Please find details below of the Club tennis matches played and recorded since last Thursday: –

Portsmouth & District League

Ladies Division 2 – Avenue 2 lost to Ventnor (0-4) – Helen Watson, Sian Prior, Sarah Long, Denise Simper

Match report

It was a point here and there and a couple of tiebreaks for Ladies 2 away v Ventnor. Avenue won some games but not enough, so it was 4-0 to Ventnor. So hot Helen played in her bra, letting it all hang out in the minimal Ventnor breeze. Denise and Sarah 2-6, 6-7 (5-7)  v Ventnor 2, 3-6 , 1-6 v  Ventnor 1. Helen and Sian 2-6, 2-6 v Ventnor 1, 6-4, 4-6 (9-11). Helen Watson

Ladies Division 4 – Avenue 4 winning draw v CourtX 3 (2-2) – Sheila Drummond, Katherine Arnold, Netty Hart, Christine Hill (see team photo below)

Match report

Imagine trying to play tennis in a boiling cauldron within a furnace deep in the heat of Hades! A little poetic license, perhaps, but I’m trying to set the scene for a match where the court became an oven and every point a test of will… The relentless sun hung high and merciless over CourtX last Saturday turning the astro court into a shimmering mirage. The temperature had soared to an unyielding 30°C (86°F). Not a cloud drifted across the sky, and the air pulsed with the kind of oppressive heat that pressed sweat from every pore before a ball was even struck……… Changing ends during the match was like traversing between Death Valley and the Sahara Desert, there was simply no respite to be had, and frequent  water breaks and electrolytes were much appreciated.  Katherine and Sheila dug in and saw off the CourtX 1st pair, 7-6, 6-3. Netty & Chris had a battle on their hands with the 2nd pair and were unlucky to lose their championship tie-break 8-10. In the second rubbers, Katherine and Sheila pressed hard to win their championship tie-break 10-6, while Netty and Chris were narrowly beaten by the home team’s 1st pair. Still it was enough to secure Avenue 4 a winning draw and two points.

Despite agreeing at the start not to play a third set because of the conditions, the match lasted almost five hours and the CourtX members who had been watching on the balcony announced that it was the longest ever match on record in their club’s history, and were considering mounting a plaque to that effect! It was a reminder that sport is as much about confronting nature and personal limitation as it is about scorelines and points awarded. Well played everyone and thanks go to Netty & Chris for stepping forward as substitutes and allowing the fixture to go ahead. Sheila Drummond

Mens Division 1 – Avenue 1 v Chichester 1 (0-4) – Richard Steeds, Dan Rowland, Rowan Smithson, James Leonard

Mens Division 4 – Avenue 4 lost to Chichester 2 (0-4) – Stew Wiles, Steve Jones, Ant Spencer, Olly King

Match report

Another marathon for no reward. Score card does not totally reflect the effort put in over three and three quarter hours. Really hard work in the sun. Stew Wiles

Hants & IOW Seniors League

Mens O55 Division 3 – Avenue B beat Kingsgate (3-1) – Rob Mort, Stuart Newman, Matt Bennett, Nick Castle

Mens O55 Division 3 – Avenue B v Lyndhurst (4-0) – Rob Mort, Matt Bennett, Phil Tusler, Paul Whittenham

Match report

A win against the league leaders Lyndhurst was crucial if Avenue B were to stand any chance of overhauling them at the top of the table. Matt Bennett and Rob Mort took out the Lyndhurst 2nd pair in a close battle while Phil Tusler and Paul Whittenham teamed up to take on the Lyndhurst 1st pair. In a scintillating and hard fought match the first 2 sets were shared on 7-6 tie breaks leaving the rubber to be decided on a Championship tie-break. It looked all over for the Avenue pairing at 9-6 down but they fought back in true Tusler/Whittenham style to take the next 5 points and secure an important rubber. As the darkness closed in, it was same result in the second round of matches, giving Avenue B an excellent 4-0 victory which means a win in the last match of the season against Kingsgate will give us the League Division 3 title. Paul Whittenham

East Hants Summer League

Ladies Division 2 – Avenue beat Denmead A (7-1) – Sarah Long, Denise Simper, Caron Howe, Dawn Wears

Match report

Caron/Dawn/Denise/Sarah played Denmead last night – a terrific win 7 sets to 1.  Well done and thank you. 6 matches played, 4 to play lying mid-position in the table although the other teams have played more than us. Jenny Ward

Portsmouth News Article

Last Saturday’s report can be found at the following link: Portsmouth & District LTA

Paul Whittenham

Photo – Ladies 4 v CourtX3 (right center -to right) – Sheila Drummond, Katherine Arnold, Chris Hill & Netty Hart