Carlton came into the match with high hopes of avenging the previous season’s 4-5 away loss – especially since that match had gone right down to the wire, the teams locked at 4-4 before the final decider saw Southwell edge 1-2 to claim the match – and in the end – the higher league placing. In the end, however, history was to repeat itself in heart-breaking fashion.

With home advantage, Carlton ran into an early 2-0 lead – but even with confidence high, the warning signs were there with both rubbers needing the full three games. Chris & Phan took their first 2-1, the last game to 16. Aidan & Matt lost their first game, but came back once more in magnificent style to take the rubber 2-1 – confirming their excellent form from the week before to be no flash in the pan, and looking like they could take more games from an experienced Southwell side.

Unfortunately this was the high point for the Carlton side. In the next three games, Southwell fought back well to take two from a strong Glenn & John – both rubbers needing the full three games – and then their first pair edging Aidan & Matt’s fearless game to turn the match in their favour.

Chris & Phan took their next rubber to even the overall score, but Southwell managed to edge head again to take the match to 4-3. It needed an excellent performance from Glenn & John to take their final game against Southwell’s first pair – and with Aidan & Matt going down fighting, we were back to 2013 again with the match at 4-4 and Chris in the final game!

Desperate to avoid a repeat of last year’s scoreline, Chris & Phan had to pull back from 0-1 down to take the match to a decider in the final game of the final rubber.  At the turnaround Carlton were ahead 11-10, but neither team could quite finish the other off – the game see-sawing between the two with neither pairing pulling ahead by more than two points. At 19-20 down Carlton saved a match point, then gave themselves a chance of the match at 21-20, but Southwell refused to give way evening the scores up to 21-21 before putting the game, the rubber, and the match to bed with a 22-24 score!

Repeating the score of last year was heartbreaking enough for Carlton, but this win also sees Southwell – deservedly – as one of the strongest teams in the promotion mix. Men’s Second now have a couple of weeks away to lick their wounds before their next game against local rivals Mapperley Park.

Second Mixed travelled to Southwell Centre looking to bounce back from defeat against University, knowing that they needed a win to keep their hopes of promotion alive.

In a hard fought match they managed to deliver, battling to a 5–4 victory. Second team regular Andy and super sub Jay, pairing up for the first time this season, produced a stunning performance to take all 3 of their rubbers. John & Jess and David & Becky picked up a rubber each to seal the away win.

After a stumbling start Andy and Jay recovered from a game down to take Southwell’s first pair in three, never looking back as they stormed through the next two rubbers without dropping a game. Such an accomplished performance from a pair playing competitively for the first time was a pleasure to see, with both deserving to take the plaudits for an outstanding showing.

John and Jess made a strong start. However, a niggling elbow injury to Jess and an unusually misfiring John led to them dropping their first rubber. Things were looking up as they recovered to take Southwell’s third pair in two. Unfortunately the inconsistencies were to return as they lost their final rubber – the second game being an agonising 26-24 loss.

David and Becky flew out of the blocks, beating Southwell’s third pair to open their account for the evening. They then proceeded to get as close to beating the other pairs as is possible without actually winning! Losing 21-17, 19-21, 21-18 to the first pair and 23-21, 22-20 to the second.

All in all this was a good win against a solid home side, demonstrating the strength in depth at the club. Up next for Second Mixed is East Leake Seconds at home on the 14th of February.

Second Men’s put on a show tonight beating Boots 8-1! But for severe cramp hitting Chris against the last pair it could easily have been 9 – 0!

Old hands Martin and John took all three of their rubbers without dropping a game, coming from 12-17 down in a game to win 21-17.

Aidan and Matt (making his Men’s Second debut no less) also took their three rubbers, besting Martin & John’s recovery when fighting back from 12-19 down to win 26-24!

Last minute man Phan left us all on tenterhooks as he navigated the city’s bus system. Once safely at Carlton, however, he and Chris decided to best the previous pairings’ recoveries by losing the first game of each rubber. Disaster struck in the last game, however, when Chris went down with severe cramp. Though determined to play on after rigorous stretching and heat the pair were forced to concede.

The Seconds are back in action next week against Southwell Centre at home, Southwell visiting after Second Mixed travel to them on Sunday.

A great way to start the year for the Ladies First team with a nail-biting 5-4 win over Byron 1 at the death! Coming from 3-4 down, the final pairing of Kim and Holly had more than enough in the tank after sitting off court for what seemed like hours!

In some fiercely fought games Byron’s first pair proved too strong for all. However, a brace of rubbers for both Jess & Jess and Kim & Holly built on the fantastic first rubber taken by Claire & Jay.

All in all another great team performance, adding a crucial win to the one taken at East Leake. One more win surely guarantees safety!