The Mens Over 75s suffered a second successive defeat against a good Kent team who had already beaten Suffolk and Hampshire. The result of 3 rubbers to 1 for Kent did not truly reflect the match as 3 of the rubbers went to match deciding tie-breaks of which Devon lost 2. So it could just as easily have been 3-1 to Devon!
Following a successful home match against Gloucestershire the preceding week, the Men’s Over 65s travelled to Winchester to play Hampshire on one of the hottest days of the year, Thursday 9th July.
The match did not start well as the doubles pairing were outclassed by an extremely good scratch duo to put Hants one up. Devon soon levelled when Tony Counter, playing at two, won in straight sets slightly aided by an injury to his opponent at a time when he was already leading. Captain for the day Stuart Barnes was involved in titanic two hour battle in a very high standard game. Having pulled back in a close second set he went on to lead 8-3 and 9-6 in the championship tie-break before unfortunately losing 11-9. The injury to Hants second singles player meant he had to be replaced for doubles which Phil Bastin and Phil Dimmick managed to win to draw level. Tony and Stuart were down in their game but managed to take the match to a championship tie-break which they narrowly won 10-8 to give Devon a 3-2 victory.
The Ladies Over 65s team, Jenny Doig, Sue Doncaster, Maureen Sowerby and Ali Miller, played Avon at Torquay on 16th June.
Playing on the artificial clay courts the team nearly scraped an all-out win but were very happy with the eventual result of 6-4.
The number one pair, Jenny and Sue had a close, hard fought match against the Avon number 1’s beating them 6-2, 6-3. Unfortunately Ali and Maureen didn’t get off to the best of starts and were 5-1 down before they knew it. They did manage a partial recovery but lost the set 6-3. They came back strongly in the second set to take that 6-2. They then had to play the dreaded ‘Championship Tie-Break’. It was nip and tuck all the way, but Avon just managed to win it 10-7.
On the change-over, Jenny and Sue quickly despatched the Avon number 2 pair winning 6-1, 6-3. Ali and Maureen then had to play the Avon number 1’s and surprised themselves by winning the 1st set 6-4. Then Avon changed their tactics and the lobbing started!!! They were very accurate with those and took the set 6-2. Another championship tie-break beckoned. Thhe Devon ladies stayed with Avon serve by serve, and battled hard but Avon eventually won 11-9.
More practice needed on the CTB’s perhaps!
A delicious cream tea provided by Sue at the Torquay Tennis Club went some way to restore spirits and so, on to the next match….Sussex at West Worthing…
Devon was represented by Jenny Doig, Sue Doncaster, Yvonne Cottam and Catriona Batty who stepped in at the last moment for Maureen.
First pair Jenny & Sue continued their winning partnership, beating the Sussex first pair 6-2, 6-2. Yvonne & Catriona played for an hour longer in a very hard fought match to win 6-3, 6-2. Jenny & Sue easily won their 2nd match 6-1, 6-1 but Yvonne & Catriona having lost the first set, came back to win the 2nd set but lost in the dreaded championship tie-break 3-6, 6-4, 0-1. Another long match.
The overall score was 3-1 to Devon, an excellent away result.