Neck and neck: the only way to describe this match, the Murphy Shield semi-final against Watford at Kenilworth on Tuesday, 3 September.
First of all thanks to Kenilworth for providing the excellent venue for this match (as near as we could get to halfway between Chester and Watford). Playing for Chester were Tom Grievson, Martyn Seal, Sarah Clements and Liz Jordan.
Watford set off quickly winning the doubles match in two straight games, but both of the morning’s singles games went to the best of three, with Chester and Watford winning one each to make the score Watford 2 Chester 1 at lunch.
But in the afternoon, Chester won the first match, then Watford edged back in front with the second, before Chester equalized in the third, bringing the score to 3-all with one to play. Literally one to play, because by then Sarah (for Chester) and John (for Watford) were already at one game all in their best of three match. But Sarah and John ramped up the tension even further by getting to the Golden Hoop at 6 points all. But Sarah just edged the victory for Chester.
Commiserations to Watford to lose by such a close margin, but congratulations to Chester, who now go on to play Sussex County in this year’s final for the Murphy Shield.