Melbourn won 15-8

2nds recorded their first win of this Cambs Div 3 campaign away at the University Sports Centre. However, it was not the best start for Melbourn with Gareth Jones (2) struggling to compete with a very accurate player who made few mistakes. Despite playing with his usual gusto, Jones was unable to break down his opponent’s game and lost 0-3. Meanwhile, on the other court, Thomas Higginson (4) was playing his first match for Melbourn. It became clear this was going to be a long contest between two evenly matched players. The first game was eventually won 18-16 by the Melbourn player. The second game was equally tight and Higginson again just secured the game 15-13. His opponent was as committed and stubborn as the Melbourn player and he pulled the third game back, again very close at 16-14. Fitness was now an issue but Higginson battled on and pulled away for the first time and won the fourth 15-10 and the match 3-1. It was a great performance against a very good opponent. 
Sean Hamilton (3) soon found himself up against it, losing the first game. He recovered well to win the second game but was worn down by his opponent who chased everything relentlessly. Hamilton narrowly lost the third 13-15 and, whilst he staged a comeback in the fourth, he could not prevent his opponent winning it and the match 3-1. Skipper Roger Woodfield (5) also had to battle in another close event but was able to produce winning shots at the right stage in each game. Carefully judged drop shots and wrong footing his opponent made the difference. In the end, Woodfield ran out a fairly comfortable winner 3-0.
So the scene was set at 2-2 for a deciding match between the two first strings. Colm O’Gorman (1) lost the first game 13-15 but then steadily took control of the match. His opponent was unsettled and disputed several decisions from the marker which, undoubtedly, did not help her performance. O’Gorman finished the contest clinically and won 3-1.
Skipper Roger Woodfield said “Obviously, we are pleased to win our first match of this season. We needed solid performances to come out on the winning side of many very close games. Special mention goes to Thomas Higginson who was making his debut for Melbourn. He won the tightest contest of the match with a most impressive performance”