DISAPPOINTMENT

As our correspondent, Rancho found while attempting to book for the next encounter, Celt Matt had suffered a groin injury (while falling out of bed this morning?), & Celt Chris was fully engaged giving his car a push start. I got this disastrous news rather late on, & so did friend Mike. It thus occurred that the Captain arrived at the Club dressed in immaculate white as for the MCC or Wimbledon, (still dilapidated tennis shoes, however - donations welcomed), but with no match. In these days of modern communication methods, this seemed a pity.

I seems unlikely that this proposed meeting will be consummated in the near future, as our resident Yank departs for a 3 week holiday over there on Friday. We expect Ken & Joyce may be back before Rancho. Keep active you others!

NEXT EVENT

It was during early morning matches & practice sessions, that a further evening doubles match was announced. The victorious Celts are to meet the intrepid partnership of Rancho the Yank & the English Sea Captain, this evening, starting at 7. Court-side seating may be scarce, so please arrive early, & remember to keep your voices down during the play - some of the participants are thought to suffer from a degree of emotional fragility. (We heard of this, just today, as one of the players succeeded in taking our renowned Chris Marius to 7/5, & suggested that he, himself would possess superior stability on the doubles court.)

All this being mere conjecture, until the testing time; we will leave our dear readers patiently to await events..............

CELTS V ANGLICHES

Our Celtic team have not yet publicised any details of any coming match with the challengers mentioned below. They have, however, engaged a well-known English couple of the Club, in a match we have recently witnessed, & will attempt to describe.
This team, experienced in doubles, & still married under the name Hill, in spite of many years of marital & tennistic strife, are the team opposing the dreaded Celts, under the title 'Angliches'.
We must record that the Celts, hearing of various deficiences in their games from recent posts, had made considerable efforts to present more efficient onslaughts against their new opponents, & even to conform more adequately with 'Les Règles du Jeu', de notre Fédération.
(Observers still suggested that the net had, with intent to deceive, been set too low, & that a singles post had been left supporting the net, in such position as to impede long-the-line-balls from recording winning points.) We will refrain from further comment, knowing of the aforesaid propensities of at least one of the Celts concerned.
The match itself proved of a spectacular brilliance otherwise unknown among Club players of this standard. After a first set defeat of 3/6, the Celts imposed their overhead game to such an extent, that they led 4/0, 5/1, terminating the second set at 6/2!
Somewhat troubled, the Angliches, plucked up their inborn skills & aggressivities, to counter the vicious confidence of the Celts: the battle was hard & intense. Volleys followed counter-volleys, & the small crowd of ardent on-lookers shouted vociferously their appreciation. Smashes from all corners were countered by calm, high lobs, interventions at the net were numerous, & often effective.
This entertaining match was eventually won by our ever-improving Matt & Chris at the convincing score of 7/5 in the third set.
We can only express our congratulations to all concerned, & await further matches of this high standard!

PREPARATIONS

Preparations for a future doubles match with the Celtic couple were being made in secret this morning by Captain Mike Fiddes (rtd.) and our resident journalist, Robert Camuto ('rancho' to his friends). Knowing the training capacities of the retired sailor, & the enthusiasm of his partner, this forebodes trouble for all concerned. I was treated to verbal demonstrations of certain tactical plans, which of course I am not able to divulge to those intimately concerned, but about which I issue urgent warning.

CELTS V FROGS

This match, Benson + Frost v Kessler + Pialetto was one more of those exciting doubles encounters on Court 2 at 6 in the evening. Unfortunately, no doubt through lack of publicity, the number of spectators was limited to one. (A great deal of enthusiasm was engendered among the actual participants, & one or two passers-by were momentarily tempted to stay & watch. Yours faithfully, only, showed his fidelity; & duly provided action photos of the encounter, & the following remarks.)

The Celts employed their 'Rush, Crush & Smash' tactics from the outset, & were severely taken aback, to find that a certain 'French Finesse', caused them to lose the first set 6/4. Jérome's accurate services were powerful in reducing the Celtic backhands to a few miserable returns, while his strong topspin ground-strokes pushed them to the back of the court, ready for the Frogs' delicate drop-shots.
The Celts' successes arose from magnificent smashes taken all over the court, providing not only valuable points, but also rest-time from their arduous efforts, while they departed into nearby bushes to look for the balls.
(Another valuable weapon in their armoury, was the Vignal FootFault: well-known throughout competing Clubs in the Alpes-Maritimes, this technique in its Welsh variety resembles the flying start of a ski event, but we will refrain from dwelling on this point, which becomes a little sore, & contributed to a certain number of double faults.)
Happy to relate, through a dogged Celtic persistence, & many more spectacular smashes, the second set went to Matt & Chris. Franck of the Frogs had contributed to their own defeat by showing some reluctance in helping his assiduous partner cover the whole court, by an apparent temporary paralysis. On the positive side, his left-handed service was frequently deadly.
Thus the quartet retired for beers, adjourning the match as a well-fought draw.