Monday Senior Ladies was away to David Lloyd Nursling and Wednesday Senior Men A was at home to Winchester B with Senior Men B away to Glebian. Saturday Ladies Doubles team was at home to Andover, the Men’s A-TEAM was home to Bassett B and Men’s C Team was away at David Lloyd Nursling . Sunday Men’s #1 Regional Team Tennis played at home to Milton Keynes after Men’s #2 Team Tennis was at home to Kingsley. The Men’s Doubles B team was away to David Lloyd Nursling on Sunday. Photo: Men’s Team Tennis #2 at home to Kingsley.
On a pleasant Monday evening the more mature Ladies team played at David Lloyd Lordshill (Nursling Southampton call it what you will). Christine Johnson & Connie Allen beat their 2s but lost to their 1s. Sue Wells and Pam Thompson lost to both pairs in close matches that ended up with a rubber tie break against their second pair. Surface was Clay which, as we “all” know, needs regular maintenance.
Wednesday at home to Winchester B was a nail biting affair. Mark Wellby & Kees de Groot managed a 7-5, 6-4 and 6-2, 6-2 pair of wins but Dan Kwiatkowski & Paul Stavely lost 1-6, 1-6 and 6-1, 2-6, 0-2 - but with that extra set we win the day again! Would you believe we are equal first in the league (third statistically): perhaps we should bring in the National 50+ champion to shift the balance.Senior Men B was supposed to be at Glebian but have no idea if this took place or not due to some secret pact that even means none of their results are being added to the league database. Maybe the weather was bad at Glebian so it didn’t take place. If you know then please let me know and if I have a chance I can put it in a later report.
Saturday afternoon was a windy damp affair. The Ladies, and the Men’s A-TEAM, was scheduled at home but neither played as the forecast was too uncertain. Leon was performing in the afternoon down in Southampton at a sort of festival that was thankfully indoors. I sent the wife out with the dog as I had done my duty in the morning and she managed to complete the walk between the torrential light showers (as forecast – the light not torrential).
On Sunday, over at David Lloyd Southampton the C-Team was out for a battle. Steve Thomson & Lindsay Ross started with a 3-6, 3-6 loss, Chris Osborne & Jason Gauci won 6-7, 6-4, 1-0 and Stuart Ray & Mike Thornton lost 3-6, 6-1, 0-1. Second round Steve & Lindsay won 6-4, 6-3, Chris & Jason won 7-6, 6-1 and Stuart & Ray lost 1-6, 6-7. So final round Steve & Lindsay lost 5-7, 3-6, Chris & Jason lost a really tight match 6-4, 4-6, 0-1 and Stuart & Ray lost 1-6, 1-6. In the words of Captain Chris “long matches, good rallies on the clay and sand in the shoes”. Lots of tie breaks but finished in time to watch proper clay-court tennis as Rafa Nadal took his 12th Roland Garros title. Tell you what, I hated clay courts in Nigeria: the hard courts were much better.
Sunday morning was less windy and no rain. Milan Bharadia won his singles 6-4, 6-3 but Harry Thomas lost 2-6, 3-6 and Slavek Kornijczuk lost 5-7, 0-6. Dan Kwiatkowski put up a stern resistance but still came out second losing 6-2, 1-6, 0-1. In the doubles Milan & Harry won 6-4, 6-2 but Dan & Slavek lost 5-7, 3-6. So overall a good performance that was much closer than the scores suggest. And that is it for the season: we will survive in Division 3 so next year we will be among friends!
Sunday lunchtime was a non-event as Milton Keynes was unable to present a full team last weekend so they are disqualified from the Regional Open Men – South West (East) league. Now it is down to either David Lloyd Gloucester losing or us beating Windsor on Sunday 23rd June at their courts. We only need one win to take the league and gain promotion back to the National leagues!
Next week: Monday 10th June: Senior Men’s A away to Avenue C, Tuesday 11th June: Senior Ladies away at Victoria Park. Saturday 15th June Ladies Doubles away to David Lloyd West End, Men’s A away to Totton, Men’s B at home to Riverside and Men’s C away to Littleton. Sunday 16th June Girls 14s at Compton & Shawford and Boy’s 16s at home to Swanmore allegedly.
Title: Jay Z 2009: announced he is the first Hip-Hop Billionaire. In parentheses is because I do not want to be criticised for not mentioning female artistes. Umbrella, Rihanna, 2007 – she is the richest female musician in the world! And Dr John will be mentioned next week for those aficionados.