‘Just get it clouted’

Back to Roefield, this time to watch them play Westholme B. As usual, Jane Rodia reigned supreme on the central bench where she was queen of all she surveyed. With two courts being used for practice, Roefield was kept busy all night under Jane’s excellent supervision.

Fresh from their tournament success, Gordon Pimperton and Karen Farnhill of Roefield took on Maz Masware and Anne Robinson from Westholme. Despite well- judged line calls and some excellent net returns from the Westholme pairing, intelligent cross court net play from Karen and Gordon’s punishing down the centreline long serve saw them take both games. On the adjacent court, Michael Boothman and Judith Thompson took on my very own big sister, Cathy Hunt, partnering Graham Ainslie. Cathy’s anticipation at the net and Graham’s steep smashes meant Judith and her young partner, Michael, really had to work for every point. The left hander’s effective flick serve and excellent well balanced movement round the court, coupled with Judith’s steady net play and careful returns, eventually wore the Westholme opposition down with Roefield again taking both games.

Now it was the time to get the big gun of Simon Townsend out, playing with his agile partner Helen Wharton as they faced the Roefield couple, Gary Walton and Kate Wilde. With some strong defensive play from Kate and energetic court coverage from Gary we knew we were in for another excellent game. Working well as a couple, however, Simon and Helen were determined to put some points on the score sheet for Westholme. Helen’s confident court presence and Simon’s well controlled placement of cross court drops eventually got the better of their determined Roefield opposition with both games going to the away side.

Cathy and Graham were next on court coming up against Gordon and Karen in what were to be the longest and closest games on the night. Again, Karen’s excellent defensive play and Gordon’s accurate midcourt push behind the lady, saw their opposition scurrying for the shuttle. Focused and determined throughout, Cathy played well with Graham whose clever cross court drops and effective long serves meant their opposition were well and truly stretched. The Roefield pairing were not going down without a fight, however, and fight they certainly did, resulting in another two games for the home team.

In the ladies’ doubles, Anne and Helen met Karen and Kate. Another close game saw some brilliant reaches round the court from Kate and, again, excellent court coverage from Karen. Not to be outdone, Anne made good use of her high serve and nimbleness around the net. Coupled with Helen’s energy and determination, the splitting of these games seemed a fair result. When Kate then partnered Judith against Cathy and Helen, however, things were not going to be so easy. Again, Judith’s steady philosophy of getting the shuttle over and in, not to mention her wicked cross court drives, put their Westholme opposition to the test. Despite an interesting head shot from Cathy and strong backhand drives from Helen, the Roefield pairing won both the games.

In the men’s doubles, Simon of ‘just give it a clout’ fame, first partnered Maz against the Roefield couple of Gordon and Gary. Simon’s big gun was out in force again with his strong smashes dominating this game. The unconventional between the legs and round the back trick shots were also brought out of his repertoire in a very entertaining match with both games going to Westholme. In his second men’s, Simon, this time partnering Graham, came up against the agility of young Michael and Gary. After a good close first battle, the Roefield men took the first game largely due to excellent court coverage and defensive play by both Michael and Gary. The second men’s, however, went to the mighty Simon and Graham, prompting his captain, Cathy, to wonder whether playing with a hangover could perhaps be a feature in Simon’s future matches.