Team: Phil & Tricia (0-3) Steve D & Liz (0-3) Matt & Penny (0-3)

The first match of the season for mixed 1 in the premiership was always going to be a challenge, and we were not disappointed. Jubilee fielded a host of county players, one of whom was once as high as 32 in the world at singles.

Scores for the games:

Phil & Tricia    15-6,   15-3 ; 15-6, 15-2 ; 15-9,  15-9

All three pairs put up a good fight and all managed to score points in every game, with some double figures in some games. All games were played in a good spirit and although we lost we can look forward to the next match, when maybe we'll win some games.

Team: Phil & Tricia (2-1) Steve D & Liz (2-1) Matt & Penny (1-2)

Our second game in the premiership! But many firsts were accomplished, all couples won their first game, first rubber and first match in the premiership, hurrah! With one of the Monsoon players pulling out the day before and another pulling out on the night last minute replacements were required and Les filled in and played with Isobel as pair 3. 

In the opening game, Phil and Tricia pulled out all the stops and with some clever play pulled into a 14-8 lead before being clawed back and overhauled a nail-biting 17-16. They rallied to win the next 15-10 to force a third, deciding game but lost this 15-8, taking heart that they’d won their first game in the premiership. Steve and Liz took to the court against the second pair and won a close opening game 15-12. They lost the next an incredibly close 15-13, but again Balsall lost in the third game 15-9. Another pair with their first winning game in the premiership! Matt and Penny took on Les and Isobel as third pair and with many changes of serve, eventually took the first game 15-9. Encouraged by this first win, they took the second game 15-6 to win the first rubber in the premiership for Balsall. This left us 2-1 down after the first round.

With such a promising set of rubbers in the first round, Phil and Tricia D. went on against the second pair and won the first game a close 15-12. They then settled into the next game and walked away with a storming 15-2 in the next, another rubber for Balsall! Steve and Liz took on Les and Isobel and played consistently well, winning the first 15-10 and the second 15-10 to take their first rubber in the premiership. Matt and Penny took on the first Monsoon pair and after starting badly were losing 10-0 at one point, they rallied however and pulled back but eventually lost 15-9. The next was a back and forth affair, but again they lost out 15-9. This left the match poised at three-all after the second round.

Phil and Tricia took on Les and Isobel in their final rubber and showed their quality to win a crucial rubber in two games 15-13 , 15-9. This left us requiring one more rubber for victory, and Les wondering whether he should have stayed home doing the decorating. Steve and Liz took on the first pair and lost the first game a tight 10-15. They then showed what true fighters they can be and won the next a convincing 15-4. This form continued for the next game which they again stormed 15-4 to clinch the match. Hurrah! Matt and Penny took on the second pair and fought hard in the first but lost 15-9. With lots of good tight serves from Penny and never say die defensive play they won the next 15-11. Not knowing the score in the other two rubbers, they thought they still needed to win the last game for victory but were beaten a close 15-11 and left court a little disappointed as they believed they could have won. They soon perked up when the others told them their scores though.

Well done to all who played, everyone played a part in the victory, and helped Matt enjoy his birthday even more as we headed to the bar for celebratory drinks, and there was much rejoicing…….

Our third match in the premiership and with Phil not feeling well, Tim was drafted in to replace him, and very well he did too as we won our second match a convincing 7-2. 

Tricia and Tim took on the first pair and cruised the first game 15-6, but then their opponents took the next 15-7. Undaunted, they took the next a convincing 15-5 to clinch the first rubber for Balsall. Liz and Steve took on the second pair and won the first easily and the next was a closer 15-13, but another win. Matt and Penny took on the third pair and won convincingly to leave us 3-0 up after the first three rubbers. 

Tim and Tricia then took on the second pair and blew them away in 2 games. Steve and Liz took on the third pair and after a close opening game which they won 17-15, cruised the next 15-2 to clinch the match. Matt and Penny took on the first pair, losing the first, they pulled level by winning the next, but were pipped in the third to leave the score 5-1 after the second set of rubbers. 

Tricia and Tim took on the third pair and with another convincing performance won comfortably, giving them a 3 for 3 on the night. Liz and Steve took on the first pair and with quality play won the first 15-2, then proceeded to lose the next after setting 17-15. They then returned to their true form and won the next to complete their 3 wins. Matt and Penny took on the second pair and won the opener 15-8 and were well ahead on the second, but the Adders pair dug in and won after setting 17-14. In the third Matt and Penny started promisingly turning around with the shuttle, but again the Adders pair pulled back and won a close 15-12. 

Many thanks to all who played, another fantastic team performance. Special thanks to Tim for stepping in at short notice and playing so well.

Team: Phil & Tricia (1-2) Steve D & Jo (2-1) Matt & Penny (0-3)

A big thanks to all who played and to Jo for standing in for Liz who is still injured. Penny

Team: Phil & Tricia (0-3) Steve D & Jo (0-3) Matt & Penny (0-3)

Thanks to Jo for standing in and playing so well.

Team: Phil & Tricia (2-1) Steve D & Liz (2-1) Matt & Penny (1-2)

Our third win in the premiership!

A good way to celebrate Tricia’s birthday – we seem to win on birthdays, perhaps this should be considered by the match secretary when he comes to arrange matches next year…

A very close match which could have gone either way. Adders struggled to get a team together, with some turning up a little later than scheduled, but no problem. The hall was, as ever, very cold.

With the first pairs on time(ish), Phil and Tricia D. started with a shock to the system by losing 15-7, 15-3. Steve D. and Liz took on the second pair, and had a very close battle, winning the first after setting 17-6, they then lost the next 15-10 to set up the decider which they then managed to win 15-10. Penny and Matt took on the third pair and lost the first a disappointing 15-5. Once they’d warmed up though (sic) they won the next 15-10. This set up the third game and it was a close game with the Balsall pair victorious 15-13. Two-one up after playing 3 rubbers. Unfortunately the lady from the Adders third pair injured herself during the rubber against Matt and Penny and had to forfeit the next two rubbers, leaving us 4-1 up, with only one more required for the win.

Steve D. and Liz took on the first pair and won the first a convincing 15-6. They couldn’t keep this up though and lost the next 15-7, 15-9. Matt and Penny took on the second pair, and after leading 7-0 managed to lose 13 unanswered points and hence the game 15-9, battling hard in the next they managed to make it a close 15-12, but still a loss. Now four-three up, we still needed one more rubber for the win….

Phil and Tricia went on for their final rubber (after removing their coats) and won the first 15-8, then lost the next 15-7 to set up yet another deciding game. They then blasted through the next to win 15-6 and win the match, hurrah! Matt and Penny were meanwhile playing the last game and after losing the first 15-8, dug in to win the next a close 15-13. The couldn’t maintain their consistency though and lost the last 15-6. Never mind.

Another important win, and a good team effort, lets hope we can win at least another one from the remaining games, this should give us a good chance of staying up, and who’d have bet on that at the start of the season…

Team: Phil & Tricia (2-1) Steve D & Liz (0-3) Matt & Penny (1-2)

With six of the rubbers going to three and a late start it was a long night, so long that we had to concede the last game. We put up a good fight though and if more of the deciding games had gone our way we could have had the victory we so need to stay in the premiership. A controversial line call did not help either! 

Phil and Tricia went on first and lost the first 15-9. They then turned this round and won the next a consistent 15-9, 15-9, a good start, well played. Steve D. and Liz went on as second pair and won the first a comfortable 15-9. They then lost the next 15-7. The third was an incredibly close affair when at 14-13 to Balsall Steve played the winning shot to win the game and rubber – or so he thought, as did everyone on the bench – unfortunately the Monsoon pair called the shot out, despite it landing about nine inches inside the back line. This rattled Steve, who didn’t protest, but played on anyway. This led to the serve swapping to Monsoon and the game went to setting, with Steve and Liz losing 17-16. They was robbed! The third Monsoon pair arrived around 7:45 so Penny and Matt went on and lost in a quick and demoralizing 15-4, 15-2. One-nil down after the first rubbers, not quite what we wanted. 

Liz and Steve then took on the first pair, and similar to their first rubber they won the first game 15-9. In a complete turnaround Monsoon won the next 15-1, and went on to win the next a much closer 15-12. Penny and Matt took on the second pair and after a long, close first won by the tightest of margins 17-16 to avenge the defeat of Liz and Steve. They then won the next more comfortably 15-9. Tricia and Phil took on the ‘third’ pair and experienced the same margin of defeat as Matt and Penny, 15-4, 15-2. Weird! This left us four-two down after the second round, leaving us needing to win the last three for victory. 

Penny and Matt took on the first pair and played a good first game to pip them 15-13. The Monsoon pair then got the measure of them and won the next 15-8, 15-8. Phil and Tricia took on the second pair and won the first convincingly 15-6, but lost the next 15-12 to force yet another deciding game. They then came alive and destroyed the Monsoon pair 15-2. In the final rubber Steve and Liz played a magnificent first game to win a nail-biting 15-13. With time running out, the next game was also close and the Monsoon pair won 15-12. This forced a decider, which we had to concede as the time was now 10:25.  

A shame we could not beat them again, but at least we have a few more games in the win column which could make all the difference at the end of the season. At the start of the season we didn’t think we’d win a game, let alone a match.

A good team performance once again though, so well played everyone!

Team: Phil & Tricia (1-2) Steve D & Liz (2-1) Matt & Penny (0-3)

Having lost our away match without winning a game, we didn’t hold out much hope of winning this one. So cause for celebration, we’ve won some more rubbers!

Tricia and Phil were once more selected as first pair and put up a good fight but were disappointed in losing a close 15-10, 15-12. Steve and Liz took on the second pair and won 15-9, 15-11. Penny and Matt took on the third pair and were also disappointed in losing a close 15-10, 15-10. Two-one down after the first rubbers, we were still optimistic as we have improved as the season has progressed.

Steve and Liz then took on the first pair and lost the first 15-10. They then held their nerve and won the next by the narrowest of margins 17-16. In the next they managed to improve on this and won once more 15-8. Matt and Penny then took on the second pair and started badly with lots of unforced errors lost 15-3. Penny then went to sit in a darkened room and gave herself a good talking to. This seemed to do the trick and they won the next 15-6. It seemed they would continue this to win the decider but at 14-11 up they struggled to win the final clincher and after setting lost the game 17-14, despite having seven serves for the game. Phil and Tricia took on the third pair and played well but were overpowered 15-8, 15-9. This left us four-two down and with it all to do in the last 3 rubbers.

Matt and Penny took on the first pair and started well with a 15-12 win. This got overturned in the next as they lost 15-10 to set up another decider. After many unforced errors and poor shots by Matt, they lost the next 15-4 to lose the match. Phil and Tricia had a great first game against the second pair with a crushing victory 15-3. They then got turned over in the next 15-6. In the decider though they pulled out all the stops and cruised to a 15-9 win, well played! Steve and Liz took on the third pair and in a strange sequence of games, lost the first 15-3, won the next 15-2 and then lost the final game 15-11.

Another great team performance, with a few points going the other way the whole match could have changed. A great improvement over our first encounter. Another few points in the win column though, must give us a better chance of staying in the premiership. Lets see if we can get another win before the end of the season.

Team: Phil & Tricia (0-3) Steve D & Liz (0-3) Matt & Penny (0-3)

With Monsoon 1 second in the league, we always knew this would be a tough encounter. We were not wrong! Confidence is growing as we play more games at this level though and we are not as over-awed as we were at the beginning of the season, resulting in much better matches all round.

Tricia D. and Phil battled hard against the first Monsoon pair, losing 15-7 in the first and a much more competitive 15-11 in the second, just a few more points would have won it to force the decider. Liz and Steve D. took on the second pair and were also very narrowly pipped 17-15, 15-12 – again a few points the other way would have meant a rubber to Balsall. Matt and Penny took on the third pair and came out fighting with a 15-8 win in the first. Sadly they couldn’t press home the advantage, losing the next 15-9 and 15-6. Three-nil down after the first rubbers, not the best of starts but showing promise of winning a rubber or two.

Liz and Steve D. took on the first pair and again managed double figures, but again were beaten a consistent 15-10, 15-10. Penny and Matt took on the second pair and were totally outplayed in the first 15-3. Recovering from this they applied some pressure in the next to come back to 14-all, but were beaten 17-14 after a very disappointing mid-court serve from Penny to the lady on the opposition… Tricia and Phil struggled to find their usual game against the third pair and lost in two 15-7, 15-3. Six-nil and the match was lost.

Against the first pair, Penny and Matt had possibly their best rubber of the night, the first was neck and neck to 8-all before the Monsoon pair pulled away to win 15-9. They then comfortably closed out the next 15-5, despite the Balsall pair battling hard. Phil and Tricia took on the second pair and were again unrewarded for all their effort and good play, losing 15-5, 15-7. Liz and Steve took on the third pair and were again defeated 15-10, 15-4. Nine-nil!

Our next match is the return match with Monsoon 1 away at Barker’s Butts, hopefully we can win a rubber or two there as that may make all the difference at the end of the season to keep us in the premiership.

The match was played in good spirit from both sides and despite the result was enjoyable for all. Well played all.

Team: Phil & Tricia (0-3) Steve D & Liz (0-3) Matt & Penny (0-3)

A very similar result to the one we achieved at home! Monsoon fielded a stronger side for the return, obviously nervous from our previous performance against them they brought in Tracey ‘England International’ Robbins (isn’t that right, Penny? ;-P) At least they were a friendly bunch, there is now heating in the hall at Barkers Butts and they do have alcohol on site! I won’t bore you with the details, but a highlight was Steve and Liz managing to win the solitary game, so respect to you both.

With one match still to play, lets hope for a good result against Central Sports is enough to keep us in the Premiership, we’ve all got a taste for it now.

Team: Steve B & Tricia (2-1) Steve D & Liz (1-2) Matt & Penny (0-3)

The final mixed 1 match of the season, will it be the final match in the premiership? 

With Phil unable to play this match, we were fortunate to have Steve B in reserve and able to play. He took to the court with Tricia D. for the first rubber as first pair a little nervously but he settled in to his game well and with Tricia playing well too they lost the first to 10 but then stormed the next to 6 to set up the decider. Unfortunately the first pair got wise to their method of play and won the third 15-2. Steve D. and Liz went on as second pair and started brightly, winning 15-9 but were pipped in the next 15-13 and in the third 15-7. Penny and Matt took on the third pair and started badly losing 15-5, but pulled back level in the next playing well to win 15-7 to set up yet another third game which they lost 15-7. Three-nil down after three, all of which went to 3 games, damn!

L&S took on the first pair and crushed them in the first 15-4, but the favour was returned in the next 15-6 and in a nip and tuck final game they were narrowly beaten 15-12. P&M took on the second pair and lost the first a respectable 15-12 and the next a disappointing 15-2 and the match was lost. T&S took on the third pair and with Steve now settling down and not giving the opposition too much respect they won the first 15-7, only to have the next go against them 15-3. They dug in though and won the next tight game 15-12, hurrah! Five-one down after the second round, double damn!

P&M took on the first pair and in determined mood won the first 15-11, but then lost the next 15-7 and the final game was gone in a flash, losing 15-3. T&S took on the second pair and won the first 15-12 and the next with some excellent play an imperious 15-4. L&S took on the third pair and after losing the first 15-10 they pulled themselves through the next to win 15-12 and then dominated the next 15-7. Six-three down final score, but it could have been so different as 7 of the rubbers went to three.

A win may not have made much difference to league positions after all, but would have made us all feel better. Having said all that at the start of the season I’m sure given the opportunity we’d have gladly accepted three points from the three matches we did manage to win as we never expected any points at all – especially after the first match, where we lost 9-0 and never won a game! It’s been an interesting season though, with many good-natured games and everyone who played enjoyed the experience and relishes playing in the Premiership again, given the opportunity.

Thanks must also go to those who filled in and played so excellently – Jo, Tim and Steve B.

Here’s looking forward to next season, wherever we are!