Old friends, new friends and epic rivalries continue at Middlesex

On Saturday 18th February the CURTC Ladies’ Team took on MURTC Ladies’ Team at Middlesex Court. In a warm up for Varsity, the day consisted of four singles and two doubles matches played off handicap; first to eight in the singles and first to six in the doubles. The initial warm up hit on the court felt like playing pinball and we found a new earned respect for our hosts (especially when they play on the Green court at Cambridge). Lucy Barrett was first to play against Lousia Madsen. It was clear from the outset this would be a tussle. It went game for game, until finally at five all, Barrett broke the deadlock winning 8-5.

Our loyalty was then torn as Cambridge’s Olivia Chesser took on Emily Chadwick – Cambridge alumni and former teammate but now playing for Middlesex. Confusingly both were sporting the Cambridge uniform. With exquisite shots Chesser raced to the lead and was one game from the match at 7-2. We really wanted Chesser to win but how could we see a former Cambridge legend go down so easily. We shouldn’t have doubted. Unfortunately with experience on her side Chadwick came back to win 8-7. Some skilled doubles then followed between Barrett & Murphy against Allen & Chadwick and Plews & Chesser against Madsen & Mejibovski. Cambridge took the first match 6-2 but Middlesex levelled winning the second match 6-1.

In the third singles match of the fixture, a great consistency of shot into the decans doomed Amanda Murphy to an 8-4 loss against Middlesex’s Ester Mejibovski. Playing for the draw CURTC’s Annie Plews faced off once again with MURTC’s Georgina Allen. The Interuniversity tournament had seen a memorable clash at Newmarket where Plews went down 5-0 only to come back and win 8-7 – this was the rematch Middlesex had been waiting for. Plews started slowly on the bouncy court and, in a repeat of Newmarket, Allen won the first five games. However this time, Allen was wary and despite bringing the score back to 7-3, Cambridge lost the match 8-3 and the tie 4-2.

We would like to thank the MURTC Ladies and friends for hosting us and for the great meal and marking. I think we need another fixture back in Cambridge soon.

Amanda