With the absense of co-captain, Blonnie Walsh, it wasn’t quite the demolishing Vanbrugh had hoped for, although they still managed to beat Goodricke 6 matches to 4.
Getting the game off to a great start, Simon Pierce and Rosie managed a 21-15 win over Goodricke’s Anthony Howard and Sophie Taylor putting Vanbrugh in the lead. However, shortly after, Goodricke’s Josh Hay and Sophie Autumn comfortably beat Vanbrugh’s Pierce and Rosie 21-12 on Court 4 to level proceedings.
Despite this, mere minutes later Vanbrugh were in the lead again. Captain Davenport and his partner Kate Wilson left a disappointed George Baines and Dafney Allamenou of Goodricke estranged with a 21-13 win.
Goodricke managed to grasp another match from the competitive Vanbrugh hands; Hay and Autumn impressively and surprisingly beating the Vanbrugh third pairing to 13. Once again the tables turned and Vanbrugh prevailed, earning themselves another win through the third pair of Captain and Kate Wilson against the Goodricke 2nds Hay and Autumn.
Four matches later and the question of a winning team remained. Vanbrugh 1sts Jonny Tait and Ellie were left to defend Vanbrugh’s winning streak in a close match with Goodricke seconds Josh Hay and Sophie Autumn. Tait’s dazzling net play left the Goodricke pair stunned.
On the occasion they were returned, many forced lifts meant Tait could dominate further in the form of some very powerful smashes. Nevertheless, Hay’s impressive cross court play forced Tait to grow tired. Struggling to return some of Hay’s cross court drives, Ellie’s quick reactions meant that many of these were blocked, much to Goodricke’s surprise and despair.
Eventually the score was 20-16 and with a deceptive drop shot from Tait the match was Vanbrugh’s. Adding an extra point on for winning they finished with a 6-4 win. Captain Joe Davenport seemed neither elated or disappointed commenting on the game as a ‘same old Vanbrugh win’. Nontheless, Goodricke were pleased over all with their performances and walked away with their heads held high.