23/04/2005
The build up to the match was a collection of contrasting tales. I scoured the Universe for Muffy, but she was nowhere to be found, although there were rumours of a sighting in Grand Canaria which have yet to be confirmed. We even resorted to plumbing the depths by trying to get Wee Willie Winkie to show up and give some moral support, but Toby was otherwise engaged. So it was down to business, and I’ll start by quoting Vole………
“a rubbish journey up, too many cars on the road and too many rain storms. Three matches to play on the all glass court, which is huge advantage for them as they practice on it every day. First on was Suzie on the outside court, who arrived in the country at 7am from Qatar and then drove to Chichester and sat in the back of the car for four hours. My god she played well considering!! Beat Kirsty up good and proper by hitting good length and turning her opponent - 3:0 to Suzie and 1:0 to Chi.
Meanwhile Tim was on the all glass court renamed the Nick Taylor court. On this type of court the game is different, the walls are very dead and you have to push right up the court. First game was pretty even but Nick won it 9:7 by hitting a tighter length. Tim couldn't hit as many nicks as last week and was a bit slow moving forward, going 7:4 down in the second and not managing to close the gap. Nick won the third in the same way.” So all square, and the tension mounting.
“Ben was next on the outside court against the tired and cold-ridden Marcus Berrett (having just won the BSPA at Ilkley). Ben kept the pace high and attacked at every opportunity. Marcus couldn't live with the pace and although he went 8:6 up in the third he couldn't stop Ben who managed to squeeze the game out. 2:1 to Chi.” Signs of restlessness amongst the locals by now, and the odd calculator spotted amongst the rule books.
“Meanwhile Pete was playing the game of his life against James Willstrop. Pete was hitting a good length and his short game came together when it mattered. James was attacking too early and hitting the tin too often. From this Pete went 2:0 up and all the Manchester people were getting worried, some were asking for the scores, others were asking for calculators as they thought they might lose the match. Chi, however, were very astute and knew that unless Jelly won three love none of this would matter. James started lengthening the rallies and Pete found the tin a couple of times. It was 3 all in the third and very evenly balanced when James started to pick up the pace and hit a better length. Third game went quickly away from Pete as did the fourth. Down to the fifth and they were trading winning drop shots at the front. It was nip and tuck up until 6 all, then Pete went for a crosscourt backhand volley drop which clipped the tin. Then James hit two unreturnable drives to take the match. 2:2” and unfortunately there were the unmistakeable sounds of the fat lady in the wings.
Azzy put up a much better fight this time, but Beach isn’t 3 in the World for nothing, and the quality in an admittedly dead rubber was clear. Azzy made too many errors again, but at least this time he made them attacking rather than desperately scrambling the ball back. If he wants to make top 10, he knows what he has to do. But overall, a much better performance from us this year, and maybe if it hadn’t been for the glass court, Vole’s back, and the Manx players, we may have won. But a squad like theirs shouldn’t lose too often, and we did OK.
On to next season, and with the new regulations in place, there should be less disparity in the squads of the better funded Clubs, although we paupers will struggle on as usual (unless anyone wants to chuck us some wedge?).
Thanks to all the players and spectators, home and away, it is a cracking event and we have a great showcase for the sport.
ROBBED WITH THE FINISHING LINE IN SIGHT
Or how Chichester had the Manx worried…………
Well, here we go again – another attempt to prove to the world that we were the better team and would have been in the final if it hadn’t been for those rule benders from oop North.
Contributor: Peter Crabtree
Club: Chichester
Link: http://
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