Andreas van Braam had clawed his way back from 5-3 down in the 3^rd set against Julian Stafford. It was 5 all in the final rubber of the match between CURTC and The Dutch and the result of the match hung in the balance…….

CURTC vs The Dutch

Things hadn’t started well for CURTC as Johnny Bailey battled both his opponent Marian van Koesveld and the Green Court wall which leapt out and struck him a painful blow on the elbow. The following Doubles and the first Singles between John and Erik on the Blue Court also went the way of The Dutch as mutterings about handicaps started. Kate Kirk clawed (it was a day for claws, see picture below) one back against Feikje Nassy as CURTC started a comeback. The ‘match of the day’ featured the evergreen Doubles pairing of John Trapp and Keith Beechener against Rogier Botting and Erik Gunter. Winning shots, chases, splendid recoveries and games were traded until 8 all before two of CURTC’s finest prevailed making the overall score 3-2. Rogier put The Dutch further ahead in his Singles with Keith but over on the Green Court events took a decided turn for the better for the home team as the ever green combination of yours truly and Guy Kirk proved too strong for HJ Meere and André Driessen in both Singles and Doubles. So CURTC had edged ahead going into the ‘feature’ match between Andreas and Julian. Would youth or not so youth (aka experience) prevail? Lefty or Righty?

Dog tired spectators

…….Points were traded until 30 all in the deciding game before a crucial Chase (can’t remember the exact length but it caused a loud groan from half the spectators). Andreas held his nerve and serve, won the Chase and the next point to leave the overall result a 5-5 tie. An excellent day of tennis was rounded off by lunch where attempts to ‘count back’ to determine a winner proved fruitless but not wineless. We look forward to welcoming our visitors again next year.