Mens O45 Team secure place in National Finals

HERTS. MENS O45S THROUGH TO NATIONAL FINALS

Two great team performances against Bucks and Surrey saw Herts convincingly through to the Finals weekend.  The stand-out performances came in the match against favourites Surrey (especially as Surrey were fresh whilst Herts’ 5 had just played Bucks, winning 4-1).  Things did not look promising when Gary Raw lost a hard fought 5 setter at a String 3 and Peter Newman was behind in the 5th string tie.  Peter however fought back from 2 games down to level the match at 1-1.  Herts. then went behind again with Tim Bloomer losing a close 4th String by 3 games to 1.  Meanwhile Eamonn Price was in a titanic battle against last weeks Regional Champion Andy Normille and eventually came through by winning the 5th game 13-11.  It therefore all came down to the 2nd String tie with Las Fernando facing a fresh and very tough opponent in Surrey’s Mark Kubli.  Fortunately, Las had only been on court 20 minutes in the morning match against Bucks dispatching his opponent 6, 2 & 4.  Las lost a close first game but was always on top thereafter winning the next three games to secure a 3-2 win for Herts and place at the Finals weekend in Pontefract at the end of March.