Toady, we welcomed to our club, a party of 15 friends from Royal Wootton Bassett PC. The occasion was the the 1st leg of the annual competition between the clubs. The 2nd leg will be played at RWB PC on 18 September 2025.
Our guests were welcomed in typical Monkstone sunny weather and were treated to tea/coffee and Welsh cakes after their journey across the bridge.
The match was in the usual format of 2 rounds of 6 doubles followed by 2 rounds of 4 triples.
When play got under way Monkstone took an early lead in the first round of doubles and finally won the round by 4-2 (games) and 62-43 (points). The pattern continued the second round of doubles with Monkstone again edging it by 4-2 and 56-41.
A break was then taken for a sumptuous lunch provided by the MPC members with a trip to the bar for those who wanted to slake their thirst in the hot weather. The deserts provided included, what else in Wimbledon fortnight, strawberries and cream.
So, after the repast, play recommenced with round one of the triples. Monkstone proved they hadn’t overeaten or drunk by continuing in their fine form to take the round 3-1 and 50-26.
On to the final round of triples but Monkstone took their foot of the gas a bit and RWB earned a draw with 2-2 and 45-36.
So the final score was a 1st Leg win by 13-7 and 213-146. They may “think its all over ……….” but it’s not. Monkstone can expect a tough fight from RWB in the return fixture in September as they try to overcome the deficit.
Many thanks to those who played and those who provided the lunch and a special “Well Done” to Ros Goddard, supervising her first event in her new role as MPC Fixture Secretary.
