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Ladies 2nd Team v Saffron Walden (20.10 2011)

I would have settled for the score the date suggests but things turned out slightly differently. Saffron Walden came second in the leagues last year. Their first three players (Julia Dolman - #1, Sam Pluck - #2, Kelly Wong - #3) all played #1 at certain times and are really strong in their strings (Julia is actually a member of our club as well so we can all get the pleasure of playing her). I knew we're going to have another tough night (though hopefully we have the three strongest teams behind us now). It didn't help that Anna, Kerri and I were all poorly during the week (at least the two other ladies recovered nicely!). 

Anyhow as Sarah (#2) resisted the temptation to incubate the world's next superbug combined of whatever each of us had and chose to keep a safe distance instead (nothing to do with some long weekend, honest) she played first. She played really well, hitting some really nice length but struggled to take volleys which resulted her getting either pinned to the back or witnessing dying balls at perfect length. I failed to give her enough encouragement between games though I was convinced with better words she could have been hyped up to get a game. She lost 8-15; 1-15; 5-15 in the end. The first game was brilliant Sarah, keep up the good form!

In the meantime Liz (#5) played Maggie Dixon on court 2. Liz is showing great promise and I'm sure with more match practice she'll start winning her games. Unfortunately I didn't see the game but looking at the scores she had a really good first game then lost concentration (that's also what she told me after the game). She lost 11-15; 3-15; 7-15

Kerri (#4) and Anna (#3) were next. Kerri played Debbie Thain, a lovely player who I knew from Bob's summer training. Debbie had a strong serve that immediately put Kerri on the back foot - a couple of times when she chose to volley it instead of letting it ping off the back wall the rally itself became much tighter. Neither players were keen on hitting the ball straight, nearly every shot was either a boast or a crosscourt, the game seemed to revolve around the service boxes. In rallies where the back wall got involved in the fame as well Kerri seemed to be more in control hotting some nice boasts from the back catching Debbie out from time to time. Still Debbie proved to be better at this type of game and won 15-8; 15-12; 15-8. A fairly close game though, good to watch.

Anna had a very strong start winning her first game 15-10. I was told she played brilliantly. In subsequent games Kelly seemed to have turned on the boasting machine spiced up with beautiful hard and low drives. She was also keen at lobbing the ball into the backhand corner which is understandable as this proved to be Anna's week spot - most of the balls around that area didn't get put back into play. She still fought valiantly against a very tough opponent, losing the game 15-10; 6-15; 6-15; 6-15

The last game was between me and Julia. Fortunately I take advantage of her being a member and play her fairly regularly and knew quite well what to expect. A few months ago when she was still recovering from a serious lung-infection I even used to beat her but that didn't happen for a while. We still have tough games though (especially when she's having an off day). I tried to focus on Bob's advices really hard but at times they became secondary to the number of the ambulance - when Julia just moved me around the court and I refused to give up. My heart rate went up to 180 at times which actually pushed me through feeling crap and made me run more. Still when I went completely out of breath I started tinning serves in hope of an early point and a bit of respite. I still felt I was playing fairly well though but in the end lost 11-15; 14-16; 15-8; 13-15 (I was 13-12 up in the 4th!!!). A very close and enjoyable game

So in the end Cambs Ladies II lost to Saffron Walden 2-20, well played ladies, we were quite close to get more points!

 

Cambridge II v Peterborough II

This week the 2nd team were away at Peterborough, a good 50 minute drive up the A14/A1, we arrived in plenty of time, well before the opposition. Matt Williams was first on court against a very tricky #5 Peter Hand. He couldn't quite get the measure of Peter's game and went 2-0 down, but in the third game he decided that powering his way to victory was the right way forwards. He was correct and managed to win through a hard fought match 3-2, despite Peter's arguing with the marker. Next up was Kane, from the 3-0 score and the speed with which he was up on the balcony after the game, it's safe to say he dispatched his opponent with relative ease. At #3, Gordon had a game against an already tired opponent, but played well and won 3-1. At #2 Andrew Dawson was up against a tough opponent in Russell, and after tinning a good number of shots during the first two games, losing them 5-9, 1-9, it wasn't looking good. Suddenly the light went on and he was back in the game, fighting hard, despite numerous 'interesting' calls from Peter Hand, legendary for his 'marking'. He eventually won through and took the fifth game 9-6. Tom Blair had his first match playing #1 and he proved that he's worth his salt, making mincemeat of his opponent 3-0. A very good match, well played everyone; final score Cambridge 20 - 5 Peterborough.

 

Cambs IV v Fenland II 13.10.11

At 5, Mike quickly went 2-0 up against a young but inexperienced opponent, who then appeared to wake up just as Mike lost his concentration.  Fortunately, he pulled himself together in the 5th game, to win a strange 5-setter in which all the games were very one-sided.  Reka and Mhairi, the number ones from our ladies' teams, played at 4 and 3 respectively and both won comfortably against opponents who were not able to stretch them overly.  Playing his first match in Cambridge colours, Mark played at 2 against a tenacious opponent with an eccentric, but very accurate, service action.  Mesmerised by the Tai Chi-style ball launching method favoured by his opponent, Mark found it hard to get into a rhythm, but saved several match balls in the 4th game to win the 5th quickly against a tired man.  Paul played at 1 against Tim Dean, a regular first division player.  This was entertaining for everyone except, I suspect, Tim, who tried to hit shots that his opponent could return, but with limited success.  Paul played about at his best, and was pleased to secure 2 points in the match.  17-9 to Cambridge.
 

Cambridge II vs Hunts County III

Thursday 9th February's match didn't start well for Cambridge. We turned up at our junior champion Tom Blair's house, only to find out that he and his family hadn't realised that there was a match (despite numerous emails) and that he had played in a match at school earlier in the day and injured himself so was therefore unable to play. That being said, from his house all the way to Hemingford Grey, Tom Harris and Ohid Yaqub phoned around all the possible replacements that they could think of. They came up with Matt Clayton who came along and played #5 in the end, so big thanks to Matt for that. Also thanks to Mhairi who would have made herself available if Matt hadn't. The match got underway with Sanjay quickly destroying their #4 Steve in a strange game where only the 3rd game was contested at all, with Steve staying behind the half court line for the entire of the two previous games, giving Sanjay plenty of time to play an easy drop to win each rally. On the other Court, Tom Harris struggled against their #3, whilst making the first game competitive, was not able to keep up with the heat of the court and the pace of his opponent. The next two on court were Ohid (moving up to #2) and Andrew (moving up to #1). Andrew took an early lead before John warmed up properly taking the first game 9-4. The following games consisted of Andrew quite often standing on the T, batting the ball all around the court, with John running and running and running and running with no end in sight. Andrew eventually conceded the match 3-1, losing the 4th 9-7 after a long battle. On the other court, Ohid was stretching out his match as much as he possibly could, only just beginning the 4th game as Andrew came off court! He put in a tremendous amount of effort, charging around the court, picking up balls that Sean was sure were dead, keeping him on his toes and keeping the rallies going. Unfortunately he eventually lost the match 3-2. Matt Clayton was last on at #5, having come straight from work after being called at 19:15! He fought hard and gave his opponent a good game, but came second in the end. An unfortunate set of circumstances resulted in a 17-7 defeat. Let's hope that our junior champion is better for Peterborough on Wednesday next week!! Good effort all.

 

Ladies 2nd v Fenland

Yesterday evening I got a mail from Fenland's captain, Alex Macfarlane saying that due to some nasty stomach bug their #2 is missing and they were already going to use their sub so they only have four players. Fiona (said #2) is a very strong player and I knew that her absence will put Fenland into a quite difficult situation. They beat our first team last week 17-3 but we were missing our #2 and #3 which makes quite a lot of difference so I felt very positive about tonight's game

First on were Kerri (#4) and Anna (#3). Kerri played Vicky Hope who had very accurate high serves that gave Kerri quite a lot of trouble. It was one of those that you wouldn't fancy to volley so you let it go past hoping for and easy drive off the back wall but it just dies in the corner or bounces off in a silly angle. Our extremely hot courts gave both players some trouble but overall Kerri seemed to cope better. She was also very determined to spend an awful lot of effort hitting the ball back to her opponent - like Mhairi did yesterday. Her opponent really wasn't quick to the front and any short shot was pretty much a winner but most returns were going in the back corner where Vicky played an easy lob or playing a nice drop that the slower than usual Kerri didn't pick up. After losing the first game she was given advice: sod the back corner, play the ball short! It worked pretty well - when she remembered attacking the front (sometimes she got into the rally too much and start playing into the back again). The next three games were quite tight but Kerri was victorious - 10-15; 15-12; 16-14; 18-16 to Cambridge

Anna played Debbie Rushton on court 2 in the meantime. I was marking Kerri's game so I can't say too much about Anna's but looking at the scores Anna either played really well in the first game or Debbie had difficulties getting into the game - a quick 15-3 win. The second game was more challenging, I'm guessing Debbie was serving well which got her a 15-13 win. The third and fourth game - though fairly even - went to the now determined Anna, 15-9; 15-8

Sarah went on to play Glynis Fenwick while Reka (I) faced Alex Macfarlane. The ball was bouncing quite nicely due to the hot court which helped me a lot but I was playing horribly during the entire week so nervousness took me over in the first game. Alex was moving well, hitting the ball nicely but she seem to have struggled to play shots that I couldn't return (must have been the heat!) and was put under quite a lot of pressure by the ball that just kept coming back.  Still, the first game was fairly tight - 15-12 to us. I just started to enjoy myself and decided that it's enough of this I can't play properly nonsense. A bit more concentration in the second game, more volleys, less tinning, swift 15-10 win. In the third Mark Longbottom came to mind when I was 8-0 up. "It's rude not to let your opponent serve" he said once but I really just wanted to see if I could win 15-0. Suddenly everything seemed to work. My serve was accurate, the ball went into the opposite direction Alex expected it to, or got nicely dropped. Up till the point when one of them went in the tin. After a few hand-in hand outs the game ended 15-5 to Cambridge

Unfortunately I didn't see Sarah play but again looking at the scores it seems that she dominated the game almost always keeping ahead, pocketing a beautiful 3-0 win: 15-13; 15-9; 15-10

Cambridge L2 - Fenland 20-2 in the end. It's our first win and what a way to do it! Everyone was very happy and hopefully this will get our mojo up. Well played ladies, keep them coming!

 

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