Us ladies know how to celebrate a birthday in style…and it always involves cupcakes…

By Katie Garner

Charlotte and her birthday treat

Charlotte and her birthday treat

Even though you are probably meant to deem your opponents from other clubs with a revered distance and a polite, yet competitive curiosity, with the ladies, I’m afraid the opposite is actually true. Seeing each other as frequently as we do, I would honestly say that I count many of the women we play against also as friends, with the playful banter and jokes galore making match nights frivolous between the levity of being ‘in the zone’ during matches.

One of our loveliest opponents is the beautiful Charlotte from Emerson Eagles, who a few weeks ago was bemoaning the fact that her birthday fell on the most romantic day of the year, Valentine’s Day. With a match night planned for the 13th February at Corinthians, Jess and I hatched a plan to surprise Charlotte with her very own birthday treat – some homemade Raspberry and Strawberry cupcakes, with an orange sugar drizzle crust. With a Tupperware box bursting with fresh fruity scents and delightful squishy cupcakes, we presented Charlotte her birthday cakey goods on arrival.

Muffins!

Muffins!

After the gruelling ladies matches, grazing on the deliciously moist muffins was just what the doctor ordered, and sagging spirits were revived by the mere wonder of a soft sponge. It was almost a double congratulations as Charlotte and her ladies partner Katie won their first match of the season that evening as well.

Charlotte – we all hope you had a very lovely birthday, and that you enjoyed your cupcakes!