Adam Auckland defeated world number four Alison Waters in their exhibition match at Nuffield Health St Albans.

First the Handicap tournament provided the club members with their own competition before the main event created an electric atmosphere.

The evening started with Auckland and Waters playing against one of the top juniors at the club, George Calverley, and the outstanding performer of the handicap tournament, member Andrew James.

In the exhibition match, Waters got off to a flying start quickly establishing a 6-1 lead. Carefully placed shots from Waters saw Auckland having to work hard just to stay in each rally and at 8-3 up, she must have been confident of taking the first game. However Waters began to make a few mistakes and gradually Auckland chipped away at the lead until the score was tied at 9-9.

Auckland played his best rally of the match and hit a cross-court shot from the front that wrong-footed Waters, sending her in the wrong direction to clinch the first game.

Waters responded and increased the pace and used the angles of the court to work her opponent out of position before applying simple and effective winning shots. She comfortably took the second game 11-6 to level the match at 1-1.

Former double British champion Waters was using all of her experience and tactical nous to counter the explosive and less controlled attacking game of the young Nuffield professional. There was never more than a point between them until at 8-9, Waters played what was probably her first real unforced error of the match to give Auckland a crucial two point lead and match ball.

Auckland wasn’t going to squander his chance and took the final rally with a hard straight forehand drive to seal the victory.