North East Fed Keep Hold of Pennine Cup (by Paul Rigge, 24/07/11)
North East Federation won this years tie 5-3. After a gap of two years, this match, a legacy of the Confederation of Northern Clubs (under Mike Evans), was restored back onto the calendar. The North East team, lead by Charles Waterfield carried the day 5-3 and retained the trophy they won last time both federations met back in 2008, only this time they remembered to take it with them, it’s been kept safe for them at the Pendle club for the last thee years! After 3.5 hours, Lancashire were only 1-0 up at lunch in the morning doubles, necessitating in the other two games being pegged down to make way for the singles. In which we didn’t fair so well, losing the round 5-1. The final NW point coming from a restarted double game before the finishing line had been crossed by Millener in his Hcp game (seen holding the trophy). Pendle again were gracious hosts who set up the lawns and fed us throughout the day. The lawns are now always a pleasure to play on, especially in the warm sunny conditions we had for todays match. Teams: NW Fed, Paul Rigge (-.5), Mat Holmes(1.5), Rob Essler(2), Terry Vernazza(5), David Pollitt(7) & Dave Holland(9); NE Fed: Charles Waterfield(.5), Derek Watts(2), Phil Errington(2.5), Dennis Scar (6), David Millener (7) & Sheila Watts (10). Results: Doubles: Rigge & Holland v Waterfield & S Watts (unfinished); Holmes & Pollitt beat D Watts & Millener 26-15; Essler & Vernazza beat Errington & Scarr 26-21. Singles: Rigge beat Waterfield 26-0; Holmes lost to D Watts 10-26; Essler lost to Errington 14-26; Vernazza lost to Scarr 09-26; Pollitt lost to Millener 21-26; Holland lost to S Watts 13-26.