PwC Casltetown Abbey B started the new season with a narrow 10 to 8 victory at home over Hotchkiss Kirk Michael B.
The night started with an impressive victory by Graham Coffey and James O'Meara, Castletown Abbey, against Jamie Everett and Alan Murphy, dropping only 14 points.
After winning their first comfortably, Kirk Michael's Lindsey Hotchkiss and Ali Callister had a tense second game against an inspired Claire Townsend and Sinead Stephens who fought back valiantly nearly taking it to three, losing by only 3 points.
The remaining level matches were also shared in straight games, with the men's going to Castletown Abbey and ladies' to Kirk Michael.
Continuing an impressive debut, O'Meara remained unbeaten, working well with Stephens to secure the 4th Mixed for Castletown Abbey.
A close 3rd Mixed went the way of Kirk Michael, also in two, Alan Murphy and Callister demonstrating good tactical play against the new pairing of Graham Coffey and Asia Ogden. So, going into the final games with the scoreline all square, the pressure was mounting.
The upper hand swung back and forth in both matches. 2nd Mixed Nick Thornley and Claire Townsend of Castletown Abbey thought they had everything wrapped up nicely after they raced to a 21/11 win in the first end, only for Ed Espinosa to raise his game, delivering a run of well placed and deadly smashes, backed by the quick reactions of Jo Moore at the net, to take the second for Kirk Michael 21/18.
Maybe it was nerves, or perhaps the quantity of confectionery Castletown tactically provided to the Kirk Michael side taking effect, but their comeback sadly ebbed away in the third game which in the end gave Thornley and Townsend a fairly comfortable 21/12 win.
All could still be decided as the final match began. Castletown Abbey's Damian Peter and Kira Buchan, sharing the court for the first time, took on Richard Done and Jess Corlett in another nail-biter. Ultimately Castletown Abbey came out on top once more, the scores 16/21, 21/16, 21/12, depicting a great battle that was as much mental as physical.
Players of the match were Jess Corlett (Kirk Michael) and Damian Peter (Castletown Abbey).