Night Pennant Final 2026

The Newbies v Mace's Mercenaries

 Mick Stiffin v Graham Clark 3/6

Nick Hyams v Mark Rothwell 6/4

Mandy English v Barry Mackie 4/3

Mick & Nick v Graham & Mark 5/6

Mick & Mandy v Graham & Barry 3/5

Nick & Mandy & Mark & Barry 3/5  

Mace’s Mercenaries win 4 matches to 2 and are the crowned 2025/2026 Champions!

Last Wednesday concluded this seasons Night Pennant with The Newbies & Maces Mercenaries both qualifying for the Final from the group stage with The Newbies out in poll position with an impressive 37 points, only losing 1 group match and Mace's Mercenaries sneaking through in 2nd place by one point with a total of 28 points, narrowly winning the last group stage match 6/3 to secure a spot in the final.

This meant Maces Mercenaries would had a chance to win the Night Pennant for a 3rd year in a row but with The Newbies on great form this would be a very tall order!  

The first 3 singles were all very tight exciting matches with The Newbies each receiving the handicap of Owe 30 / Rec 15 vs their respective opponents.

First up Graham Clark took on Mick Stiffin. Both players started well and it was Graham who took the initial game on a 40all game point. Mike then raced to a 3/1 lead with some clinical groundstrokes only to be pegged back by Graham who's underarm twist serve and Overarm Sidewall suddenly started to put Mike on the back foot allowing Graham to dictate from the serving end and level the match at 3/3. The next 3 games were really tight with both players playing some fantastic tennis and with each of them going to 40all game point it was Graham's experience then helped him over the line to take the first match of the evening 6/3 for Maces Mercenaries.

The 2nd singles was between Mark Rothwell and Nick Hyams. After winning the toss Mark took early control from the serving end with some good serves the pinned Nick on the back wall and neutralised the initial handicap, Nick then managed to set a chases of 3&4 and the Last Gallery to take back the serve but it was Mark who closed out the 1st game after beating both chases on the floor. Nick then managed to get his fast and accurate left handed Railroad going with great effect, putting Mark under real pressure and forcing some racket errors, racing to a 4/1 lead. Mark Battled back to 3/4 for Nick to then stop Marks momentum and go 5/3 up with some great play. Nick then went 40/30 up and with a chase of worse than 2 looked like he would close out the match but Mark managed to beat the chase and take the next point to claw back to 4/5. Nick then held his nerve and after 2 more great railroads setup a 40/Owe 15 lead, defended a chase worse than 4 let level the evening at 1 match all with a 6/4 win.

The 3rd Singles was between Barry Mackie & Mandy English. Barry started at the receiving end and despite Mandy's very tight and consistent high serves managed to get success off the back wall attacking Mandy's forehand corner down the line winning the initial points as well as setting a good chase of 3&4. Mandy then changed tactics to a bobble serve that glued itself to the back wall and forcing Barry into a racket error to go 40/30 up before changing ends. From the service end Barry managed to defend the chase and then at 40all hit a clinical forehand under the grill to take the opening game. The next few games were very tight with both players chasing balls down and retrieving really well, trading games from 1/1 to 2/2 and Mandy then edging into a 3/2 lead with some positive groundstrokes then managing to use the momentum and take the next game to 4/2. Mandy then went 40/15  up and with a chase of 1&2 looked certain to take another game but Barry hit a really good return that Mandy tried to defend but couldn't deal with, Barry took the next point and at 40all from the serving end hit a low shot into the base of the Tambour to bring it back to 3/4. 

The next game saw Mandy take the opening point to go 30/Owe 30 up and setting a Chase of better than 5, Barry battled back to 30 all before and edged the next point to go 40/30 up with a chase to play and as they were changing ends the Buzzer went meaning Mandy had just done enough to with 4/3 and give the Newbies a 2/1 lead on the night!

The next phase of the final was the 3 doubles matches. Graham and Mark managed to take the first match 6/5 in a very tight battle with Nick & Mick followed by Graham & Barry just edging out Mandy & Mick 5/3 in another really good match. This meant that Maces Mercenaries now were 3/2 up on the night and also had a 3 shot lead in the games count of 24 to the Newbies 21 which would be the decider on count back if the final match went to The Newbies to level the evening at 3/3.

The final match of the evening was between Mark & Barry v Nick & Mandy and with both team still in touching distance of the trophy they had the full backing of their team mates willing them on from the dedans. Mark and Barry were quickest out of the blocks, setting two chases early on and taking control of the service end and managed to convert the 40all game point to take an early lead. Mandy and Nick came back firing to level it at 1/1 with some great shots and from the serving end pushed on to a 2/1 lead. Mark and Barry then again got two early chases knowing that it was important to stop Nick & Mandy from serving from which they were getting success and even though they found themselves 0/40 down managed to take the next 4 points to level the match 2/2. 

The next two games were really tight with both pairs setting chases and taking turns to get on top leading to both going to 40all which Mark & Barry narrowly converted to take a 4/2 lead. Mandy and Nick dug deep and took the game to their opponents and at 40/15 up Nick hit a penetrating cross court backhand into the sidewall forcing Barry into a racket error to take the match to 3/4. Mandy then hit a return into the Dedans on the first ball of the 8th game to really pile on the pressure followed by a winning return down the line to go 40/Owe 15 up and then setting a chase 3 with a lovely cross court ground stroke to take the serve. From the receiving end Barry once again kept his cool attacking the 3 yard chase down the middle with great success. From there Mark & Barry managed to pull it back to 30/40 with Mark then setting a chase of worse than 4. Barry then served a tight bobble to Mandy who hit a really tight ball down the line to Barrys backhand which he calmly stroked back to Nick who went for the dedans, slightly overhitting to lose the chase and bring up another 40al game point.

Barry then served to Mandy and guided her return onto the tambour, sending the ball between his opponents to take the game and a 5/3 lead which turned out to be the last shot of the match sealing a 4 match to 2 win for the Mace's Mercenaries and crown them the 2025/2026 Night Pennant Champions for a 3rd season in a row!Congratulation to all the players who took part in a really exciting final as well as all the teams who battled throughout the season in a really competitive group stage this year.

We look forward to seeing you all and many more back in action next years event to compete for the title once again! 

HHTC pros