Left to right: Dino Skeete, Phil Lynch, Simon Gent (Captain), Peter Elsden and Colin Coombes.
Following an initial home win( v Avon 3-2), the intrepid travellers of the O45 team set off for a weekend’s tennis in Cheltenham v Gloucestershire and then Poole v Dorset. I am pleased to report one good victory (v Glos 3-2) and a narrow loss (v Dorset 2-3) that leaves us very much in the promotion hunt when we resume battle in August.
Saturday saw the team arrive safely at the attractive East Glos Club in Cheltenham for a mid afternoon start. Phil and Colin were the brave weekend drivers plucking Dino away from his restringing and Simon from Saturday morning teaching.
Round 1 saw Kent 2-1 up. Simon ‘took one for the team’ v the Glos Cpt and England International at 1 but Colin played a solid game to depose of the Glos Number 2. Meanwhile Dino and Phil (on his County debut) survived a close first set to snatch a crucial lead.
Round 2 and a Kent 3-2 victory. Simon and Colin completed a double over the Glos doubles pair with Dino and Phil going down to the Glos Singles players.
After a few homemade sandwiches (?), the fun began. We had to reach Wareham for our overnight accommodation and the weather had turned pretty damp. Unperturbed and armed with copious maps and notes, Phil turned his Honda Civic southwards and led the way. 3 hours later and at a steady average speed of 50 MPH (Phil was concerned he might lose Dino and Colin behind), we arrived in God’s own town – Wareham. The Kent LTA Treasurer will be very pleased that we got a good deal on our accommodation at the Black Bear – Wareham’s answer to a happening place on a Saturday night! It was now Phil’s turn to ‘take one for the team’, gamely volunteering to chat up the locals until 3.00am whilst the other team members got some shut eye in our huge shared room, that is before he came thundering to bed in the early hours.
Sunday morning dawned bright and early: Simon and Colin went for a cultural walk, Dino made some calls to arrange his AEGON junior teams and Phil slept in before beautifying himself for the day ahead.
After Wareham’s version of a full English, we set out for the East Dorset Tennis and Croquet Club in nearby Poole. The Croquet members, dressed in their resplendent whites, were already hard at practice as we waited to see if the rumour of Dorset playing the GB Number 1 was true. Funnily enough it was. Matt Coombes (no relation to our esteemed player) turned up. Little did he know that we were about to produce our own secret weapon from Kent in the form of Peter who arrived to bolster the team.
Round 1 saw Simon take another one for the team v the GB Number 1 (becoming too much of a habit!), whilst Colin produced an even better performance than Saturday to beat the Dorset Number 2. Meanwhile Dino, having strapped himself for battle, emerged to partner Peter ready for what were to be some epic doubles, all three of which went to Championship T Breaks. After a slow start, Dino and Peter turned up the throttle to take the 2nd set and then keep the momentum going in the 10 pointer. 2-1 Kent.
Round 2 saw us just edged out. Simon and Colin started solidly to take the 1st set but then the momentum swung as the Dorset Captain produced some fine doubles play to level the score. Unfortunately he maintained the initiative into the T Break and Dorset took it 10-7. Meanwhile, Dino and Peter played a blinder to level their match forcing the GB Number 1 to resort to the ‘toilet break’ tactic to try and stop their momentum. This just succeeded but we’d got him worried! 2-3.
Dorset treated us to a great meal (Glos please note) and we set off for home arriving back in time for the soccer.
Great weekend, lots of ‘team bonding’ and Colin – Dino needs the kit back he left in your car. Washed and pressed please.
See you all soon
Simon Gent