This was a crunch match for the Vets 3, a win would leave us in position to win the league, a draw would hand the initiative to Oakwood and a loss would be unthinkable!

The team was Andy f and fuzz, Colin s and I, ably supported by Dave W.

After two matches we had two draws. you might watch Shakespeare on BBC 2, but you won’t match this for drama.

Colin and I won the first set of our 2nd match, but fuzz and Andy lost theirs. Colin and I were battling away in our 2nd set, but we heard that Andy and fuzz were 5-1 down, Colin and I had to win just to get a draw.

We heard roars coming from Andy and fuzz as they fought themselves back into contention and then went onto a magnificent 7-5 2nd set win to draw their match.

This meant if Colin and I took our 2nd set, Bexleyheath would win the match overall.

The 2nd set was evenly balanced at 4 each. Bexleyheath went 5-4 up, we had a match point but didn’t capitalise. Before we knew we were in a tie break, and of course the tie break went to 6-6………

The opposition took the tie-break 8-6 so the match was drawn

Great performance from the team, heads held high.

Bexleyheath Vets 3 lost against Herne Bay LTC Men's Vets 2 Score 2-2 (on count back games)

The Vets 3 took the long road down to Herne bay this afternoon, the weather was grey and overcast, a typical Dickenson setting across the north Kent marshes.

Subterfuge was afoot as the Herne Bay Club’s postcode led us into the town centre, that den of iniquity.

My car which contained “John the slice master Poole” and “Colin the ace Stevenson” soon worked it out. Unfortunately, it caught out “fuzz the backhand day” who only arrived 3 minutes before the match started!

This allowed their 1st pair to beat Warwick and I convincingly. However, Colin and John did the same to their 2nd pair. One rubber each!

Warwick and I then made amends and destroyed their 2nd pair which meant that the match would be drawn in terms of rubbers, assuming their 1st team beat Colin and John, which was expected.

It all came down to games.
In the last set, our heroes needed to win 3 games to get a draw for the match.
Sadly, we came up short by 2 games.

A great effort by the team, who I believe would have won had the match taken place at our fortress Bexleyheath!

What drama at the club this afternoon? BHTC men’s 2s were looking to avenge the drubbing we received from Chislehurst early in the season, so we put out our best team. George and Gabriel as 1s, a delightful combination of good looks, youth and two forearms that would make Popeye jealous.

Colin and Frank as our twos, looking to fuse Colin’s guile with Frank’s youth, it was like pairing a fine burgundy wine with a fruity Riesling. last but not least was Warwick and myself, two wily old experienced warriors.

All of the first three matches went to a championship tie break! and unfortunately BHTC was victorious in only one of them.

We now needed to hold our nerve, dig deep into our reserves, remember all those that went before us.

I am pleased to say we did just that and won all three of the remaining matches to win the competition 4-2.

A big thanks to Colin and Frank who played their first matches for the club and were both outstanding!