[<<] [>>] by Peter Payne at Geneva
26th July 2004 (International)

The England team arrived in Geneva to the double delight of finding that they were politely (?) cajoled into rolling the two lawns and that the Swiss had surreptitiously strengthened their line-up, calling up Ian Sexton for the injured Dave Underhill. An inauspicious start, only slightly mollified by the very un-Swiss entertainment found down on the lakeside that evening.

Saturday started warm, wet and very heavy, and remained that way all day, with a consistent cloud cover and the occasional squall. The lawns, freshly rolled, played fairly true but were slower than usual. Hoops were firm and relatively user friendly.

The first four singles produced 4 wins for the locals, with a TP for Andrew Cowing and an extremely unlikely return from the brink for Peter Payne, +1 against Ian Price. The second round of singles produced a further 4 wins for the locals and a TP for Peter. The 8 nil score line did not reflect the nature of the tie however, and several games could have gone either way. This was accentuated by the doubles, both of which went down to the wire. The Swiss contrived however to finish the day 10 nil ahead. The day closed with a modest five course meal, washed down with equally modest quantities of red and white wine.

Sunday was warm and humid but with a cloudless sky. The lawns had visibly grown over night and were slower still. Hoops were as hoops are.

There was great excitement in the third round of singles, with Kevin Carter scoring England's first and ultimately unique point over Peter. Normal service was resumed in the final round of singles. The doubles were less tense on day two, with further wins for the locals and another (delayed) TP for Peter.

Final score: 19-1, but we're all still talking to each other and no doubt the Swiss will be taught a lesson in humility next year in England for the return match.

Results

Swiss names first

Day 1

Ian Sexton beat Tony Mockett +15
Peter Payne beat Ian Price +1
Andrew Cowing beat Paul Miles +24tp
Norman Eatough beat Kevin Carter +4

Sexton beat Price +24
Payne beat Mockett +26tp
Cowing beat Carter +17
Eatough beat Miles +10

Sexton/Cowing beat Carter/Mockett +2
Payne/Eatough bet Miles/Price +6

Day 2

Sexton beat Miles +23
Payne lost to Carter -17
Cowing beat Mockett +18
Eatough beat Price +16

Sexton beat Carter +3
Payne beat Miles +15
Cowing beat Price +4
Eatough beat Mockett +10

Sexton/Cowing beat Miles/Price +25
Payne/Eatough beat Carter/Mockett +8tp(P)