Colston Ladies v Blewbury, Sunday May 19th 2014

Today we had our first summer match of the season. This was a home match against Blewbury and proved an eventful match! The visiting team looked very professional as they side stepped and skipped around the court to begin their warm up but as we started to knock up the famous Colston breeze joined us and ruffled them slightly. Charlotte and Helen looked full of energy as they played the second pair and swiftly closed the first set at 6:1. Helen was ‘very strong from behind’ (Charlotte’s words! ) and her ground strokes powered past the opposition. Charlotte adopted a  non text book ball toss for her serve which although unorthodox proved extremely effective and soon the second set was firmly within Colston’s grasp at 6:2.

Meanwhile on our court Karen and I were holding our own against their first pair. Although we lost the first set 1:6 there was a lot of grumbling from the other side of the net and ‘we are making hard work of this ‘ comments so we were fairly pleased we were being irritating enough to have played ok! The second set started with Karen and I very positive and playing well together. We decided that we were thinking to much about what the coach would say about our shots so decided to play ‘ugly tennis’ and just get the ball back! We doggedly persevered with Karen executing some fantastic lobs and consistent serves. Her ball placing got us out of some tricky moments and I did a lot of calling ‘great shot Karen!’  We were pulling ahead and had settled down when I returned a ball as a short cross court forehand into their service box. My opponent launched herself forward and then stopped immediately (uttering language you will not hear at Wimbledon!), she had ‘pinged’ something in her foot. She was in great pain and unfortunately that pair had to withdraw.

So Helen and Charlotte could sit with a cup of tea and cake in hand having comfortably taken all 4 of their games( albeit two of them from the comfort of the club house) and watch as Karen and I battled away in the heat of the sun.  We won the first set 6:4 with a lot of scampering about court returning some seemingly impossible shots. We realised the importance of communication as we ended up in a hug on court as we both went for the same ball! Highly amusing to the spectators though!

The next set saw an increase in spectators and a drop in sugar levels and having been in a strong position to take the set we lost 5:7. As previously agreed if we had a set each, we entered into the champions tie break rather than a third set. The experience of the pair at match play showed through and they secured the tie break 4:10.

We retired for tea very exercised. Charlotte’s homemade courgette, asparagus, feta and lemon filo quiche was as effective as her serve and hit the spot, followed by jam, cream scones and carrot cake from Helen and Karen…..mmmm! Calories don’t count after all that running I am sure!

Overall a win for Colston but more importantly a great afternoon of tennis all round.

A great start to the summer season.

Carol