Magdalen's Cook and Clay toil away to no avail

A fighting display from Clay and textbook play from Cook left Magdalen Park Vth sadly two rubbers short of victory in darkest South Croydon. Derek Cook's plucky two-handed backhand and his confusing service wind-up motion all but baffled the oppo, whilst Clay's whippy, toppy forehand produced some marvellous cross-court winners.

"We may have ccome a cropper," commented Cook, a leading disease researcher who battled with a splitting headache on the day, "but we will surely stuff their third team in the league." Ironically, the valliant Vth team meet South Croydon iii on the 20th and revenge is in the air.