & Eling in January. Once the two Chris’ got over their separation anxiety they played really well – in fact the squad has so many hidden depths they could really find themselves at, or near the top come March.

Next week: Saturday Mixed Bros at home to Glebian .Boy’s 12 & Under will be away to Lee’s 12s. Then on Sunday Men’s Dees at home to JEM Tennis and Men’s Bees away to Wyvern

Title: Eurythmics, 1983.