1st Rubber 4/6 6/4 6/5
Despite atrocious stormy weather, fallen trees and cancelled trains outside, proceedings commenced with CURTC Aussie and S African internationals Charles Norbury and Josh Elliott (46.8/45) facing up to MCC’s forceful hitters Forman headband Wickes and Simon Heilpern (39.3/39.2). Radar off and overhitting combined for CURTC to deftly take the first set 4/6, to be countered by more composed side wall placement and mixed pace serves for MCC to reverse that trend 6/4. With time short the match went straight to 4/4, and with some forceful well timed shot making MCC prevailed 6/5. Already strange sounds were emitting from the lesser spotted Leeper in the Dedans which were translated as supporting bellows for MCC.

So MCC squeeze in 1-0….

2nd Rubber 4/6 6/3 5/6
MCC member since 1989 Christie Marrian and Simon White (43.5/50.7) started strongly for CURTC despite Christie doing the splits early on (judges unimpressed giving mostly 4’s and 5’s) and took the first set from Paul Cattermull and Kate Evers (39/45) 4/6.
Super volleying and boasting helped a strong second set for MCC 6/3, but both pairs raised their games to take things to a sudden death 5/5 game 3rd set, 40-40 and CURTC prevailed!

Match status MCC 1-1 CURTC…

3rd Rubber 6/3 6/5
Alex Ridgeon and Freddie Double cricket blue Kottler (64/60) then took on the vocal pairing of Piers Vacher and south paw James Leeper (64/70)…good all round foot movement and lobs and retrieving saw a comfortable victory for MCC 6/3 6/5.

Match status MCC 2-1 CURTC

4th Rubber 6/4 1/6 5/6
Tom Nicoll and Simon White (53/50) took on the craft and knowhow of Ollie Wise and Jonathan Ellis-Miller (56/53) and although CURTC lost the first set 6/4 they settled in to a solid response with a good second set 1/6 winning a number of long rests. And again time was tight and the chicken curry had arrived in the Dedans so a 3rd set started at 3/3, and yes another 5/5 40-40 game and match point and my oh my CURTC took the mango chutney spoils again 5/6. Jonathan will retell his shot of the day countless times with technical drawings so I am not going to bore you with it here :).

Match status MCC 2-2 CURTC and all naan bread to play for…

5th Rubber 1/6 5/6
CURTC combined the savvy of Ian Glasscock with the youth (17) of Francesca Riddall Bell (61/65) to rather comprehensively blitz MCC’s Fergus Boyd and Peter Brunner (63/62.9) before they knew where their papadums were… ouch 1/6 5/6.

Match status MCC 2 -3 CURTC

6th Rubber 6/4 6/5
For the deciding Rubber of the squirly whirly windy day CURTC sent back in their youthful multi sportsmen Josh Elliott and Freddie Kottler (45/60) to face the slightly less mobile Graeme Marks and octopus arms of Nigel Smith (49/56)…CURTC burst to a 0/4 lead before MCC had noticed, and then used side walls and bobble serves to climb back and pinch the set 6-4. After a similarly strong start CURTC carved a 0-3 game lead before MCC again woke up, with Graeme managing 4 direct Dedans returns of serve in 5 serves…..and suddenly with Nigel’s guile and steady hand MCC had stolen victory from defeat 6/5.

And finally the summary details… MCC win 8 sets, CURTC 7, 3 Rubbers go to 3 sets, and 3 also went to 5/5 40-40, and overall 3-3 honours even, The Governor vino (much) enjoyed!

Graeme Marks, MCC Match Manager

Spot the difference…