Just champion for tennis Ladies

1:26pm Thursday 14th August 2008

Andover Ladies A tennis team retained their Basingstoke League title this week with two good away wins at Preston Candover and Beechdown.

In the match with Preston Candover, the Andover pairs of Claire Coomer and Helen Eckersley and Victoria Byrnell and Claire Reid were simply too strong for the opposition. Andover won the match 8-0, with Claire and Helen not losing a game all evening. The last game of the season against Beechdown saw captain Glynis Chambers return to the team to partner Claire Reid and once again Andover triumphed 8-0 in the windy conditions.

The Sarum A team also retained their title with comfortable wins over Alderbury (8-0) and Wellow (6-2). The success this year has been a tribute to the strength and depth of the A team players at the club. In addition to the regular players of Claire Coomer, Helen Eckersley, Andy Winnett and Anthony Brown, Glynis Chambers, Claire Reid, Stuart Smillie, Martyn Isherwood and Mike Prince have also represented the team and contributed to the success.

Andover Men C had a hard fought match against Oakley B in Division 3 of the Basingstoke League. Pat Burnell and John Snowden beat the Oakley second pair 6-0, 6-2 while Andrew Higgs and David Buckmaster lost to their first pair 3-6, 4-6. In the return sets, Snowden and Burnell let a 4-3 lead slip to lose the first set 4-6 but then took the second set 6-0. Higgs and Buckmaster, needing to gain one set for a draw, got very close but just lost out 6-7, 4-6. Thus despite winning more games Andover C lost the match 3-5.

The Sarum B team lost a close match away at Downton. The match was played despite the dark and, at times, wet weather. John Snowden and Margaret Winnett playing at number one mixed pair lost their first set 6-3 but won the second 6-4. Meanwhile Andrea McMillan and Les Gordon lost their mixed rubber 6-1, 6-2. In the Men's doubles John and Les lost both sets, but Andrea and Margaret played quite well and won 6-4, 6-3. Final result was 5-3 to Downton.

Andover Men's B team scored their fourth win from seven matches this season, against Overton B. This was the closest match they have won. Previously they scored wins against BDH B (7-1), Beechdown A (6-2) and Waverley B (7-1). They had lost to Old Basing B, Aldermaston B and Goodworth Clatford A. Regular team player Mark Reynolds and first time B teamer, though regular vets and Sarum team player, Paul Jenner, laid the foundation for this win which probably ensures survival in Division 2 of the Basingstoke League.

Paul's assured volleying and Mark's powerful ground strokes proved too much for both Overton pairs and they won 6-3, 6-1 and 6-3, 6-2. Second pair, Trevor Blake and Andy Fletcher have had a lot less match play this season, but knew that they had to win at least one set to ensure victory. They started slowly, losing the first set 1-6, but then fought back to lose the second set narrowly 5-7.

There were two more opportunities and the first slipped away 3-6, but with more determination Andy's classic double-handed backhand was giving Trevor volleying opportunities at the net, and Trevor's strong forehands were doing the same for Andy.

They got to 5-3 and victory seemed likely, only to slip back to 5-5. However as the light faded on this warm, humid summer evening, persistance paid off and they clinched the set at 7-5 and with it the match.

Thanks to Overton for providing solid opposition as it takes two teams to make a worthwhile contest.

Editor's Choice