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Melbourn 2 vs Comberton 2 (3rd March 2025)

11 March 2025 Colm Match-reports   Public Post

Melbourn 2 hosted high flying Comberton 2 in a must win game for Melbourn to steer clear of the relegation zone and for Comberton to get into a promotion spot, the stakes were raised!

Melbourn's string 1, Kate Bradshaw, took to the court first against improving teenager Isaac Broughton. As anticipated, this was a high quality and very entertaining match.

Isaac started with a lot of energy, speed and accuracy, taking an early lead in the first game, however Kate settled and started to construct rallies to bring it level at 8:8. Each rally thereafter was closely fought, the lead changing hands and each player missing chances at game point as we went deep into tie-break. The tension was raised, but not prompting caution; instead, both players went more on to the attack. Particularly Kate, who brought all sort of variations on her game points (… e.g. deliberately serving down the middle) in the hope of catching Isaac on the hop and closing things out. Sadly it didn’t work, Isaac managing to adjust and defend, and then nick it himself 19:21.
Despite going a game down Kate had got herself into the match now and dominated the early part of the second game, using a combination of lobs and cut-out volley drops to put a lot of pressure on Isaac. Leading 9:3, Kate lost a little focus and let Isaac bring it back to 10:8 but then she switched back on mentally, closing out a 15:11 win. Carrying the momentum into the third game, Kate pressed and challenged Isaac's approach, anybody's at 7:7. Isaacs pushed ahead at what seemed like the crucial moment to lead 9:12, but back stormed Kate, doubling down on the already successful lob-and-drop game to play a series of near-perfect rallies to take the game 15:12.
 
Isaac looked very frustrated in the gap after this game, but he re-found himself in the fourth, with points traded all the way to 11:12; at this point Isaac managed to force some pacier rallies, which were tipped in his favour, taking the game 11:15. And so to a decider; was the momentum with Isaac? Well, no, as Kate knuckled down and played clean to build a 10:5 lead. A period of trading rallies moved this on to 14:10 to have Kate on the cusp, only for Isaac to surge back, aided by some never-give-up extraordinary pick-ups, to take us into a deciding breaker at 14:14. At this point it seemed Isaac’s for the winning – surely Kate’s head would be down after 4 unconverted match balls? – but she showed she has ice in her veins (… or is just oblivious – her words!) by playing a perfect drop (millimetres of clearance above the tin, rolling nick) into the forehand corner to earn another match ball at 15:14, which she won with a high looping serving that dropped like a stone into the backhand corner; Isaac’s desperation dig out went too high as Kate sealed it 16:14. Two shots of absolutely precision and weight at the critical time – what a way to win 3:2!

On the other court, Moises Estrelles Navarro, at string 5, took on Richard Anthony. Richard was quicker out of the blocks, catching Moises with deep drives and low cross courts to take an early lead. Moises  found his rhythm however, bringing his usual high octane retrieval game, and his more recently developed relentless attacking game, to win a run of points, quickly closing the game out 15:8. Richard was up for the battle and changed tactics in the second game to get more depth to his drives, picked off winners with ease, and was able to get into an unassailable lead, taking it relatively easily 5:15. Moises dug in and flipped the third game in his favour, winning with relative ease 15:5. Back stormed Richard again in game four, a much closer one. Moises' retrieving and hard hitting was contrasting with Richard's good positioning and deep drives. Moises was still in touch at 12:13 but Richard showed composure to take the next 2 points and bring it to another decider. Momentum swung over and back in the fifth, Moises forging ahead early on into what seemed like a match winning lead at 13-8, however a touch of fatigue and Richard's determination swung it back in his favour, and after Moises missed with match point, Richard took the game 15:17, and the match 2:3.
 
Up next, Gareth Jones, at string 3 against Jeremy Cotton. Gareth started in fine fashion, cruising through the game to take it 15:5, making it look easy. Gareth was playing well, using variety in his play before hitting clinical winners. In game two however, errors crept in and all of a sudden Jeremy had a 1:6 lead and confidence rising. Gareth couldn't stop Jeremy's momentum and the game slipped away from him, Jeremy taking it 7:15. Some head scratching, but game three looked like a repeat of game 2, Jeremy getting into a 4:10 lead, but Gareth found his touch again just in time and turned the game around to win it 15:12, surely the momentum now with the home player. Alas, in game four it was Jeremy who got on a run of points, taking 7 points in a row and then closing the game out 10:15. And so to yet another decider. Neither player was allowing the other to get ahead by more than a point or two, until Jeremy push for home, narrowly winning it 13:15 and the match 2:3.
 
Meanwhile, Jan Brynjolffssen, returning from injury, was taking on Start Elmes at string 2, not yet knowing he had to win to keep Melbourn in the tie overall. The first game was ridiculously close, trading scores all the way to 12:11 before Jan upped the pressure, avoided errors and lengthened the rallies. He was then finding the opportunities to drop when Stuart was out of position, and pressed his advantage to win the last 4 points taking the game 15:11. Stuart fought back in game 2, moving Jan around the court, which tested Jan's fitness somewhat, perhaps creating some doubts. Stuart kept it close and managed to take the game 13:15. The third game, close and at 10:10 nicely poised, but similar to the first game, Jan steadied and applied the pressure to take the next 5 points and the game 15:10. Another 5-setter seemed on the cards with Stuart staying narrowly ahead throughout the fourth. Jan was clinging on, but still found himself having to save two game balls at 14-12. The first was seen off with an inch-perfect straight backhand drop, the next with a decisive rally, which took us into a tie-break. Both players had mutliple game balls in this, but both also had their eyes in as most of these rallies were won by the player game ball down rather than lost by the one with the nominal chance. It could have gone either way however Jan showed his determination to get over the line, sealing it with a down the wall backhand punched drive to win 20:18, and the match 3:1.

At two strings a piece it was now down to the final match on the night, string 3s Colm O'Gorman against Graham Broughton (appropriately enough the respective skippers).

Colm hit the ground running in game one. Running and moving and taking the ball early. These early takes were catching Graham unprepared, allowing Colm plenty of chances to drop, which he accepted to build a 10:3 lead. He attempted to cruise home from here, which was a bit risky and saw the game get closer (as well as being an indication of dangers to come) but even so Colm won game one 15:9. Colm’s tactics had proved effective and he brought them out again in the second, scrambling hard when in defence and then pushing himself forward to take both half-volleys and high volleys – anything that involved taking the ball early to prevent Graham having a chance to get to the ‘T’ and get a split step in. Graham’s blood was being twisted around, Colm moving out to a 14:7 lead. Game done? Well, no, as Graham wasn’t giving up, saving one game ball then another as first Colm’s focus wavered and then an element of panic seemed to set in. However, just as it seemed to be completely getting away from him a knuckle-down rally with haring defence to the fore kept Colm in it until he had a chance for a counter-drive – this went deep and tight and he had the game 15:12.
Despite being two-down Graham now had a template to work from as upped his energy in the third and with good shot selection as well as very accurate drops, boasts and cross court drives, he was able to get into a 4:11 lead and hold out to win the game 8:15. Colm’s energy levels had been a bit down in the third, but aware that what was working was the tenacity and fight he gathered himself, got his court position that crucial step higher which allowed him to get back to his preferred approach of early takes and less predictable play. In the odd way this works the extra burn early in rallies kept them shorter, which was also beneficial – harder work meant less energy expended. Not just that though, as short and winning rallies gave Colm a run of points early on set him on his way to a comfortable 15:7 game, the match 3:1 and the tie for Melbourn.

Melbourn captain Colm was delighted with the performance, 'it came together well for us after a few very tough rounds, each game won is a point further away from the relegation zone, everyone fought hard for the team and the club tonight, and sets us up well for our final match in a few weeks' time with a little less pressure too'.