Prested Hall Real Tennis Club: Social Fixture with Jesmond Dene Real Tennis Club - 13th & 14th March 2010

Report by Fixtures Secretary Chris Wilkinson

CONGRATULATIONS to the Prested Hall team, who won by 5 matches to 3.

The team from Prested included John Clarke, Chris Vigrass, Tony Blake and Wilko.

Prested got off to a slow start; playing on an alien court always takes time to get used to; John and Tony trailed for most of their opening match and went down 10/5. Vigrass and Wilkinson fared little better, but managed to claw back to 6/6 before falling back losing 10/6. A rearguard action by Prested would be required, and some exciting tennis was to follow.

John and Chris played well together even if at times leaving the ball for the other to play; but at 9/9 at match point 40-30 down, receiving serve and playing a “better than 3 yard chase”, things were not looking good. But John played a master stroke; glancing off the rim of the second gallery to land on 2 yards; Prested at 40-all won the final point to tumultuous applause. Inspired by this Blake and Wilkinson won their match to make the overnight score tied at 2-all.

Prested retired to watch the 6 nations rugby and after several pints of Guinness and the odd “rusty nail", the Prested Team were rather bleary-eyed when reappearing on Sunday morning.

Vigrass was up against the competitive and busy Simon Johnston; at 9/8 and in the lead Chris had match point, was serving having laid a “better than 4 chase” – the gritty Johnston played a fine shot to the backhand side - Chris unsure whether it was a winning shot left the ball – it fell better than 4 “chase off”. Simon would win the game – now 9-all. Chris got to match point again - he had laid another “better than 4 chase” - serving, it felt like déjà vu. Chris decided to leave the ball - again it fell better than 4 - another "chase off"; sadly Chris could not quite close off the match and suffered another 10/9 defeat. It had been a terrific match. 3-2 to Jesmond.

Wilko was to play Tony Harrison – whom he had plied with buckets of Fosters the afternoon before - with his “Barnes Wallis” serve. Wilko was to receive 2 bisques in the match; another slow start led the Prested supporters to remind Wilko of his bisque; at 40-all, on 2 occasions Wilko played his bisque to good effect - and after an exhausting match came through 10-7, very red-faced.

Next on court was the senior figure of Blake who had trained hard the night before - his opponent was the graceful Julia Cooke who had been at Cambridge University with Sarah Vigrass. 40-all was reached in 10 games out of the 18 played so lots of chases which Tony enjoyed walking to! But the old boy came good to win 10/8 despite looking shattered at the end of proceedings. Prested 1 up with one to play.

The dependable Clarke (the hero of the previous day) looking more like someone doing a “Bush tucker trail” was all grit and determination; he played some magnificent rests and came through 10/8. Prested had won 5-3.

We had had a great weekend despite England’s performance at Murrayfield; Jesmond is a delightful club – their members and Paul Hetherington and Simon Harris in particular could not have been more hospitable. Joss Wilkinson, our chef d’ equipe, led the supporters with enthusiasm.

A weekend to remember and a club all should visit.