St Andrews 5
Coulsdon & Purley S3 4
Mens Division 3
A magnificent performance by all involved. This home match against the unbeaten league leaders looked extremely difficult on paper, only compounded by the knowledge they had been demoted from Division 2 and that we had lost to them 2-7 away in the opening match of the season.
Steve & Matt were on first, followed by Kaz & Scott. Both prevailed. Then it was my turn with Anushka to play their 3rd and best pair Martin & Ian (the latter ironically still coach of our junior section!). We were unlucky to lose the first game 18-21 but fought back ferociously in the second to win 21-12 before marginally losing the last. After the first 3 rubbers, we were 2-1 up.
Steve & Matt continued to play superbly and won their 2nd rubber, but when Anushka and I returned on court we had a bizarre straight games loss against probably their easiest pair Colin & Ian. Kaz and Scott couldn't convert good movement and positioning into a win either; after 6 rubbers C&P had levelled us at 3-3.
I wasn't about to go home empty-handed though and promised myself I'd get something out of this game. The 7th rubber saw me and Anushka take on their youngest pair Paul & James. It turned out to be a very tense nail-biter. We won the first game but conceded the second. Towards the end of the final game their players had a relatively poor patch which we pounced on and just secured the win 22-20. Steve & Matt returned for the 8th rubber and won us the match, but Kaz & Scott on last couldn't convert.
This was a great win against a strong and determined side that will boost our confidence for all remaining matches of the season; to date, no other side in our division has beaten C&P at home, with the exception of Woodcote who haven't played them home or away yet.
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