Date: 24/10/22
Match: Saxmundham Men's 1st team v Ipswich 2nd team at home (Carlton Park)
Final score: Saxmundham won 7-1
Team: Chris + Anthony, Matt + Ewan
On 24th October 2022 history was made when the first home game of the season saw Ipswich Men's 2nd team visit our Men's 1st team at home.
The Ipswich team followed our team up to the top division, finishing as runners-up in Division Two last season. But last season saw both teams reach a stalemate, with both matches drawn.
So, with our usual quartet raring to go, if they had any chance of survival this season, this was surely a must-win for us.
Sadly, both sets started sluggishly. The half-hour pre-match warm-up clearly wasn't long enough! In a nip and tuck hour-long set, the Ipswich 1st pair got first blood, pipping Anthony and Chris to the set at 6-4. If Anthony and Chris were slow off the blocks then Matt and Ewan were metaphorically stuck in traffic, with an error-strewn first five games leaving them trailing 4-1 to opponents Ben and the young Rowan, who deserved a highlight reel all to himself for producing several outrageous winners!
With no room for another loose service game, our pair knuckled down and fought hard for every single point. Slowly but surely they muscled their way back into the game to force a tie-break, which they'd go on to win before carrying on the momentum to win the second set 6-2.
Back to Centre Court, and it was Anthony and Chris's turn to arrive to the party, also winning their second set emphatically leaving Sax 3-1 up in sets at the halfway point.
The second half continued in the same vein with two very close sets. The Ipswich father and son combo of Ben and Rowan would push Anthony and Chris all the way, but ultimately, just fall short at 7-5.
Ewan and Matt clearly love a tie-break, reaching a second one on the night. but this time it was much tighter. Despite wasting three set points they would clinch it to secure the Saxmundham win.
The last two sets were comfortable for both Sax pairs, which was in total contrast to the match, despite the rather flattering final 7-1 scoreline. This was a first-ever win in division one for us, and symbolised a huge win for the team. Wins at home are a must, with anything on the road a big bonus.
Next up is the short trip up to Wortham...
(Well done team! Ed.)
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