With the Vets county season being spread over 3 playing days, the first took place at Cippenham TTC on Saturday 5th November.
1st Match against Essex 1sts
First match was against Essex 1st team who fielded amongst their team Debbie Auvache and Kevin Caldon, the numbers 12 and 21 veteran player in England respectively. The Avon team was Martin Gunn, Dave Reeves, Clive Ellison and Michele Reeves.
First up a comfortable win for Martin over Mark Wicker. The score was levelled at 1-1 as the battle of the defenders, Duncan Taylor and Clive ended with the Essex player just pipping Clive to the post. This was followed by a great performance from Dave beating Kevin Caldon 3-0. Michele and Martin kept up Avon’s great mixed doubles reputation with a win over Mark Wicker and Debbie. Next Mark Wicker against Clive, which highlighted Mark’s strength against defenders resulting in a 3-0 win for Essex. Debbie Auvache and Michelle were next on the table with Debbie hitting a fine turn of form and edging Michele. Match now finely poised at 3-3. Clive and Martin were then left wanting versus a strong Essex pair. 3-4 down. Dave ground down a resilient Duncan Taylor's defensive skills, Martin outfought a determined Kevin Caldon and finally Michele and Dave showed there mixed doubles pedigree with a much needed win! 6-4 to Avon!
2nd Match against Surrey 1sts
Dave started proceedings against Phil Snelson, a player who proved to be extremely proficient against the defensive game! 0-1 to Surrey. Likewise Clive met an inform Simon Phillipz who showed his class when given a chance to play shots, Clive struggling with the pace and variation of the Surrey player. 0-2! Martin then began the restoration process by beating the hard hitting Steve Davis. Once again the first of the Avon bankers, the mixed doubles, was won by Michele and Dave, and this was followed by Dave's fine win over Simon Phillipz. Next up an under the weather Michele struggled with the close to the table style of Surrey's Michele McGovern and a chest infection, going down valiantly in 4. A ‘hens teeth’ doubles win for Clive and Martin, followed by a close 5 game loss by Clive against Steve Davis levelled the match score at 4-4. So, down to the crux of the match once again! Martin despatched Phil Snelson comfortably, leaving Avon requiring the mixed doubles for the win. 5 games later, with the final game being 11-9, Avon clinched the win as Michele and Martin overcame Michele McGovern and Steve Davis.
Mission accomplished, 2 matches, 2 wins, and looking forward to the remaining vets county days to be held on Saturdays 14th and 28th January at Cippenham!
Martin 4/4
Dave 3/4
Michelle 0/2
Clive 0/4
Men's Doubles 1/2
Mixed Doubles 4/4
