Wigston Tennis Club

Wigston Tennis Club – Finals Day Preview

Saturday 6th September 2025

After six week of fantastic tennis action, the 2025 finals day is upon us. 28 qualifying matches have taken place with 28 of our members taking part across the five different formats. Safe to say this has been the best turnout for the club tournament for a number of years and we cannot wait to see the talent on show this Saturday.

Before we preview the matches, a huge thanks to the tournament organisers and the committee for arranging such a fabulous six weeks of tennis and bringing as many of the members together during the summer months. It takes plenty of time and effort to make a tournament like this happen and we, as a wider membership appreciate it.

So, to the day itself. An action packed schedule awaits and we kick off with………

(Start times are approximate)

Ladies Doubles Final - 09:00 - Court One

Kerry Arrowsmith & Ann Halford vs Jan Green & Susan Manton

First match of the day is upon us and despite a couple of close to those late arrivals, we're getting started on time. Kerry and Ann engage in some pre match 'tactics' with Jan immediately refusing any type of morning photo! 

09:04 - Warm ups begin in earnest. Plenty of early apologising for the mis-hits too.

Umpire Collins surveys the scoreboard and it looks like the off court preparation is almost complete.

Slight delay as some animal erm, excrement is removed from the back of the court. Lots of discussion about which utensil to use. James G emerges with a large spade. Problem solved.

09:14 - After a protracted warm up and on court decision about the animal poop. Early indications are that fox was responsible.

Jan and Sue to serve. And now the net has come loose. Chaos.

Early break for Kerry and Ann. 1-0. Close deuce game to follow but Ann holds. 2-0. Fairly comfortable hold for Sue and the paid have their first game on the board. 2-1. 3-1 Kerry holds.

Ann and Kerry finding some success down the line.

4-1. Kerry finds a useful smash and Ann some creative cross court shots. Second break of serve.

Break back! Some sensational volleying from Sue secures one of the breaks back. 4-2

And now the drop shots from Sue finished nicely by Jan. 4-3.

Break back again and then a hold from Jan almost completes the full turnaround. 4-5 to Sue and Jan. On serve but a big game coming up for Ann.

2 set points for Sue and Jan. One saved. But not the second. From 1-4 down. Sue and Jan take the first set 6-4. Excellent standard so far.

Sucaraz finding two consecutive volleys to help hold serve. 1-0 Jan and Sue. Some excellent net play to follow from the same pair on Kerry's serve clinches the break. 2-0. Closing in.

Sue to serve looking to capitalise on the break. Some excellent scrambling all round but Sue's serve hold firm. 3-0

Lob, lob, lob, lob. More excellence from Sue. 

Consecutive volley winners from Kerry are in vein as Jan and Sue take a 4-0. 9 games on the spin.

Ann and Kerry find a break to stop the streak of games. 4-1.

One game away now as Jan and Sue get the immediate break back. Sue to serve for the title. 

However, Kerry and Ann come back fighting and find a break. 5-2.

5-3. Ann holds. Some great depth on the ground game. Comeback on?

Some of the rallies in this match have been quite outstanding and it remains to the end.

One match point comes and goes for Ann and Sue but a lovely serve out wide gives them a second. And there it is. Match point converted and we have our first champions of the day.

6-4, 6-2. Sue and Jan are the 2025 Ladies Doubles Champions. Fabulous effort from Kerry and Ann! 

Presentations are underway......

 

Mixed Doubles Final - 11:00 - Court One

Stuart Townsend & Jan Green vs Jack Carlick & Emma Carlick

10:45 - Warm ups minus Stu are underway for the mixed doubles. So   me mind games going on here.

10:50 - Stu has finally graced us with his presence and we can now begin. Mike performs the coin toss. Stu and Jan win. Minor domestic taking place to decide whether and who to serve. 10 mins official warm up is announced and the sun has poked its head through the clouds.

Official club photos being taken by James G. It's a science ladies and gents.

8 minutes left of the warm up. I've started my Terry's chocolate orange.

11:00 - Stu will serve first. Couple of good volleys followed by some strong serving but we have an early deuce. Stu finds a fabulous volley and strong serve to hold. 1-0.

I've finished my Terry's chocolate orange.

1-1. Emma holds with relative ease. Over to Jan. 

Deuce on Jan's serve shortly followed by a break point save. Jan holds. 2-1

More net issues. Mike's all over it. Might not be the last time.

Jack now serving for the first time in a final for Wigston Tennis Club....go well young man.

Break for Stu and Jan who take a 3-1 lead. Stu to serve for the second time. Stu holds to make it 4-1.

Emma to serve and Jack starting to make some nice plays at the net. Equally, Stu continues to return well and pressurise the serve. Emma serves out well and holds. 4-2

Loud 'come on' shout from Stu ends another great rally on Court One followed by a cultured lob from Emma. Some quality on show. 5-2 now as Jan holds of another good showing from Emma and Jack.

First set goes to Stu and Jan on Court One as they break Jack's serve

Stu to kick off second set. Stu stuck in a couple of deuces in this first game of set 2 and after what seems like an absolute age, holds to take the 1-0 lead in the second. Emma to serve. 

Long game but Emma holds to draw level. 1-1. Jan serving to try and regain the lead.

Big break for Emma and Jack who take a 2-1 lead in the second set. Some resilient rallying from Jack helps take Jan's serve. Jack to serve to capitalise on the break. Starts with an ace and follows that with a nice serve and volley. Finishes off with a brutal serve out wide to take game. 3-1 Carlicks.

Some uncharacteristic errors from Stu and a dropped catch from the gallery puts the pair in a tricky position but Stu finds a nice volley at the net. But holds. 3-2. 

Emma and Jane both hold. 4-3 as we turn.

Jack finds a vital hold for a 5-3 lead. Stu to serve to stay in the set.

We're going the distance ladies and gents. A break of Stu's serve gives Jack and Emma the set, 6-3.

Emma to serve first in the third set. Unfortunate double fault gives Stu and Jan the early break in the third set. Stu will look to build on the break......

We're stuck in another long service game here. Big ace from Stu fends off a break point......and holds.....2-0. Over to you Jack.

Jack find some consistent first serves and holds fairly comfortably. 2-1.

Great stuff from Emma at the baseline followed by a really nice piece of net play from Stu keep things close in Jan's service game. But Emma and Jack find the break back and level the set 2-2. Tight.

Emma now serving looking to push ahead in the set. Stu coming from nowhere around the net to give Jan and Stu the edge in this game. A break each. 3-2 Stu and Jan.

Stu, foot faulting all over the place (we think) now serving to try and get within two games of the win. However a couple of double faults leave them up against it. Jack and Emma take full advantage and break back. 3-3.

Jack to serve. But a break back from Stu and Jan continues to give them the edge. A hold of serve anyone? 4-3

Some excellent volleys from both Jack and Jan keep the next service game even. A nice volley from Stu picks up a a nice volley at the net followed by a superb return from Jack again keeps the back and forth going.

Anytime soon this game will end........

And it finally does with a nervy hold. 5-3 Jan and Stu. Emma to serve. And holds.

5-4. Stu has ball in hand to try and serve it out.

15-0

30-0

30-15

40-15

Match point.......................

40-30

Superb volley from Jack.........Deuce

Advantage Carlicks......break point. Resilient net play from Stu and Jan.

Deuce

Big first serve from Stu.

Match point number three

Double fault......Deuce....Running out of lines.

Another big serve...match point 4. Great volley from Jack. Deuce. Regretting point by point commentary here.

Match point 5.......false alarm. Deuce.

6..............7.

And now a break point. Drama.

Saved. Deuce number 552242354523

Break point, again. Checks battery power.

Break point converted. 5-5. Stand down for the singles for now......

Jack serving at 5-5. Couple of double faults creep in but finds a big serve to get back to deuce and an ace to push ahead. Deuce. Here we go again....

Break point for Stu and Jan now. Converted. 6-5 Jan and Stu. 46000 characters left to use on this page. Can we get it done?

Jan serving for the title.

15-0. Volley put away by Stu.

30-0.

40-0.

3 match points for Jan and Stu.

2 match points for Jan and Stu. 40-15.

Converted and the that seals the title for Jan and Stu. Jan's second title of the day and Stu's first bit of Wigston Tennis Club silverware.

Excellent battle from Jack and Emma. A wonderful final.

 

Mens Doubles Plate Final - 10:30 - Court Two

Ben Wilson & Mehmood Jaffer vs Robert Hunter & Samir Odedra

10:46 - Rob and Samir are warming up alone as we await the arrival of Ben and Mehmood.

10:50 - Mehmood is here. Waiting patiently for Ben. Mehmood has inexplicably wandered on to court 4 to conduct his own warm up.

11:00 - Ben is here. Photos, warm ups and general pleasantries exchanged over on Court 2. Ben and Mehmood also seem to have accidentally dressed the same. Superb intuition.

11:09 - Warm up taking some time here. Ben has ruined the unifomed approach by revealing an orange shirt. 

Mehmood to serve first and Ben looks in good shape as he tucks away a couple of nice volleys at the net. Some early frustrations from Mehmood but a solid hold to take the 1-0 lead.

Mehmood finding some early touch at the net. Rob and Samir taking a little time to find their feet but we know what they are capable of.

Some superb rallies in Samir's opening service game as well as some great court craft from Ben and Mehmood. This one is heating up.

Ben and Mehmood look like they are taking some control on court two. Samir hold however followed by a very solid service game from Mehmood gives them control of the set at 4-1

Mehmood in a clinical mood on court 2 putting some nice volleys away. After Rob hold to make it 4-2, Ben does the same to take them one game away from the first set.

Samir and Rob come out fighting to try and close gap and find some great lengths with some lobs and volleys alike. Samir holds after a marathon game. 5-3. Grit.

A series of vocal outbursts from Samir and Rob on Court two as they look to dent Mehmood's serve. Growing into the match but can they save the set?

No. Ben and Mehmood rally to take the game and with the set 6-3.

Second set. Rob to serve.

Early break for Ben and Mehmood who look in the mood to close this out quick. Mehmood holds and they'll look to put pressure on Samir's serve now. Which they do and they break to go 3-0 up. In control. Ben holds, 4-0.

Another break of serve for Ben and Mehmood who are 5-0 up and on the brink of the win.

Absolutely clinical from Ben and Mehmood who take the set 6-0 and in doing so take the plate crown from Rob and Samir. Solid game and congratulations to the winners.

Mens Singles - 10:30 - Court One

Oliver Priestley (1) vs James Crosby (2)

13:15. Showpiece event, the mens singles between 1 and 2 seeds is just about ready to get underway. Some slightly more blustery conditions for Olly and James to deal with but we're just about ready to go.

Stu, after clinching his first title and before his tilt at the next, will umpire this one.

James will serve first.....here we go.

Solid opening game from James from 30-30. 1-0. Wind picks up further.

Olly looks to open his account serving with the wind behind his back. Some opening nerves behind the first serve and a couple of stray forehands and we're at deuce but a couple of fiery first serves thereafter equals the score at 1-1.

Three break points for Olly in game number three, the third of which likely a result of a over exuberant phone ring tone in the gallery. 

James saves the first and then marginally, the second then in similar fashion, the third. James finds a winner to nudge ahead but then an error into the net to get us back to deuce. Olly pushes one long then James does the same wide. Back to deuce. A little nervy and battling the conditions.

Olly pushes a delicate volley wide then James finds a good first serve to clinch the game. 2-1 James.

Conditions certainly beginning to play their part. Break point to James which he converts to take a 3-1 lead.

Sun's back but the wind has not gone away. 15-0 James followed by a double fault. 30-30 after a couple of scrappy points. James finds a way through that service game too. 4-1

Olly serves really well in that game to claw one back. 4-2. James with ball in hand.

Lovely cross caught winner from James then an error on either side of the net followed by a terribly wind assisted missed serve return. 40-15 James. Olly then forces James into a mistake, 40-30 but then finds a good first serve outwide to take the game. 5-2

Olly gets the first serve going but the wind really is playing havoc. 0-30. James pushes a volley long to give Olly a way back and then a close call on the baseline equals the score. 30-30. Good second serve from Olly gives him game point and follows that up with another great first serve to hold. 5-3.

James will look to serve out the set. Olly goes for the winner on the 1st point but pushes it wide. 15-0 then follows that with a lovely cross court winner. 30-0. Lovely down the line shot from Olly puts James on the back foot unable to get it back and then a forceful approach with James at the net levels the score at 30-30. A brilliant rally follows with James putting a volley away at the net. 

Set point....which is converted. 6-3 to James.

Olly to serve first in set 2.....

Quality first game from both to open the set. Jame hitting a superlative return and Olly cleaning up nicely with some accurate volleys. Bit of work for Olly to put the game away still...40-30. But he does and that gets him off the mark for set 2.

30-30 again after a double fault from James....He has a game point but Olly finds a good return. Deuce. Missed return from Olly gives James the game point.......which is taken. 1-1

0-30 in Olly's next service game. Nick's a point back cheaply to make the score 15-30...and another to draw level. James then sends one long to give Olly an important game point but just as quickly, we're at deuce, again.

Scrappy as it may be at times, it's on serve in the second. 2-1 Olly.

Olly finds a lovely cross court winner to get back to 30-15 and then another down the line to get to 30-30. Then a third great shot of the game to get a break point. James pushes one wide and Olly has his break. 3-1

Olly comes out firing in the next service game to get to 15-0 but makes an error to gift James 15-15. James returns the gift on the following point to get to 30-15 and then a big first serve for 40-15. Olly finishes what was his best game of the match with a trademark volley at the net to build on the break. 4-1. Third set on the horizon.

Conditions further impact the game with a loopy shot from James giving Olly no room against the fence but just as with most games, we're at 30-30. And now another break point for Olly. James finds a serve out wide to take the lead but then misjudges a base line shot slightly then saves another break point with some lovely court craft. Olly seems very much back in the room here.

Break point number three is taken. Olly takes a 5-1 lead and is serving for this set in no time at all.

15-15 in game seven. James looks like he wants this set done and to go for a winner takes all third. 40-15 and Olly takes that set convincingly.

We go to a 3rd.

James reset nicely by taking the opening game of set 3. Olly looks to level things which he does. 

James, looking eager to get back ahead starts his next service game with a good smash winner but follows with a volley pushed slightly long. A pair of superb volleys, one from each man and then two serve and volley points gives James the game and a 2-1 lead.

Olly answers with a very good service game, one of the more comfortable games of the match and we're back over to James to try and serve his way ahead.

A nice volley gets Olly to 0-30 and then a slightly fortunate return hits the line for 0-40. James fires a lovely first serve down to get one of the break points back and then does the same to save a second. A really positive approach and a miss from Olly gets us to what feels like the 100th deuce in the match. Olly then forces James into a mistake to get another break point. James unfortunately pushes an approach long and Olly secures the break. 3-2 Olly with a break.

30-0 Olly. Wind continues causing mayhem. 30-15. 30-30 after some excellent defence on the baseline from James. Break point opportunity for James and immediately takes it draw level at 3-3. Feels like we're going the distance.

30-15 after another serve and volley from James on a key point and then 40-15 after a big first serve. Olly still looking confident here. James holds well. 4-3.

30-30. Ctrl c, ctrl v.

Break point James. Big point. Double fault gifts James the game. James will now serve for the title. 

15-0. Olly goes big but into the net.

30-0

30-15

40-15. 2 match and title points.

And James takes the first of them. A match filled with some quality and a whole bunch of scrapping but James is the newly crowned 2025 Wigston Tennis Club singles champion.

Mens Drawn Doubles Final - 15:00 - Court One

Daren Kirkup & Andy Carlick vs Jack Perkins & Samir Odedra

Retrospective one this as a) I played in this match and b) I'm writing it from memory two days later with a number of alcoholic beverages consumed since.....

Initially, this final felt a little 'after the Lord Mayors Show' but the sheer size of the magnificent trophy reinforced the importance of the final especially to the four competitors.

Jack and Samir, less than 24 hours after clinching their final birth took to the court followed by a inexplicably sunglasses wearing Andy with the lower limbs wrapped to the high heavens and Daren, the only one who bothered wearing the team colours today. 

Daren and Andy won the toss, deferred, showing some early signs of tennis bravado. 

An early break of Jacks serve followed by Daren holding gave them a 2-0 lead which is followed by Samir holding and a break of Andy's serves. Back to 2-2 and some even more definite signs that this one could go long.

Jack finds his serving groove and holds relatively comfortably, Samir putting some nice work in at the net. Daren does the same and holds for 3-3. Daren & Andy find a way into Samir's serve to take it to 4-3. Andy holds to get the pair within a game of the first set. 

Jack comes out strong with a near perfect service game including three of four brutal first serves. Daren to serve to see out the set?

A double fault to start followed by an easy put away for Samir gets us to 0-30 but a wonderful down the line winner from Andy followed by a deft volley at the net gets us to 30-30. 40-30 comes next after a good first serve from Daren but a wild forehand from the same man equals the score.

I'd love to say at this point that I remember the multitude of deuce/advantage/deuce points, but I don't. So the summary will read that after another 9/10 minutes of decent serving matched with some excellent returning, the game was held, Daren and Andy took the set 6-4.

Second set time and theres a tactical switch of serving ends for Jack and Samir. Jack now serving against the wind. But it changes nothing and after some more fiery first serves, the game is held 1-0.

Daren & Andy then roll the dice a little with Andy taking the first service game of the set. Potentially looking further ahead but that ends up being to their detriment as some more superb net play from Samir gives them two break points. One is saved but the second isnt and the dice roll fails. 2-0 Jack and Samir. Samir finds some good first serves and despite feeling like there were opportunities to break, holds for 3-0. 

The set isn't quite going to plan for Daren & Andy but the fight back to take the next game on Daren's serve for 3-1. Daren and Andy find a bit of an answer in the next of Jack's service game making their way to 0-40. Jack find a couple of great serves to get the game back to 30-40 then, in the rally to try and convert the third break point, Daren crumbles to the floor after suffering what, on reflection was around 3-4 cracking sounds in his ankle. Prone and striking the floor in frustration (not pain, of course) it takes a few minutes for him to return to his feet. Chris, clearly concerned for the partner he shunned this year, brings a warm ice pack on to the court, Andy offers a bandage which is accepted, applied and we resume.

Jack, from 0-40 holds for 4-1. 

Daren and Andy need a settler here and with some consistent first serves, Andy manages to keep the ball off Daren's racket and secures the hold. Galvanised slightly, Daren and Andy find one of the breaks back for 4-3.

But that shift in momentum is short lived as Jack and Samir immediately break back for 5-3 and it's over to Jack who continues to serve well forcing Daren & Andy into some unforced errors and holds well to take the second set 6-3.

Andy takes the ball in hand for the first game of the third set but things really are not going to plan here and despite saving a break point, Daren & Andy slip to a break down and with Jack likely to serving next, the advantage is clear.

He doesn't disappoint and they capitalise on the break to take a 2-0 lead in the third set. Big service game coming up for Daren here if they are going to have any hope of a comeback.

Consistency is clearly a problem for the stricken Daren here as some good first serves mixed with some poor decision making means another deuce game and another long game. But, the pair dig deep, find the right shots at the right time and they get their first game of the third set on the board. 2-1.

Samir up next, feeling good after some tidy clean up work at the next but finds himself quickly at 15-40 down. A wayward Andy return gives them a glimmer of hope in the game but that's all it is and we're level. 2-2

Andy, again shouldering much of the workload here finds a couple of really nice first serves, out wide and to the body and an unfamiliar position of 40-0. But that evaporates to another deuce game. He does however, dig the pair out of the tricky position by holding to give Daren and Andy a 3-2 lead. 

Jack holds in what has been the trend in the match putting further pressure on Daren's serve. This time he's up to it and hold for 4-3. 

Samir next. Daren and Andy put some immediate pressure on the serve knowing a break will get them to within a game of the win. From 15-40, an unforced error and some more good volley work from Jack & Samir gets us back to deuce. An ill timed double fault presents another break point opportunity and this time they take it. It's 5-3.

Andy, perhaps not relishing having to serve the match out after some of the earlier round situations finds a couple of great first serves but somehow we're at 0-30. The serving remains steady to claw it back to 30-30 but a bit like the earlier singles there is some more deuce action. This time though, there is a little more comfort in serving the match out and your Mens Drawn Doubles champions are Daren & Andy. It is greeted with a characteristic yelp of 'come onnnn' from Daren mostly just for making it through the match!! A great game of back and forth from both pairs!

 

Mens Singles Plate Final - 14:30 - Court Two

Ben Wilson vs Stuart Townsend

Full disclosure, this one was a hard one to keep up with whilst playing on the neighbouring court but here's what I think happened.

As both entered their second final of the day, they were both looking for their second title but of course, only one could. Many people anticipated this would be the final we might get and as it played out, both were brilliant and not brilliant at the same and at different times. 

The first set took on a life of its own, especially for Stuart who powered ahead, perhaps capitalising on a little more recent on court experience as Ben, finding his way back into a full routine of matches, encountered some early struggles. 

Before warm ups were finished over on Court 1, Stuart raced into a 5-0 lead and despite some late set resilience from Ben, Stu secured the bagel, 6-0.

Then as if to purposely add to the drama (or dramatics), the second set flipped entirely the opposite way. Ben, now playing with a freedom that would suggest he was willing to either battle back or go down trying, found his rhythm, forced Stuart in to a few mistakes and made the shots his was missing in the first. The set itself seemed to take longer suggesting that form was being found on both sides of the net but the sum of all its parts saw Ben return the bagel in kind by taking a compreshensive second set, 6-0.

By now, I imagine both were unsure of what was to transpire in the third set given their court time was less than the warm up for the earlier Mixed Doubles Final, both seemed to be in the mood to finish it quick.

I wish I could give much more detail about how the third set went but memory only serves me to recall a vocal Stuart celebrating the longer rally wins, Ben viciously obliterating tennis balls into the back fence repeatedly intertwinded with what appeared to be a slightly more competitive set. The end result of the set was in the spirit of the aforementioned outbursts, a 6-1 win for Stuart who at the time became the first player of the day to hold a singles and double title.

Congratulations to both Ben and Stuart on reaching their first singles final for Wigston Tennis Club and to Stuart for the win!.......One match to go.

 

Mens Doubles Final - 16:30 - Court One

Oliver Priestley & James Crosby (1) vs Chris Newitt & James Gay (2)

Moving on to umpiring duties, Daren, now ambling around the club grounds with definite stress took a crash course from George on how to complete the unecessarily complicated scoring grids before taking the seat for the hotly anticipated Mens Levels Doubles Finals. 

Many die hard supporters stayed behind in the ever decreasing temperatures to witness 1 and 2 seeds slug it out in the final match of the day.

Chris and James G won the toss, elected to serve with Olly and James reverting back to the comfort of sharing a side of the net after their singles earlier in the day.

Conditions were still a struggle and that was apparent from moment one as despite some fervent cross court rallies, Olly and James secured the early break to steal Chris's serve for an all important early advantage. 1-0.

Olly, now serving, had some similar early difficulties as Chris but the pair found key winners at key times to hold serve and secure a 2-0 lead. 

James G serving well found some early chinks in the first seeds armour but again, James and Olly cleaned up some good rallies at the net to secure the double break.

James C, the fourth of the four men to serve with the wind in his face looked to secure a 4-0 lead but Chris and James G found a nice rhythm in the game with James G finishing off with a couple of forceful volleys to get a break back. 3-1 but still some work to do for the second seeds.

Chris, finding his feet with his serve then pushed Olly and James C back with some quality which the pair carried through the game to get back within one. 3-2 Olly and James C.

Olly was back on the baseline with ball in hand looking to nudge the pair ahead but Chris and James G now increasing their quality managed to get back to 30-30. James C however put away a couple of nice volleys in the rest of the game to solidify their position in the set. 4-2. 

James G then found the service box corner numerous times in his second service game to drag them back within one game at the change of ends. 4-3 with the break still in favour of James C and Olly.

James C, looking to hold his serve for the first time found himself in multiple cross court battles with both Chris and James G. Tactically, James C and Olly seemed to want to close in on the net as quick as they could and that helped them see of the game and they were now within one of the first set.

It was Chris' job to delay that if he could. Unfortunately for him, the conditions really started to detereoriate and as a result affected the strong first serve he usually relies on and that helped Olly and James C to break, in doing so taking the first set. 6-3.

James and Olly, now serving first in the set, started strong and behind Olly's serve, won the game to 15. Chris, with what seemed like a newly charged racket, came out and did the same to level the second set 1-1.

James C, finding some real consistency from his first serve, held to love, James G, not wanting to be left out did the same meaning all four men had held serve comfortable in what seemed like no time at all. 2-2.

Olly, remaining consistent of his serve again, began game five with some superb rallies particularly with James G, coming out on top in one but losing one to spectacular down the line winner from James G to get in to the first close service game of the set. After game points either way, the serve was held to nudge James C and Olly back into the lead but we remained on serve.

Chris now with his trademark first serve beginning to work again, held on to his serve reasonably comfortably followed by James C serving albeit with significantly more difficulty after three deuces.. 4-3 to the first seeded pair.

James G, knowing how important this eighth game would be found some superb serves to take the game in a comfortable manner and equal the score at 4-4. 

Over to Olly who a couple of hours earlier had dropped his serve at a similar time of the singles final but now had a chance at redemption by serving the pair into a 5-4 lead. He managed this with some bumps along way but the pair were now just a game away.

So it came down to Chris, potentially in the last game of his title defence, to serve. 

A double fault and then some strong approach work from James C and Olly moved the game along to 0-30 and a sniff of the title for the first seeds. A momentary recovery to 15-30 from Chris wasn't enough as Olly and James found the quality they needed to secure their second doubles title in three years.

Given the conditions that the players had to battle out there, the watching members had a real appreciation for the quality of tennis that they had just seen. Daren presented the medals and the trophy to both pairs and it was agreed without speaking that it was time for a well earned beer and some food.

Huge congratulations to the winners today as well as all participants throughout the tournament. It's been a bunch of fun reporting each match and in many cases, points. 

 

Hope everyone enjoyed the day! 364 days until these titles will be defended.

 

Out.