TEAM NEWS - SUMMER 2017

TWO LEAGUE TITLES AND FIVE PROMOTIONS

The first of our promotions went to our three teams taking part in their respective divisions of the ladies’ leagues played between May and July. The ladies have been going from strength to strength over the past three years. In 2013 we had just one team in division three. With an increase in members interested in playing matches we entered a second team in 2014 and this year we decided it was time to enter a third.

Playing in division two for their second year the first team won all but one of their matches, losing only to top placed Mexborough. Division one will be a challenge but one we are looking forward to.

Our ladies’ second team have been competing in the fourth division since we first entered a team in 2014, and, after losing the first match 1.5 – 7.5 to Beauchief, it looked like it may be a similar story in 2017. Our ladies didn’t let the result affect them and they went on to win the remainder of the matches, coming second to league winners Beauchief.

The third team’s promotion was a little less straight forward. The ladies, who often found themselves playing with a different partner each match, should be very proud of their achievement. With just five clubs in the fifth division teams played each other twice. The season started with two losses against eventual league winners Hallamshire D. This was followed by a win and then another loss. At this point promotion did not look likely, but with two outstanding wins against Stocksbridge where we started 3 rubbers down, as we only had two pairs playing, the fight was back on. The last two matches against Grove were strong wins and the celebrations were about to begin as the team also finished in second place.

Sadly the two men’s teams playing in division two and four were unable to emulate the ladies success. The first team did manage three wins which was enough for them to stay in division two. Unfortunately the second team found the season tough going and were unable to win any of their matches and will be playing in division five next year.

The midweek mixed team had a bit of a varied season which saw them finish third in division two after winning five of their ten matches. This was a good result as there were some strong opponents in the division this year.

As we moved into July the mixed and late summer men’s and ladies’ matches commenced and this is where things once again started to look up for us. We had one mixed team who were looking forward to their second year in division two, one men’s late summer team competing in division one and two teams in division three of the ladies’ late summer league, which is where our first trophy was attained when the first team won all their matches. Despite only losing five rubbers it wasn’t all plain sailing as they won two of the matches by just one game. This was our first season with two ladies’ teams playing in the late summer league and the second team finished a respectful sixth place out of nine.

The men’s late summer team enjoyed some competitive matches in a first division where each match tested their fitness and tennis ability. This is a hard division to win and they should be pleased with their mid-table position.

It was eventually the mixed team who gained our second trophy as they fought through each week gaining enough wins to become division two champions. It was never easy, with close matches throughout, and by the last match away at Welbeck we were in need of a final win, but with Moorgate also looking for a win away at Mexborough for the same reasons it was a nail biting end to the summer season. Thankfully the team won 3-6 and were able to relax and enjoy the drive home from Welbeck as the news came through that Moorgate had lost their match.

We have been very lucky this year to have had some exceptional juniors play for us including Reuben, who was fifteen in June, playing first men’s team and mixed; Sarah, at just ten, taking part in the ladies’ matches and thirteen-year old Jamie competing in the mixed.

We now look forward to attending the Sheffield and District LTA dinner where we will collect our trophies which will also include the division three winter league trophy from the 2016/17 winter league.

Once again a big thank you goes to all our team organisers and captains who do such a fantastic job.