Cambridgeshire IIIrd team travelled to Bedford last Sunday for their first ICC Division 5C match of the season, but came away empty handed after a 4-11 loss. Graham Barr and Will Hodgkinson opened proceedings in the 1st and 2nd men’s singles respectively and despite very competitive games, both lost in straight sets. The ladies fared slightly better when Kate Marshall won convincingly at 2nd singles, but Jess James (J) at 1st singles followed the men by losing in 2.
Things didn’t improve in the men’s doubles as first pair Will H and Josh Males (J) and second pair Will Cheng and Graham lost all of their games in straight sets. Mention must go to Will H and Josh however, as they lost their games by frustratingly narrow margins, 22-20, 22-20 and 21-18, 21-19.
The ladies doubles got off to a better start as 2nd pair Laurel Bennett and Lisa Lim beat their opposite pair in straight sets. Emma Best and Jess had a see-saw game against the Beds 1st pair, winning the first set 21-8, losing the second set 8-21 and then narrowly losing 20-22 in the third. The remaining doubles games all went to Beds, although Laurel and Lisa gave the Beds 1st pair a good run for their money, finally losing the third set 19-21.
With the score now at 10-2 the chance of a bonus point for Cambs III had gone, so playing only for pride Will H and Laurel opened the mixed against the Beds 1st pair. Things didn’t go quite according to plan though, and they suffered a heavy defeat in straight sets. Kate and Graham at 2nd mixed produced a fine performance, coming back from a set down to win in three. Josh and Jess followed suit with a spirit breaking comeback from 20-12 down in the second set, to finally win 21-13 in the third.
The 11-4 score line flatters Beds somewhat, and doesn’t quite reflect how close some of the games were. With the return leg in only a few weeks time a home win for Cambs III is not completely out of the question.
More information about results of the Cambs III team is available on the Team Page.