A wonderful season in the East Hants League reached a superb conclusion, and was far more than we could of hoped for. The Ladies A Squad were spared their final Division 2 match when nearest pursuers Headley were unable to raise a team and conceded the match. Headley would have had a hard task needing to win 6-2 on our soil, but sportingly sent their congratulations on our promotion to Division 1. This left us 13 points clear and achieving an ambition pursued since we entered Division 5 in 2009. It will be much more demanding next year, but our Ladies will enjoy a higher standard of tennis and I believe they will be up to the task.
Not to be outdone the B team travelled to Steep needing to win just one set to top Division 4, and on a warm and muggy evening we achieved this with little fuss. Denise Clay teamed up with Debs Burles for the first time, and our accomplished lefties Gill Lawson and Angie Thornley completed the team. It was a close match ending in a 4-4 draw with both pairs winning two sets, as we surged 7 points clear of Steep B at the top of the league. This was Denise’s 10th match in a busy and commendable year for her; she reports that the match was played in a chatty good natured spirit, and the supper in their lovely pavilion included a glass of rose, proving we are not the only Club to offer wine!
This fabulous dream “Treble” had already been instigated by the Mixed Squad who were first to cross the winning line in their Division, leading by a convincing 11 points!
We should not forget the Men’s squad who preformed with credit to gain third position in their first season. Several were having their first experience of league tennis, and many of our youngsters also enjoyed the experience. Particular mention goes to Ollie Sanders who showed his usual enthusiasm and was the pick of the squad with some fine performances. David Sanders played well, and worked hard to keep the show on the road, it can only get better!
Onto the Annual Tournament where the much vaunted Ladies A Doubles Final certainly lived up to expectations, with top seeds Emma Amin and Sian Green taking on talented teenagers and third seeds Ailsa Green and Nikki Sanders
Plenty of dropped serves in the first set did not detract from the overall quality of the tennis, and it was the tops seeds who looked in control early on as they took a 4-1 lead. But the teenagers pulled their socks up to fight back and force the set into a tiebreak with the momentum seemingly on their side. Emma and Sian stopped the flow, however, securing the tiebreak and first set 7-6.
It was a nip and tuck second set, but the feeling was arriving that the third seeds were not for halting and they landed the set 6-4 to level the match. The long match continued to impress those watching, and youth prevailed although only just in a deciding 6-4 set.
Ailsa and Nikki have contributed a great deal this season, including valuable participation in a very successful East Hants League campaign, besides taking important exams, with their minds on University placements. Nikki departs to Loughborough which appears tailor made for her ambitions, and Ailsa is taking a gap year before planning her future. We all wish them the best, and hope they will find some time for Graffham tennis in the future.
The popular Family Mixed event attracted the most entries and plenty of fun was enjoyed before the finalists emerged. Fourth seeds Emma Amin and son Josef met Guy Lamming and daughter Cordelia.
The rain showers did not prevent team Amin producing some fine attacking play to take the first set 6-3. In a match of many long rallies, consistent play from 12 year old Cordelia was supported by an energetic display from Guy, displaying the art of poaching the winning volley! But the Amin duo were not to be denied as they upped the tempo in the second set. Josef’s strong serving and consistency was backed up by some attacking net play from Emma which clinched the set 6-2, and victory!
Unfortunately the Ladies B Doubles did not arouse the same interest. The 8 pairs entered were reduced to two finalists without a match being played. That’s certainly a first in our Club history.
This should not detract from the Final between top seeds Susie Oakley and talented daughter Tara who defeated the gallant Jo Crow and Diana Pettifer 6-2,6-1. It was a match of long games which did not reflect the score, and on a lovely evening the contest was played in a friendly spirit which typifies our village tennis. Susie and Tara are a shot making duo who know how to entertain, and will have a deserved promotion to next years A Doubles.
The Men’s B Doubles Final was a duel between second seed David Sanders and the promising youngster Alex Van Lomwel. Alex is a shot maker, and everything went well for his adventurous game early in the first set, and he led 5-2 before David could make any impression. A few errors then crept in for Alex, and the second seed clawed his way back to level at 5-5. Fortunately for Alex he maintained enough composure to edge the set 7-5.
The youngsters game rather fell apart in the second set and David was very consistent retrieving well, an aspect of his game which has improved considerably over the past couple of seasons. This set was soon over going to the second seed 6-1. It was same old story at the beginning of the decider and David was gifted plenty of unforced errors from Alex and at 5-1 it looked match over. To be fair to Alex he knuckled down and staged a gallant revival to get back to 4-5, but David was not for catching and held on for a deserved victory. David was gaining his first singles title conceding around 45 years, which was a fine effort. Alex has plenty to come, and once he improves his all round game he will be a force to reckon with.
The Boys’ Singles Final brought together the second seed Tom Creed, who reached his rightful place after playing some fine tennis, and the surprise package, and big improver Jonny Green.
Tom was off to the best start, with Jonny seeming to lose focus after a broken racquet string meant an unfamiliar replacement was called for. Although lacking in height Tom has a very good overhead game, although his smashes are sometimes rushed, and he mixes his shots up nicely introducing the drop shot at the right moment. Tom comfortably took the first set 6-3, with Jonny still not firing.
Jonny quickly gained a 3-0 lead in the second set, although his game was still not convincing, and Tom battled back in determined fashion as the set reached 4-4. A break of service meant Tom was serving for the match at 5-4, but his serve let him down badly and he gifted the game to Jonny. Jonny equally determined under pressure became the more consistent and after some fine rallies took the set 7-5 and levelled the match.
Having steadied the ship Jonny asserted in the decider and the 12 year old demonstrated once again a tennis maturity beyond his years, as he took the set 6-2 and the Boys’ Title was his. Take nothing away from Tom he was almost there in the second set, and he too has loads of improvement to come.
Last, but definitely not least, came a splendid Men’s A Doubles Final between the young duo of Ollie Sanders and George Pettifer opposed by the experience of Guy Lamming and Dik Van Lomwel. And the first point of the match was sensational, it produced drops, overheads, lobs great retrieving, and the quick-fire point ended with George hitting the winning shot. The trend was set for the youngsters to breeze through the first set 6-0.
Ollie and George continued to dominate early in the second set, and the match seemed virtually over as they led 3-1, but to their great credit Guy and Dik staged a gallant recovery taking the next five games and the set 6-3, to level the match.
The decider was nip and tuck in the early stages and at 3-3 it was hard to pick a winner. The quality of the tennis was a joy to watch, and it was Ollie and George who edged ahead and gained a 5-3 advantage. Several match points were saved by Guy and Dik as they bravely fought back to level at 6-6. At this stage Ollie produced his best service game of the match including an ace down the middle and it was 7-6. Dik’s response could not match this, and the young duo closed out the match 8-6 in the third. Superb tennis and great entertainment, and a second doubles Title for Ollie and George, having won the B Doubles in 2014.
Our Annual Dinner and Trophy presentation will bring down the curtain on a memorable season in our Club History!
Mike Dimmer