A CLOSE RESULT IN THE GC INTER-CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND ROUND

Having beaten long-standing rivals, Phyllis Court, in the first round of this knockout championship, our valiant team were pitched against the mighty Watford on Saturday.

The day was clear and bright.  Some overcast clouds with a stiff breeze kept temperatures cool, which is more than can be said for our team who knew from the start that it would be a challenging day as Watford had a net handicap of -2 to our +1.  Nothing daunted we set out in the strange, unbalanced, format in which the top two players in each team play each other in a doubles match, and then singles in the afternoon, while the other players play singles between themselves all day.  All rubbers were the best of 3 games. 

The doubles pairing (Raouf & Ian) got off to a poor start against some astonishingly good play, but they recovered in the second game to even the score to 1-1.  However the tide turned again to record an overall loss (1-2).  While Ed (giving away 4 handicap points) found his opponent too much of a match (0-2), Paul managed to take his rubber comparatively easily (2-0).  So, at lunch, Watford were in the ascendancy.

While that dominance appeared to have continued, with Ian losing his afternoon rubber (0-2),  a spirited performance by Raouf kept the home team with touching distance. Ed also played a blinder bring the overall score in rubbers to 3-3, meaning all rested on Paul’s shoulders, who at the time was playing the third game of his tight rubber.

In the end, the whole match rested on the 12th hoop of the third game of the last rubber.  However, we proved ‘outgunned’ (so to speak) and Watford won the event 4-3.

We wish them well in the next round."

Ian Shore