Melbourn 2 (9) vs Newmarket 1 (15)

After a strong start to their Cambs Division 3 winter season, with three consecutive wins, Melbourn 2 hosted Newmarket 1 for their most demanding fixture yet. With all of their core players available, Melbourn made a good start in the early stages of matches at strings 4 and 5. Moises Estrelles' trademark energy and retrieving saw him go two games up, before narrowly conceding the 3rd by 15-13. On the other court, Matt Walker took the first game before being pegged back to one game all. He recovered composure to win the 3rd game, however, and took the match 3-1 with a comfortable 4th. Meanwhile, Moises was finding the courtcraft of his opponent increasingly difficult to counter and ultimately the greater matchplay experience told in a tight 3-2 loss.

At strings 2 and 3, a couple of differing storylines were playing out. Colm O'Gorman at 3 played with poise, control and some beautifully deft touches to nullify the power of his opposite number, who cut an increasingly frustrated figure. The pattern was set in game 1 and was put on repeat for the remaining games for a convincing 3-0 victory. Meanwhile, Gareth Jones at 2 was engaged in a close-fought battle with honours even after the first two games. The third game followed in similar vein, decided in favour of the visitors but only after the two players swapped game points on multiple occasions. In the 4th game, consistency and error count went against the Melbourn player and, inspite of some eye-catching winners, the string went to Newmarket by 3-1.

All of which left the decisive rubber in the hands of Jan Brynjolffssen at the top of the order. Playing against a nemesis of old with soft hands, fleet feet and a determination to find early winners wherever possible, he was soon one and then two games down. In the third, however, he found his form and the lead changed hands almost by the point. It was nip and tuck all the way, and it was only by the minimum of 2 points that the final game slipped agonisingly out of reach. So, a first defeat of the season for the hitherto table-topping team, but with heads high and a valuable clutch of points.