Not that the Early morning rain stopped our Apsley B Team on Saturday afternoon, nor the Mixed Bees on Saturday away at Bassett, not to mention our Men’s Dees who were home to Waterside on Sunday. It did mean a very soggy doggy walk on Saturday morning which was great for the Spaniel if not for me. At which point someone had a great idea of going shopping in Southampton – rainy Saturdays and shopping do not mix in my experience.
Back to the Tennis. Christine Johnson had the players at the courts for 13:00 so they were able to get going once the courts were dry. Court 1 never really dried out so court 5 was used – I do hope the net was put away once they finished! Christine reports: “So we finally played the last match. During the morning we were really wondering if we would get it played or not or whether it would be a repeat of it being rained off half way through again. Simon Watson & Magda Kornijczuk, and Nigel Green & Amanda Buenfeld quickly beat their opposites. Roger Travers & Sue Wells took a bit longer down on the bottom courts. BUT Steve Johnson and I thought we'd get our monies worth! Lost the first set on a tie break after a real battle. Steve then changed his trainers (he'd been wearing new ones which were slipping) and we easily took the second set. Then they fought back in the third and went 4 0 up then at 5 2 it rained. So off we came. Back on and we fought back to 5 4 with a game point for 5 5 but it wasn't to be and they won 6 4. But a fantastic match. By now it was gone 16:00. Round 2. Amanda & Sue came off having won as Magda and I went on. How lovely to play with Magda and to win so easily and save my tiring legs. Simon & Nigel also finished promptly. So that left Steve and Roger!!!! They finally won at 6.15pm. I was the only remaining supporter for our side by then”. For the record: Simon & Magda won 6-1, 6-2, Christine & Steve lost 6-7, 6-2, 4-6, Nigel & Amanda won6-1, 6-1, Roger & Sue won 6-3, 6-4. Magda & Christine won 6-0, 6-1, Amanda & Sue won 6-3, 6-1, Simon & Nigel won 6-2, 6-3 and Steve & Roger won 5-7, 6-2, 7-6! A solid 7-1 win to end the season and secure a mid-league finish - and Roger maintained a 100% winning record in the Apsley B team – he only played one Match!
The Mixed Bees were buzzing down in Bassett. Pete & Frankie Colling won their first rubber 6-3, 7-5 while Paul Stavely & Helen Haigh lost 4-6, 2-6. Dodging the rain Pete & Frankie had an exciting reverse rubber dropping the first set 4-6, taking the second 7-5 and then rounding off with a 10-4 win in the tie break. Helen & Paul were meanwhile having a tough time losing 2-6, 2-6 to tie the first match of the season. Apparently they fielded their “A-Team” for this – but they only have one team to worry about. Maybe we will do better at home to Compton in our Mixed Bees next match. At least Frankie sent me a photo for the report this week. The match enjoyed light effects as rainbows applauded the team efforts.
Sunday was glorious – a true Sun day as the Men’s Dees began their campaign at home to Waterside. Well they were winning on Thursday when Waterside announced they could only raise two pairs so that meant we were 3-0 up before a ball was struck. Our #1 pair (Stuart Ray & Mike Thornton) sat out the first round while David Dunnett & Jon Francis strolled to a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 win over the Waterside #2s. David Thomas & Luke Blue met their formidable #1s losing 1-6, 2-6. Still we were 4-1 up by then. Second round Mike & Stuart were hammered by the Waterside #1s 1-6, 1-6 but Dave T & Luke eased through to win 6-3, 6-2 while DD & Jon made the tea: 5-1 up. Final round Mike & Stuart effectively replicated the other two pair’s scores with a 6-3, 6-2 win and DD & Jon a solid fight to lose 3-6, 4-6 and leave the result as 6-3 to Thornden. No photo but a solid result.
Overall then a good end to one season and a great start to the Winter leagues.
Next week: the Men’s “A-Team are away to Winchester A on Sunday , Men’s Cees are at home to South Hants and Ladies Bees are away at Portswood. Exciting: eight adult teams and 5 junior teams is going to make this winter really busy reporting, let alone finding courts for the Juniors!
Title: Gordon Lightfoot, 1966 for those of you young enough to remember.