Local adults play in amazing touch tennis competition!
It was fantastic to welcome the 'Touch Tennis' regulars back to a new venue for this weeks competition. We were also delighted to see 2 new faces join the event, being the Mum / Daughter combination of Charlotte and Gill. The Teessiders decided to spend half of Mothers Day playing the competition and we are so glad they came along. The event was filled with fun, banter and excitement. To see a point from the event go to this link.
The singles matches took place for the first hour, with a play off between the relevant finishing places to decide who won this weeks title. Charlotte definitely found the transition from full court to mini tennis red a bit of a challenge to start off with, but then realised that its more about touch than power and starting emulating Gill's chopper forehand with some delightful slice shots! However the frame was Charlotte's friend and she kept framing some shots at crucial points to mean the title was out of reach!
Doubles followed the singles matches with all adults improving their games and gearing themselves up for some more action packed points. The doubles went right down to the wire and the last match was so exciting it nearly blew the roof off the sports hall at Northumberland Club.
Gill 'Chopper' Pepper and 'Super Chopper' Charlotte were against Laurene and Christine. With spectators excitedly supporting them the match was end to end stuff. Christine and Laurene were just edging the match and the Peppers needed to scramble and keep up with them.
It went 9-5 to Christine and Laurene....so 4 match points were for the taking. However 'Chopper' came up to the plate and turned it on with the reactions of the century with 'Super Chopper' grinding out from the back to give Chopper the backup should the ball go past her at the net. It really was immense times with all players retrieving balls that simply looked unplayable...the crowd were shouting and cheering...9-6.....then back to 9-7....my word could the unthinkable be happening...a come back from the Choppers.....9-8, 9-9....this can't be happening....it's like the US of A Open on a scorching day in August....next point Christine and Laurene win...10-9 and another match point to the pair, but no here comes the Choppers saving to play another point...10-10...no way the Choppers then won the next point.....10-11.....could this be the comeback of the Touch Tennis Comp.....last point...Charlotte hits a huge serve, followed by a tense rally and WOWZA they've only gone and won the match....the spectators and even Christine and Laurene were jumping around like we had just witnessed a Super Bowl Final!
The players cannot wait until next week and as newcomer Charlotte 'Super Chopper' Pepper (aka Number 1 Touch Tennis Player) highlighted,
"Mint crack, made some new friends and had a great laugh"
Let the games continue next Sunday!