The National League match against Burroughs was an eagerly anticipated game, with Rob Fahey, fresh from victories at the British Open and the IRTPA championships, was matched against Nick Wood, who just missed being one of the World Championship contenders for 2008. Jamie Douglas was up against Rod McNaughtan, who played for Cambridge 2 last year.

Unfortunately the conditions played the greatest part in the match. Jamie started well against Rod, taking the first set, but the Blue Court started to sweat and the match transferred to the Green Court. Rod obviously preferred the conditions there and took the match 2-1. However the players were not happy with the state of this court either, and so it was decided to attempt the doubles rubber, rather than the number 1 singles, back on the Blue Court. It started well, but the players moved more and more gingerly until the match was called off due to the dangerous conditions.

The spectators were obviously disappointed but managed to lift their spirits by going for a splendid meal and fortifying drinks at the Rice Boat in Newnham, where a good time was had by all. The Spirit of Christmas was invoked by a beautiful reading from Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales, by Nigel Brown, who was in fine voice….