Felt very despondant on leaving the YMCA after this match. We had contributed a lot to some excellent tennis and left with zilch! 10-0 certainly did not reflect the evening's games. Three went to five sets and four went to four sets but the YMCA lads held their nerve on the vital last sets. Brian's usually deadly back hand smash was misfiring badly and though he gave Harry and Martin decent games, losing both in four sets, his game with Adrian was the one he will look back on and think, how did I let that one go. Playing his best tennis of the night he surged into a two set lead and had a match point in the third, but let it slip and Adrian took advantage, winning the next two points to take the set. He also took the fourth set but in the fifth Brian was again in command at 8-2, but back came Adrian as his opponent's concentration lapsed and in a thrilling finale, Adrian just edged it 13-11. I did more or less the same against Adrian, taking a two set lead but Adrian found his range with some booming forehand drives and teased me with some dinky little serves, as well as a few net points as well, and I blew it. Ian took Harry to five sets but sadly lost his range with his drives in the fifth and Harry won it comfortably. None of us could figure out Martin's peculiar forehand side chop and combined with his blistering backhand serve, it was a surprise he dropped a couple of sets. Reflecting back on the night's play, there is no doubt that YM deserved their win as Harry, Martin and Adrian played the vital games much steadier than we did, taking far fewer risks. A great night's tennis and good company. We look forward to the return. L  

Written by: Lee Brown