New ladies vets captain Sophie Annett and her team started their Summer campaign at the Riverside Club, Salisbury. They had an enjoyable match but Riverside came out winners.
Their first victory came against Warsash on Andover’s indoor courts at Balksbury.
Andover’s first pair was Claire Reid and Rowena Thorne, celebrating her selection for Hampshire vets. They had a very long and tiring match against the Warsash first pair.
With Reid’s strong forehand drives and Thorne’s stylish backhands they pushed the very good Warsash pair all the way but just lost the first set 5-7.
A change of tactics was required and this they did, mixing up the play and earning a close second set on a tie break, 7-6.
In this format, a championship tie break is played. This was as close as it could be, with the visitors eventually getting a net cord at 9-8 to take it 10-8.
With their breath back after a short break, Reid and Thorne cruised to a comfortable 6-1,6-0 win over the Warsash second pair.
Annett and Kitson had achieved an identical score against the same pair, with powerful driving from Kitson and good court coverage from Annett.
They also had a good match against the impressive Warsash first pair and had a close first set, but lost out 4-6, 2-6.
With rubbers even, the set won by Reid and Thorne proved vital, giving Andover the tightest of victories by 5 sets to 4.
It was a close match played in the best of spirits and all agreed it had been thoroughly enjoyable.
