The first-round rubber saw the OLOP D team beat Sonning Sports B. That same OLOP D team of Louise Forster, Patrick McIntosh, and James Smith was playing Grant Baartman, Brett Hastings, and Harry Brough for Sonning Sports B.

The first match saw Grant take on Louise. Grant played a tight match, keeping Louise in defensive mode, playing backspin and forcing backhand, and limiting Louise’s usual strong forehand from getting going. Unusually high forehand errors saw Grant win in 3 games.

The second match saw Brett play James in a reverse of the first game. With 2 strong forehand players, rallies were bound to play a part but Brett struggled getting a forehand shot to get over the net and on the table. James didn’t remember doing much but was appreciative of the copious point gifts to win the Match in 3 games

Match 3 saw Harry play Patrick. Patrick struggled to get going and Harry’s pressure quickly went to a 2 game lead. Patrick's Forehand came to light in the 3^rd  leading to longer rallies. Harry failed to maintain the pressure as Patrick forced the win. The fourth game was a much tighter affair with tighter and longer rallies prevalent. Harry stayed the course and won with a flurry of points in the end.

Match 4 saw Brett v Louise. Brett’s play improved from the 1st round to put pressure on Louise's backhand and defence and limit forehand opportunities. Game 3 saw Louise race out to a strong lead to take the game. The ship steadied in the fourth as Brett once again controlled play and won the game.

Match 5 Grant v Patrick: An in-form Grant dominated play in the first game before Patrick realised he needed to fight. Patrick opening up the game with strong forehand and sidespin to take game 2 before Grant countered in the third. Quality and confidence improving, Patrick turned the tide in the fourth to send it to 5 games. Grant opened with a volley of fine serving followed by consistent smashes to go 5-0 ahead at the change. Patrick returned to game 2 tactics and the match became close but for Grant to win with 2 clear dispatches.

Match 6 Harry v James: An even match of quality fast rallies and games going point to point. James started stronger but upped his quality returns win out over 5 games.

Match 7 Doubles was more one sided as Sonning Sports Brett/Grant combination worked better to beat James/Patrick in 3 games. Sonning had established a lead of 6-1 before the final round of singles.

Match 8 Brett v Pat: A battle of the forehands and tricky spin in serves and returns saw matches alternate to the final game. At 9-9 Brett missed 2 big forehands and Pat benefited with the win.

Match 9 Harry v Louise: Louise caught Harry by surprise with a much improved stroke play but Harry fought back time and again. Perhaps the best moment of the evening at 8-2 down in the fourth Harry fought back to win and force a fifth. At 10 all in the fifth Louise closed out the game with 2 forehand drives!

Match 10 Grant v James. Grant was determined to do a triple and confounded and confused James initially. Getting back in the groove by Game 3 only awoke Grants inner hero and closed out the Game.

Sonning sports B’s best result for the year so far and a result of the teams focus to deliver better results. OLOP D were great company and pleased they will live on in Div 3 next year!

by Brett Hastings