So this weekend was at least dry even if it was not that sunny with an incredibly busy weekend of league matches across the county. On Saturday: Men’s A-Team was at home to Bassett A and Men’s Bees was at home to Avondale B. The Men’s Cees didn’t travel to Hedge End & Priory as their opponents had withdrawn from the league. The Ladies Southampton & District team was away to Warsash and the Boys 12s are away to Portsmouth Tennis Academy while the Girl’s 16s was away to Kingsley. On Sunday the Men’s Elite was away at VA Dorset and the Boy’s 14s away to Portsmouth Tennis Academy. Our Girl's Team at Kingsley.

To start with the home front before we venture further afield. The A-Team entertained Bassett at home and had a great day. Peter Colling & mats Colling had a great start with a 6-2, 6-2 win. Tom Vinnell & Jay Kim had a resounding 6-3, 6-1 win, but Alex Billingham & Simon Watson lost 7-6, 2-6, 3-10. Second round Pete & Mats lost the first set 3-6 but came back to  win 6-1, 10-6 while Tom & Jay managed to lose 6-4, 4-6, 4-10 and Alex & Simon fought hard for their 6-3, 4-6, 10-4 win. Last round Pete & Mats won 6-0, 6-1, Tom & Jay ;lost 3-6, 2-6 and Alex & Simon lost 3-6, 4-6 – overall a 5-4 win

The Men’s Bees also had an interesting time at home to Avondale: Matt Pitman drafted in help from the juniors with Milan Bharadia & James Ardley joining their attack as the #1 pair. This proved to be a fairly astute move as they started with a 6-2, 6-2 win while Matt & Jon Saville had a battle towin 1-6, 6-1, 10-3 and Slavek Kornijczuk & Chris Osbourne lost 7-6, 2-6, 3-10 (lucky Magda was up the road at Kingsley S). Second round James & Milan won 6-4, 6-3 against the Avondale ~1s while Matt & Jon cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 win and Slavek & Chris won a comfortable 6-4, 6-1. Last round had Milan & James back in for food with a 6-2, 6-2 win, Matt & Jon having a real battle but won 3-6, 6-2, 10-5 and Slavek & Chris just managing to lose 6-1, 3-6, 9-11. Great afternoon was had by all – and well done to the two Juniors especially Milan who, to quote Matt, “didn’t play a bad shot all afternoon”!

Our Ladies were going away to Warsash – with the stress on were. The team was all sorted and everything planned but without one outbreak of flu, one injury and one had a grandchild threatening to be delivered before the scheduled date - as far as I can remember - at which point our Captain decided to call the match off.

Over at Kingsley the Aegon Girl’s team rapidly completed their singles, Magda Kornijczuk dominated winning 6-0, 6-0 Lydia Kelly made quick work to win 6-0, 6-0, Jocelyn Kwan 6-3, 4-6 and 10-8 in tie break while Nakshatra Sridhar won 6-4, 6-2. In the doubles they continued with Magda & Lydia winning 6-0, 6-0 and Nakshatra & Jocelyn completing a most successful outing 6-4, 4-6 10-5

Down in the wilds of Portsmouth the Boy’s 12 & Under team had an unpleasant time against Portsmouth Tennis Academy. Sam Ardley endured a display of tantrums from the opposition winning the first set 6-0 before the shenanigans started. He then lost the second 2-6 but ended up 6-10 down in the match tie-break. The opposition refused to shake hands at the end! Freddie Swain on the next court was intimidated by the goings on and lost 4-6, 2-6, But Ben Hatfield kept his head and won 6-2, 6-3. Jas Baczinski fought really hard but lost 4-6, 4-6 in a really tight game. So 3-1 down at the end of the singles. Sam & Freddie overcome their earlier upset and thrashed the Portsmouth pair 6-1, 6-2 and Ben & Jas were winning 6-2, 5-3 when Portsmouth conceded the rubber at 5-2 to Thornden (parents wanted to go out for the evening. So all square and time for the shoot-out. Sam & Ben linked up and dominated the Match Tie-break 10-2. Magic: a win when all seemed lost.

Sunday the Aegon National Men's Elite visited Virgin Active Dorset in Poole. Piers Farhang won his singles6-4, 6-2 but Mats Colling suffered a heavy defeat 0-6, 1-6. Mike Johnson won his singles 6-2, 6-4 but Jay Kim (a late substitute) lost 4-6, 5-7. Piers and Mike won their doubles 6-2, 6-2 but Mats & Jay lost 4-6, 2-6 leading to a 3-3 and so to tie-break time. Two singles followed by a doubles if all tied after the two singles: got it? So Piers won his 10-2, and Mike lost his 6-10 but Mats & Jay then lost 6-10 in the concluding doubles. So close with a weakened squad.

Finally the Boy’s 14 & Under took their turn to play at PTA Ben Hatfield suffered a 1-6, 1-6 hammering, Josh Overton took the first set of his singles 6-4 but then lost 1-6, 7-10, Adil Chowdhury was still smiling after being double bageled and Jack Layton-Bunday showed great courage in losing 1-6, 1-6 to a 8.2 when he is a real novice – but he took a game! Ben & James then lost 4-6, 2-6 and Adil and Jack kept their smiles as they were destroyed 0-6, 0-6. But we expected nothing and came home with 10 games in a match in which we were outgunned all round.

Next week: Tuesday 9th Vet’s A is away to Lee-on-the-Solent and on Wednesday 10th May Vet’s B Team is at home to Portswood. Saturday 13th May: Apsley B team is home to Lyndhurst and the Apsley B is away to VA Hampshire Club. Sunday May 14th we have the Club Road to Wimbledon tournament with the Boy’s 16 & Under at home to VA Hampshire Club at 14:00 (hope we finish Road-to-Wimbledon in time!).

Title: A 1930 song, now a classic with versions from just about everyone including Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.