An easy drive down the M40 took us to the Brentham Club in Ealing. The match started at midday and by the end, 4 hours later, we were sweltering in temperatures of 30C. Almost an endurance test rather than a tennis match. Frequent calls for cold water peppered the later stages of the match but all survived.

Caroline Rhodes and Margaret Simcox beat Janeen Quentin and Nikki Bean 6-4, 7-5 in a match where the opposition nearly had to retire suffering from the effects of the heat and hay fever. Hazel Mason and Ruth Price played well in their debut against Cathy Pilborough and Ros Edwards but lost 1-6, 2-6. The opposition were very experienced and placed the ball beautifully.

In the reverse rubbers Janeen and Nikki seemed to have recovered somewhat and beat Hazel and Ruth 6-3, 6-1. Caroline and Margaret lost the first set but were 5-4 up in the second. They were unable to serve the set out and a marathon game at 5-5 went the wrong way for them as our girls paid for having had a much longer first rubber than Cathy and Ros. The opposition lobbed relentlessly, and it was all just too much. They lost 2-6, 5-7 leaving us with a 1-3 defeat.

Well played everyone; it was a great day out.