Busy week with the Vets A-Team away to Salisbury on Thursday, the Vets B at home on Wednesday, the Men’s A-Team home to Southsea on Saturday and the Babolat Ladies home to VA Southampton and the Cees team away to VA Southampton - allegedly. Sunday Girl’s 16 & Under team was at home to Winchester followed by the Men’s Elite at home to West Hampshire with the Boy’s 16 & Under team at Andover. Photo: those National League blokes again!
The Vets B team completed the double over VA Southampton B on a warm summer Wednesday evening with another 4-0 win. All the matches were fairly straight forward, Mark Wellby & Steve Johnson winning their first 6-3, 6-2 and their second 6-3, 6-0 while Paul Staveley & Kevin Porter won 6-0, 6-1 in their first rubber and 6-3, 6-1 in the second. The opposition claimed they had never played on such bouncy courts (unlike their indoor carpets) and the sun was particularly blinding that is also not encountered indoors. However Hampshire players helped carry the tables and chairs outside for a sumptuous tea with beer and one of them even volunteered to help wash up. A pleasant end to a successful evening – apart from the sun and the bouncy balls! So that is us firmly at the top of Division 4 with 3 matches to play.
The Vets A-Team journeyed to Salisbury on Thursday afternoon to engage the away club’s B team. Jay Kim & Martyn Lucas started with a 6-3, 6-3 win while Greg Cheesbrough & Matt Pitman decided to get value for money by losing in three sets 6-3, 6-7, 0-1. Jay and Martyn then dispatched their second pair 6-2, 6-2 while Matt & Greg continued to take added value losing 4-6, 7-5, 0-1. Well that tied the match but on count back 47-32 – so it is a moral victory even if the points were shared. The As are top of the league anyway.
The Babolat Men’s A-Team was at home to Southsea on Saturday and James Blair & Dave Darrock started with a blistering win 6-3, 6-2, as did Mats Colling & Harry Dunnett 6-0, 6-2 although Jay Kim & Jon Ballard lost 2-6, 2-6. Second round saw James & Dave win 6-2, 7-5, Harry & Mats win 6-2, 6-1 and Jay & Jon win 6-2, 6-3. After a rehydration exercise James & Dave continued their assault 6-23, 6-1, Mats & Harry win 6-3, 6-4 and Jay & Jon lose again 3-6, 1-6. So a resounding 7-2 win.
Also at home on Saturday was the Babolat Ladies team with VA Southampton Ladies enjoying the sunny but breathless afternoon. Liezl Edom & Lydia Kelly started with a 6-0, 6-2 win, Frankie & Summer Colling roared to a 6-1, 6-1 victory but Julie Kelly & Helen Haigh lost 2-6, 3-6. Liezl & Lydia had a quick win 6-1, 6-2, Frankie & Summer an even faster 6-0, 6-1 but Julie & Helen found the going a bit tough losing 4-6, 4-6. After some cooling down in the scorching sun Liezl & Lydia completed their day 6-2, 6-1, Frankie & Summer had a fantastic 6-1, 6-1 win but Julie & Helen had a real tussle but lost 5-7, 2-6. A 6-3 win is a six-three win so everyone went home happy.
Babolat Men’s Cees team was away to VA Southampton – well they would have been if VA Southampton could have raised a team. So it was sunbathing at home instead of cavorting around a tent at Hedge End.
Sunday morning at 09:00 found the Girl’s 16 & Under was at home to Winchester – well just three of our regular team available new talent was contacted but they all had other commitments. Magda Kornijczuk started with an efficient 6-1, 6-0 win and Martyna Ciubatiuk equalled that with a 6-0, 6-1 but Nakshatra Sridhar had a heart wrenching loss 5-7, 6-2, 9-11! There was just one doubles needed to level the score as Magda & Martyna delivered a resounding 6-0, 6-0 win leading to the Match shoot-out. Magda and Nakshatra dominated after the first few points to win the Tie Break 10-2 thus confirming the League title. So overall that means we secured 4 Aegon league titles this Summer – we expect the Elite Men to come up with the goods next year!.
Our Men’s Elite National Team entertained West Hampshire. Piers Farhang took on the #1 seat and started really well but at 4-3 up was forced to retire due to a back injury. Out on court #4 Karim Aouichaoui quickly dispatched his opponent 6-4, 6-2 and was happy to be out of the sun. Jake Norris at #2 also started well 6-2, lead in the second 5-2 but at that point lost his way so lost the set 5-7. The final set continued the same as he lost t 1-6. Paul Scullard at #3 was off to a good start winning the set 6-4 but lost the second 2-6 and the final set 3-6. Doubles had Jake & Mike Johnson pairing who didn’t weld into an indomitable pairing and lost 1-6, 3-6 and Paul with Karim who miraculously won their doubles 6-3, 6-2. We have managed to survive – as the song says “I will Survive” but they didn’t manage to spoil West Hants party – lost 2-4: shame I was ooking forward to a title of "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to".!
The Boy’s 16 & Under team travelled to Andover on Sunday. James lead the way winning 6-0, 6-3, Milan Bharadia won 6-1, 6-0, Todd Elliott won6-1, 6-0 and George Smith won 6-0, 6-0. Doubles found James & Milan win 6-0, 6-2 and Todd & George 6-0, 6-0. So that is that. The win confirms us in second place behind a really strong Portsmouth Tennis Academy team.
Next Week: Monday 19th June Vets B away to Portswood. Wednesday 21st Vets A at home to Lee-on-the-Solent. Saturday 24th Apsley A Team at home to Warsash A – and that is all!
Title: I Will Survive: 1978: Gloria Gaynor