With two long distance trips on the trot, the over 75 men's team must have felt they were on tour.
Taking on Essex in Basildon on 6th June was a hard opener to the season. Second pair Johnny Weymouth and Derek Shephard had a hard fought first rubber against Essex second pair Everett and Thropp but went down 4-6, 5-7. By contrast our first pair, Doug Cook and David Evans were blown off court 1-6, 2-6 by Shaida and Stevens who both barely made an error in an impressive hard-hitting performance.
In the reverse matches, against Derek and Johnny, Shaida and Stevens made more unforced errors in the first 3 games than in the whole of their previous match! Devon took the first set to a tie-break but Essex had regained form by then, took the rie-break 7-6 and stormed through the second 6-0. Doug and David had a more comfortable match winning in straight sets 6-0, 6-3.
It was a long drive back, not helped by an hours standstill on the M25 (!) and a very late arrival home for the weary team.
The following weekend they were off again, this time to West Worthing to take on Sussex. Doug Cook and David Evans faced Johnson and Percy and starting strongly with great volleying and Doug's killer forehand, romped to a 6-1, 6-2 win. Devon's second pair replacement of Tom Eastop and Geoff Furminger were eventually edged out by the Sussex pair Wheeler and Butler 6-2, 4-6, 1-0(7).
In the second round Doug and David once more stormed away to a 5-1 lead in the first set, had a bit of a Murray wobble before winning it 6-4. Dominance was resumed in the second set and, with some magical volleys from Doug, they won 6-1. Tom and Geoff had a great first set win against the Sussex first pair 7-6 but couldn't hold on to the second losing it 2-6. The tie-break went the way of Sussex but Devon had won that all important set! with the match tied at 2 rubbers each devon won on count back, 6 sets to 4, 41 games to 32.
Another arduous journey home but a happier one! A special mention must be made of Geoff Furminger and Tom Eastop who stepped in at short notice, especially Tom whose efforts, at the age of 85 and returning from two international tournaments in the previous fortnight, were notable.