Early September found St John’s Tennis club’s ladies in two Kent League finals.
The First team had won all their matches in Division 6A and came up against a Bethersden team who had dominated Division 6B. Both teams have been promoted but the league trophy was at stake. The team were supported, as so often, by Sarah Teubler’s parents Susan and Dieter. Susan won the Ladies singles at St John’s aged 13 and later captained the Kent county team.
St John’s 1st pair of Sarah Teubler and Denise Holme tackled the talented pair of Emma Carlton and Liz Robinson. The match was close and St John’s should probably have won the second set. Having led 5 – 3, Teubler toppled over the net whilst racing to a volley. She was left dangling head-down, but luckily was only shocked. The huge leg-bruise appeared later. However, some momentum was lost and St John’s lost 4 – 6, 5 – 7.
In the meantime, the 2nd pair, Lesley Compton and Sandy Levine were playing Karen Carlton and Sara Nudd. They won this one 6 – 4, 6 – 3. So at the interval St John’s had a two game advantage. If Teubler and Holme could win 6 – 0, 6 – 0 Bethersden could not win.
Teubler and Holme did, indeed win the first set 6 – 0. News came from Court 2 that Compton and Levine had already won 3 games giving more leeway. In fact, they pushed Bethersden all the way, going down 6 – 7, 2 – 6. The other rubber ended 6 – 0 , 6 – 2. St John’s victory by 6 games.
Meanwhile, the St John’s second team were playing their final away at Sevenoaks. This may have cost them the match. The default in the summer is to play three full sets, but as Sevenoaks had not allowed sufficient court time for this, two of the rubbers had to be settled by Championship tie-breaks. St John’s lost by 2 games. Like the 1’s St John’s were at full strength. The 1st pair were Wendy Weavis and Melanie Kitchen, the 2nds were Lindsey Baker and Vivienne Johnson.
The Mixed 2’s only just missed out on promotion, but will have a chance to have another go as the Winter completion will be starting soon.