REPORT
Men’s VETS Doubles Final 2015
There was a chill in the air when the Men’s Veterans finalists, David Johnson and Malcolm Elliot squared up to Roger Standing and Rory Caffyn-Parsons on a grey March morning. Ticket sales were disappointing, still it was Thursday 9.30am, non-veteran members were probably hard at work and other vet members were probably only half way through breakfast and The Telegraph.
Battle commenced and it was indeed a battle considering it was just the warm up. Then it got serious, play started, Malcolm and David surged to a three game to love lead, the two R’s were slow off the mark and no matter what they tried they were run ragged, were they hung over? Maybe. Was Roger using Denise’s racquet? Yes, and when he changed to his own familiar one he was back to his old erratic self, muttering under his breath, I think he is learning French now he is retired.
Legal drug taking
Time out for a couple Phyllosan* tabs washed down with some Alka Seltzer, now permitted stimulants in WSTC Veterans matches. Then at last - one game on the board for the defending champs, to make it 1-3. The atmosphere on court was tense, with play ebbing and flowing, at 3-4 love 40 down the tide changed for the champs, Roger returned to sparkling form at the net, the game clawed back to level at 4-4. But it was still a hard slog for Rodger and Rory to overcome Malcolm and David, final score... 7-5 to R & R in the first set, lasting just under a tortuous hour, there’s lots of life in these old guys you know.
A veritable triumph
Malcolm and David came out fighting in the second set winning the first game, there were some hard fought very close games. David producing some excellent consistent ground strokes, Malcolm with his trade mark sizzling angled cross court winners. Roger bouncing ‘Tigger' like at the net winning volley after volley and being all over the court like a rash leaving Rory plenty of time to brush his hair back off his forehead in a rakish manner and hit the odd ball. Roger and Rory eventually triumphed 6-3 to retain the title.
Though there were no trophies, (old guys have too much tat already), the winners were really pleased with their Methuselah of Vintage Dom Perignon which made a nice change from the fine bottle of Romanian Riesling presented last year and satisfyingly it greatly reduced the WSTC’s surplus funds.
* Under 40’s ask your parents or google it.
Sports Reporter RCP
There was a chill in the air when the Men’s Veterans finalists, David Johnson and Malcolm Elliot squared up to Roger Standing and Rory Caffyn-Parsons on a grey March morning. Ticket sales were disappointing, still it was Thursday 9.30am, non-veteran members were probably hard at work and other vet members were probably only half way through breakfast and The Telegraph.
Battle commenced and it was indeed a battle considering it was just the warm up. Then it got serious, play started, Malcolm and David surged to a three game to love lead, the two R’s were slow off the mark and no matter what they tried they were run ragged, were they hung over? Maybe. Was Roger using Denise’s racquet? Yes, and when he changed to his own familiar one he was back to his old erratic self, muttering under his breath, I think he is learning French now he is retired.
Legal drug taking
Time out for a couple Phyllosan* tabs washed down with some Alka Seltzer, now permitted stimulants in WSTC Veterans matches. Then at last - one game on the board for the defending champs, to make it 1-3. The atmosphere on court was tense, with play ebbing and flowing, at 3-4 love 40 down the tide changed for the champs, Roger returned to sparkling form at the net, the game clawed back to level at 4-4. But it was still a hard slog for Rodger and Rory to overcome Malcolm and David, final score... 7-5 to R & R in the first set, lasting just under a tortuous hour, there’s lots of life in these old guys you know.
A veritable triumph
Malcolm and David came out fighting in the second set winning the first game, there were some hard fought very close games. David producing some excellent consistent ground strokes, Malcolm with his trade mark sizzling angled cross court winners. Roger bouncing ‘Tigger' like at the net winning volley after volley and being all over the court like a rash leaving Rory plenty of time to brush his hair back off his forehead in a rakish manner and hit the odd ball. Roger and Rory eventually triumphed 6-3 to retain the title.
Though there were no trophies, (old guys have too much tat already), the winners were really pleased with their Methuselah of Vintage Dom Perignon which made a nice change from the fine bottle of Romanian Riesling presented last year and satisfyingly it greatly reduced the WSTC’s surplus funds.
* Under 40’s ask your parents or google it.
Sports Reporter RCP
(L-R) Rory CP, David Johnston, Malcolm Elliot, Roger Standing. Picture by Judy Glastonbury.
