Portsmouth & District Winter League

Ladies Division 1 – Avenue 2 lost to Chichester 1 (0-4) – Helen Watson, Zoe Larkin, Lee Harvie-Wood, Sian Prior

Match report

Hot day, lost to the better team but put on a good show. Helen Watson

Ladies Division 2 – Avenue 3 lost to Steep (1-3) – Yim Cheung, Ruth Percival, Alison Clarke, Denise Simper

Match report

A very long match with so many deuces! Lovely opposition. Yim Cheung

Ladies Division 4 – Avenue 4 lost to Denmead (1-3) – Heulwen Newman, Michele Voysey, Tina Leighton-Smith, Delyth Jones

Match report

A sunny September Sunday morning was ideal for playing. We were facing Denmead, Division leaders and like that ‘little old ant’ that moved the rubber tree plant, with racquets in hand we went on court with ‘high hopes’. We blocked out the usual sound backdrop of shared community ‘users’- a boys football match, crying babies in push chairs, kids playing and a social game being played on an adjacent court. Delyth and Tina glided through their first rubber against Denmead’s 2nd pair. Delyth’s consistent play of strong serves and ground strokes complemented Tina’s agility around court, her finely tuned radar found spaces with her pinpoint lobs. Together they proved too strong for their opponents. Meanwhile, on the middle court of three, all players initially couldn’t get into any rhythm of play as it was interrupted from balls straying from the two adjacent courts. Michele and Heulwen fought bravely against Denmead’s very strong 1st pair. In the second set many games could have gone either way. Later in the second rubber even the combined tenacity and resolve of Delyth and Tina, they equally found the first pair difficult to break down. Each point was hard fought with long rallies – one which lasted in the 20’s, which was much talked about afterwards at teatime. Michele and Heulwen again battled hard against the second pair. Michele’s cross court ground strokes on many occasions proved too difficult for their opponents. Later, the keen combativeness of the morning’s tennis melted away into the chatter of the shared experience from both Teams over tea and nibbles. Although a disappointing result for Ladies 4, the Team left court knowing they had ‘ given their all’. Heulwen Newman

Mens Division 4 – Avenue 4 lost to Ryde Lawn 3 (1-3) – Stu Newman, Jamie Newman, Adrian Drummond, Steve Jones

Match report

Sadly we went down today in some tough matches in very hot conditions. Jamie and I lost against the 2nd pair 11-9 in the championship tie break after leading it 9-3. Jamie was not well at all and was sick in the changing rooms. He was unfortunately unable to take part in the 2nd rubber. Steve and Adrian did an exceptional job to beat the first pair, coming from a set down. They then had a titanic struggle against their 2nd pair but again lost out in the championship tie break. Excellent effort from the pair of them, Steve also battling through though feeling unwell. Apologies that we were  not able to get the draw, definitely some chances missed and Jamie and I in particular are gutted we couldn’t get over the line in that first match. Stu Newman

Mixed Masters Division 2 – Avenue 2 beat Swanmore 2 (3-1) – Mark Fullstone, Angie Brown, Caron Howe, Graham Cotterill

Match report

Good win to finish our season – 3-1 in rubbers, 6-2 in sets and 49-29 in games. Mark Fullstone

Hants & IOW Summer League

Mens O55s Division 2 – Avenue 1 beat Warsash 1 (8-0) – Neil Crawford, Martin Farrer, Phil Broad, Ian Marks

Portsmouth News Article

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

Paul Whittenham