There were no deer or buffaloes roaming during this busy weekend for teams this weekend – although there were a few hockey players if that counts. The Aegon County Girl’s 16 & Under playing two matches at home (Saturday and Sunday) and the Boy’s 16 & Under playing one (Saturday)with the Men’s Regional Aegon team home to Milton Keynes (Sunday).
Saturday the Girl’s hosted Portsmouth Tennis Academy (which included Martyna Ciubatiuk) in what started out looking tough but seemed to get easier as the day went on. Lydia Kelly & Magda Kornacjzuk cruised through their doubles 6-0, 6-0 but Anna Vinnell & Jocelyn Kwan put up some stern resistance but lost 3-6, 4-6. Lydia had a comfortable win in her singles 6-1, 6-1, Magda went one better winning 6-0, 6-1, Anna won 7-6 (11-9), 6-1 against Martyna But Jocelyn went down 2-6, 2-6 in a match that was a lot tighter than the score suggested. So a 4-2 win for Thornden.
The Boy’s 16 & Under took over the courts from the girls against a solid Winchester team. As a result of some confusion the doubles pairings were “non- compliant” but both team captains agreed so I guess that is OK. Mats Colling & Tom Vinnell won a close battle by 6-7, 6-3, 10-7 with Joseph Henbury & Alex Billingham thumping the opposition 6-1, 6-0. Mats found the power of the Winchester #1 rather formidable losing 2-6, 1-6 but Joseph won a hard match 6-4, 6-2. Alex put up a stern resistance but lost 2-6, 6-7 (5-7) leaving muscles Vinnell to win the day for Thornden – which he did 6-4, 7-6 9no idea of the tie break score).So another 4-2 win. Frankie Colling brought the laugh of the day when she commented that Tom’s arm was larger than Mats leg – to which John Vinnell commented – two of Mats legs! Big boy is Tom and so good to have him on our side!
Soon after dawn on Sunday the Girl’s 16s were back on court at home to Winchester who brought a pretty serious team. As the courts had not fully recovered from overnight frost Doubles started the proceedings and again Lydia & Magda won – but in three sets – 7-5, 3-6, 11-9 while Anna & Jocelyn improved on the previous day but lost 4-6, 2-6. Into the singles with Jocelyn being outmuscled, out-rated and generally rattled to lose 0-6, 1-6, Lydia soon followed losing 2-6, 2-6 so it was up to Magda and Anna who duly delivered with Magda 6-1, 6-1 winner and Anna 6-3, 6-1 to the good. A shoot-out to follow – and all before 13:00! With a crowd now swelled by the arrival of the Men’s Aegon team (and a few like me hiding out of sight in the Pavilion) Magda and Anna kept their nerve to win 10-7 in the Championship tie –break: and this could prove to be the decider of the league if we beat Hampshire Club on 15th May 2016. A great performance from our girls who somehow seem not to miss Estella Hurlock!
Having had the courts warmed up for them our Men strode onto the courts to meet Milton Keynes. This followed some discussion as to the correct pronunciation of “Keynes” which came to the conclusion that the “ey” is a long “eeee” rather than a short “eh” sound. So back to the Tennis. Paul Scullard made short work 6-1, 6-1 but Karim Aouichaoui did better 6-1, 6-0. Graham Neale dropped a game in each set to go down 4-6, 4-6 but Harry Dunnett reversed this score 6-4, 6-4 playing really well against a strong opponenet. So with the rubber score at 3-1 after the break Paul & Karim dominated their opponents to win 6-3, 6-3 as Graham teamed up with Tim Cook were 7-6 up when their oponents decided enough was enough: so TTC defeated MK DL 5-1!
Next weekend – Saturday afternoon first round matches for Road to Wimbledon with Quarter, Semi and Finals on Sunday. The Apsley B Team begins its campaign away at VA Hampshire Club on Saturday 23rd April, the Men’s Aegon is away to North Oxford on Sunday as are the Mixed 10& Under at DL Ringwood. TOUCH TENNIS COMPETITION HAS BEEN POSTPONED
The title – “Home on the Range – Brewster & Kelley 1870s and a hit for Bing Crosby in 1933: no I do not remember that version: more Tex Ritter in the 1950s.