The start to our League season was well above expectations! The Ladies A team were fast from the blocks in their opening Division 1 match when they completely outclassed a rather substandard Alton side, recording a resounding 8-0 victory.
Kate Hogan was back to her form of old, forming a formidable combination with the ultra consistent Anna Moore who rarely includes the unforced error in her shot repertoire. Sian Green and Emma Amin were also at the top of their game in this landslide victory! There will be much harder games ahead, but confidence should be high!
The B team had the luxury of fielding a potential A side in their opening Division 3 match at Cheriton. Anna Moore partnered Dinah Lamming, and Kate Hogan formed a strong alliance with Sarah Jeffries. Cheriton A runners-up in this league last year, had no answers as we stormed to another 8-0 win.
Not to be outdone the Men’s team travelled to Ropley to gain an unexpected victory; the hosts having beaten us twice last season. Andrew Wilson-Smith and David Sanders teamed up, and Ollie Sanders partnered Kofi Atkinson. Each pair won three sets as we completed a 6-2 success, and it was a fine debut performance by Kofi.
In the Annual Tournament there was a closely fought encounter in the Men’s Singles between George Pettifer and Dik Van Lomwel, with George edging home 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. In the Men’s B Doubles Simon Longman and Brett Creed had a straight sets victory over Ian and Elliott Thornley to become early semi-finalists. Second seed Nikki Sanders had a comfortable straight sets victory over Denise Clay in the Ladies Singles, and in the Doubles Sally Pattie and Gabby Watson defeated Jo Wotton and Caroline Cowcher in similar convincing fashion.
Emma Amin and Philippa Sanders arranged a mini escalator for nine young girls to stimulate our flagging junior section. The rotating format of this event intends that everyone plays with everyone, to see who accumulates the most games. The matches were closely fought, but played in a wonderful spirit, the eventual winner being Olive Amin. Tilly Hogan and Sienna Mitford were her closest pursuers.
Many thanks to Emma and Philippa for their efforts, and they hope to get the girls on court later in the season to decide the winner of the 2017 Girls’ Singles Title!
Mike Dimmer.