The Northants Summer League team started with a narrow loss to Saints 1.

Kean Williams started at 3rd string and endured a frustrating rubber, coming from behind twice to level - unfortunately the inconsistency continued and he couldn't push on in the 5th, going down 10/15.

Meanwhile Carlos Bilbao was making his team debut in the racketball slot. After winning the first game against Saints Captain Peter Taylor, Peter started to get into his stride and levelled. The next two games were shared to set up another decider, however the Saints' man just had a bit more in the tank and closed out the rubber.

Next on was Steve Avil at 2 - his opponent started strongly and a series of mis-timed shots combined with a touch which was just off, saw the Saints' man take the first two games - however the man with the headband decided he would like to win the "Earl Harrison VFM game of the Week" award and started to time the ball and move his opponent around the court, winning the next two to level - Steve was now in the driving seat and comfortable won the final game 15/5 and the rubber.

Next on was the doubles pairing of Barrie Dowsett and Steve Tew - after 3 close games full of "lets" and the occcasional point, the fourth game went to 14/14. The game continued to 16/16 before the intervention of Saint's Man of the Match - Martin Thompson - Obviously scarred from being asked earlier if he was Steve's son (!), Martin endured a torrid time marking the doubles (looks like you need the practice next time eh ? :-P ) However despite the whole gallery seeing the ball bounce twice before a Saints player retrieved, Martin judged that it hadn't - this wouldn't have been so bad, but that was at match point both in the rubber and the fixture.

Martin recovered to play at 1 and despite his usual early affection for the tin, played a strong game, despite strong resistance from the Saints number 1, to win 3-0.

So a narrow defeat that could have gone either way - next up Club Diana 2 away next tuesday.