This was a very successful year – we fielded 4 players for all matches and finished first – just ahead of Painswick on sets won. Promotion to division 1 next season.

There were only two disappointments – but both bitter ones:

• Firstly our only loss of the season was against Cirencester (our local Derby and more importantly Mr Paul Bird’s other team).
• Secondly the whole team were disappointed to move away from my 1970 style “pork pie and Mr Kipling cakes” post-match meals in the rain and onto priory pizzas with beer.

Winter practice for some of the team at the Delta centre helped us and it’s fair to say that the core team of myself/Conrad/Doug & Paul were successful much of the time with very able and very welcome contributions from Brett, Theo, Bryan and Bill.

Tiebreaks came close to being our downfall until the highlight of the season and a crucial match with Painswick. Played on a lovely summers evening at the beginning of August with 5 points up for grabs – Doug/Paul/Conrad and myself started in second place to Painswick.

The clincher came through a 10 point tiebreak. Paul and Doug matched against the Painswick top pair. Following our traditional strategy Paul and Doug conceded point after point; Conrad and myself felt unable to watch and so nearly missed the fact that they had pulled things together and won through. Overall the match finished 4-1 and without the win we would have lost top spot.

Next season the competition will be tougher again but we’re very much looking forward to it – and also on the look out for others keen to be able to play at the level.

Many thanks to all of those who played this season.

Richard