Four of Cambridge’s finest took to the A1 to get up to Newcastle to play Jesmond on Saturday 28th.
Dave Isherwood started off proceedings against Peter Scott and after a nip and tuck struggle pulled ahead at the end to record a 9-7 win and put CURTC one up.
Paul Brown then went a couple of games up against Gordon Reed but Gordon pulled the lead back and it was even steven at 3-3. Paul then put his foot down and pulled steadily ahead to run out a 10-5 winner. (We were playing 50 minutes or first to 10 games in a best of seven match.)
Dave Isherwood was then back on for his second game and looked done in at 8-4 down against Peter Nugent. Finding a second and possibly a third wind he fought back brilliantly to get to 9 all and force a decider which he won easily to put CURTC 3-0 up!
Alex Evans took a few games to get used to the court (it was his first time at Jesmond) and was soon 0-3 down to a solid Michael Raven. Once Alex settled down he played his part in a very good game and pulled 8-6 ahead. Michael then toughed it out to get to 8 all at the 50 minute mark and into a decider. At 8 all and 40 all Alex put a service return on the roof and it dropped invitingly on the last gallery line to give Michael a simple put away – which he put into the bottom of the net! So that gave CURTC an unassailable 4-0 lead and a referral to the Leamington spot fixing committee Jesmond’s Simon Parkin rushed into a 3-1 lead against Julian Stafford but from here on Julian rarely missed a shot and ran out a comfortable 9-3 winner to put CURTC 5-0 ahead.
Alex was then back on court for another game against Martin Kellaway, this one with a 9 point handicap difference. The opening games were shared before Alex pulled out a comfortable 5-2 lead. Martin then fought back to 4-5 and then before you knew it, it was 6 all and into another decider. This time at 6 all and 40 all Alex at the service end drove an impeccable low backhand down the middle with plenty of cut and Martin could not get it up. So another close 7-6 win for Alex and CURTC into a heady 6-0 lead.
Julian and Paul then took on Mark Thompson and Alan Douglas in the final best of 3 set doubles. CURTC looking to a whitewash and Jesmond looking to restore some pride. The first set was very close with Jesmond shading it 6-5 but, making the wrong decision to change receivers for the second, set Paul and Julian lost rhythm and the set 6-1, giving Jesmond a consolation win but CURTC the match 6-1 overall.
Our thanks to Jesmond for for their sportsmanship and hospitality and for the opportunity to play on this wonderful court.

CURTC’s team at Jesmond Dene

Dave Isherwood v Peter Scott	Paul Brown v Gordon Reed
Dave Isherwood v Peter Nugent	Alex Evans v Michael Raven
Julian Stafford v Simon Parkin	Alex Evans v Martin Kellaway