Mens O55 Match Reports

Played a 1pm away match to Riseley on Easter Sunday in the men’s over-55 mid-week league – well we thought it was mid-week when we entered, but these guys are the only club in the leagues who play on a Sunday. It was only a 30-min drive away so that was fine.

We lost fairly heavily.
Our 1st pair of Jim Weatherston + Rob Roy (nursing hangover) lost 4-6 2-6 to their 1st pair.  Then sat out while Graham Cooper + Richard Ormerod slugged it out with their 2nd pair. We lost the 1st set on a tie-break 8-10, won the 2nd set 6-4 and in the deciding 10-point tie break despite having 2-set points lost 9-11.

The opposite matches of 1st v 2nd were predictable as our 1st pair beat their 2nd pair easily and the same happened with our 2nd pair against their 1st.
So we lost the match by 1-3 in rubbers and 3-7 in sets.
It was a gloriously warm and sunny day on which to start the summer tennis season.

Marcus, Richard M (1st pr) Graham and John C (2nd pr) ventured up to Ascot in glorious early evening conditions to take on the Tiger Turf courts. In the first rubber, Marcus and Richard were given a lesson in accuracy and precision by Mark and Ross, with a 2-0 loss.
Graham and John also found the going hard against the big serving Tim and Geoff, also going down 2-0.
In the second rubbers, Graham and John faced a torrid onslaught and again lost 2-0, while Marcus and Richard “had a word with themselves” and came out all guns blazing, creating many break points but being unable to close them out and losing the first set 6-4. Undeterred, they fought on and took the second set also 6-4 and so played a tight tie-break, which eventually went Ascot’s way 11-9.
All in all, a good evening’s sport despite the scoreline, and another chance to sample life on artificial clay courts (actually we like them!).

After monsoon-like rainfall in Shiplake at 5pm we established that the courts would be playable and Graham, Nigel, Marcus and Rob journeyed to Windsor. On arrival the sun was peepint out, and the (artificial clay) courts totally playable.
After knocking up to get used to the “new” (to most of us) surface we were ready.
Despite turning up with no racquet and a nasty dose of “IKEA Elbow” Nigel, partnered by the magnificent Graham, won their two rubbers 6-3, 6-1 against the first pair and 7-6, 6-3 against the second pair.
Marcus and Rob did not fair so well, suffering from a lack of talent and an over-abundance of ambition and bravely going down 2-6, 3-6 and 1-6, 2-6. A “learning experience” !
With rubbers and sets being equal, it went to a games countback and Shiplake were found wanting to the tune of a 33-37 loss.
After repairing to the bar for some “internal linament” we took our leave of our hosts, Peter, Graham, David and Charlie and headed back to Shiplake to plan our redemptive revenge!

A squad decimated by Absence, Covid, “IKEA Elbow” and sundry other last minute injuries was bolstered by the late support of Mark Rodick and Steve Berger who formed a dynamic and powerful first pair.
The second pair was the ever relliable Mike Lynskey making his competitive debut for the Club and Marcus.
Steve and Mark took on Paul and Jim in the first rubber, coming out on top 6-2 6-2 with some fluid and feisty hitting. Marcus and Mike had to dig deep to beat Andy and Nigel, but cut down the errors and conjured up a close win (7-5, 6-4) with the match winning volley being put away by Mike.
Round two saw Steve and Mark ease to a 6-3 6-3 victory while Marcus and Mike put up spirited resistance but eventually lost the last rubber 2-6, 2-6. Overall a 3-1 win for Shiplake and a great way to start the season!
Quantities of Pork Pie and Carrot Cake washed down with lashings of tea topped off an excellent evening’s tennis!