Men's 3rd Team Week 2
Having our first two matches at home was a challenge with the early sunsets and only two courts, last week despite the emphatic win over our old rivals we failed to play the last two sets so I was determined this week to get all the games in. With the willing cooperation of Murrayfield 2nds captain we agreed to sudden death deuces and a 5pm start.
Even in the warm up we could tell that their teenage first pair was a different class. Marcus and Miro (1st pair) stepped up to face them and battled valiantly to a 3-6, 5-7 loss. Titus/Pablo (2nd pair) and Gustav/Simon (3rd pair) dispatched their opponents and we took an early 4-2 lead.
Next Titus and Pablo took on the young stars and managed to win a tight first set however like the rest of the Murrayfield team they were getting used to the Drummond Blaes surface and fought back to win 1-2. Bringing the overall score to 5-4 to Drummond.
Gustav/Simon won their first set against Murrayfield’s 2nd pair and then lost the next set on a tie break whilst Marcus/Miro took the first set against their 3rd pair. It was poised at 7-5 with two sets to go and the light failing when Gustav/Simon won their match tie break and less than a minute later Marcus/Miro won their last set. Nail biting stuff! 9-5 win to the Mighty 3rds.
Women's 1st Team Week 2
We kicked off the overcast (but thankfully dry!) evening with Fiona and Holly taking on the North Berwick 3rds, where they volleyed their way to victory with a 6-2, 6-3 scoreline. Over on court 1 Mary and Olivia took on the NB 1sts, sailing through their sets with a breezy 6-2, 6-1 score. Up next were Val and Alex against the NB 2nds, who took the steady pace of game in their stride and delivered a lovely 6-3, 6-1 win. Mary and Olivia managed to get their second match completed, ending the evening on a high with a 6-2, 6-2 win over NB 3rds. The final sets remain to be finished, however things are looking bright as the score currently stands at 9 - 0 Drummond!
Men's 1st team - week 1 & 2 update
Week 1 – Away to Dalgety Bay 1s
The team started the season with a trip over the bridge, to take on Dalgety Bay who had been promoted from Division 4, the year previous. The team got off to a rusty start, losing 10-3, however it was a far closer match than the scoreline suggests, with 5 of the sets reaching 5 all.
James Grant and Guillermo Fernandez (2nd pair) managed to pick up the only Drummond win of the evening, playing for the first time together, they beat the 3s 6-3, 6-4. Dan Mckiddie and Lukas Michelbacher (1st pair) picked up the other Drummond set, disappointingly losing 11-9 in the match tiebreak to the Dalgety Bay 2s, after being 9-7 up! Tough one to take after losing a tight first round match (6-4,7-6) as well. The 3rd pairing was Ali Stiven and John Foxwell, they were pipped in the tiebreak in the second set against their opposite pairing and then fought valiantly, losing 6-3, 6-2 to a strong Dalgety Bay 1st couple.
The team are fully confident that they will be able to get revenge later in the season, back on the Drummond clay!
Week 2 – Away to Barnton Park 2s
After a disappointing start in week 1, week 2 Drummond 1s were on the road again, to take on Barnton Park 2s, who have beaten us heavily over the last few years. They were relegated from Division 2 last year and we thought it may be a traditional tough night against them, however the team played brilliantly to win 11-2!
James and Guille picked up where they left off last week, making short work of their opponents, picking up a “double bagel” en route to 4 sets and wins of 6-0,6-0 and 6-1, 6-3. Ali and John had a tight tussle against their opposite couple, but managed to come out on top 6-4, 7-6. In what was undoubtedly the result of the night, John and Ali then managed to frustrate the experienced Barnton 1stcouple and beat them 7-5, 6-3! At times, the Barnton Park pair’s rackets spent more time in the air than in their hands. In round 1, Dan and Lukas beat the 1st couple convincingly, 6-1, 6-3. The second rubber was déjà vu to week 1, with Dan and Lukas picking up the only Drummond loss of the night, losing an epic, 17-15 in the MTB this time….. hopefully the last match tiebreak loss of the season.
Next Monday the 1s have the first match at home, taking on top of the league, Thistle. It would be great to have some people along to support!
Dan McKiddie, Men’s 1st team captain
Tues 16th April Drummond Ladies against Dalkeith at Home
It was a beautiful clear evening, with a mix of sunshine and a chilly breeze to keep everyone on their toes. We kicked off the evening with Mary and Olivia leading the way, securing a strong and convincing 6-1, 6-1 win over Dalkeith 2nds. Simultaneously Val and Caroline were over on court 2, smashing out a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Dalkeith 3rds. Holly and Fiona had a shaky start, losing the first set 3-6, however they ultimately came back with a 6-2 win in the second, and went on to win 11-9 in the too-close-to-call tiebreak! The final match saw Val and Caroline win the first set against Dalkeith 2nds, followed by a nail biting second set, which saw them coming back from 5-1 down to secure the win! Epic stuff!
We didn't get all the sets finished (predictably), but the scores on the doors stand at 8-1 Drummond. We love to see it! Report by Holly Foxwell Ladies' Team Captain
Wednesday 17th April Men's Drummond 3 against Hatton 4th at Home
This week I was in the privileged position of having over 20 players to choose the 3rd team from for our inaugural match in Division 8A. We welcomed our rivals from last season, Hatton 4ths, who had soundly beaten us in the first round last year. Ryan and Titus quickly despatched Hatton’s first couple 6-1, 6-1. Marcus and Miro had a more titanic struggle and despite being behind in both sets battled through to win 7-6, 6-4. Pablo partnered 3rd team debutant “Hollywood” John and a more languid tennis you are unlikely to see but very effective with a 6-2, 6-1 win. In the second rubber Marcus and Miro won the first set 6-0 and then ground out a 7-5 final set in the gloaming whilst Pablo and John won 6-2 and 6-3 “by the light of the moon” to quote John. Unfortunately Ryan and Titus didn’t get to play their second match due to the early sunsets at this time of year and the match was concluded as a 10-0 win to Drummond putting us top of the Division 8A table.
PS John’s tactic of drop shot followed by lob proved to be very effective against his 72 year old opponent in the second rubber. Report prepared by Graham Thomson, 3rd team Captain.