Scalby Tennis Club Mixed A team's title celebration delayed by loss at Beverley ER
With only two re-arranged matches to complete before completing their Driffield Tennis League season, Scalby Tennis Club Mixed A team travelled to Beverley ER knowing that a win would see them crowned as Division 2 champions.
Despite having beaten their hosts on hard courts in the corresponding fixture, Scalby knew this would be a tough assignment on fast Astro courts.
In hot conditions, with the hosts needing a win to avoid relegation, Scalby made a slow start, all three pairs losing their first round matches.
Magda Phillips, alongside Rich Stacey for the first time this season, started to get the measure of the surface and won both the subsequent rounds.
Julie Boddy and partner Simon Boddy, returning from injury, added a further point but despite battling hard and creating opportunities, Louise Tomlinson and Jack Boddy could not get over the line, making it a 6-3 loss for Scalby.
Despite the result, the Mixed A could clinch the title next week with a victory at Beverley Town.
Scalby Men’s A pre-empted the Mixed Team with a match on Beverley Town’s dry and undulating grass courts on Thursday night. Injuries and absence meant last minute changes to the line-up but Scalby knew that avoiding a whitewash would see them finish the season as Division 2 champions.
Round 1 saw Town take advantage of home conditions with their aggressive serve and volley style paying dividends. Only Mark Whitlegg and Rich Stacey were able to eke out a point despite going 5-1 down.
Round 2 was more competitive with Scalby getting used to the conditions and new pairing Chris Northey and Nathan Smith, both playing A Team tennis for the first time, narrowly lost a tie-break.
The final round was academic, Beverley knowing they’d won and Scalby earning their point.
Steve Jepson and Tobie Hillier were rewarded for their determination and won their tie then Whitlegg and Stacey produced a second point.
Scalby drove home defeated 6-3 on the night but victorious over the season and looking forward to the challenge of Division 1 tennis next season.
The Hackness & Scarborough TC Ladies A team were conceded their match by Beverley Town which appears to have left the team second in Division Two.
The Ladies B team had a very good 5-4 win in their last Division 3 match at home to Market Weighton C.
Hannah Longman and Anne Schmuck took two hard-fought rubbers as did Judy Milburn with Sarah Hoff. Jean Blenkiron and Clare Neville took the vtal fifth rubber.
The Mixed A won 7-2 at home to second-placed Pocklington C to confirm their position as Division 3 champions.
Sue Crocker with her usual partner Rob Berry took three fine rubbers as did Maria Jackson and Mark Draper. Nathan Whiting and Lisa Gillespie added the seventh for another excellent win.
The Mixed B lost 5-4 at Pocklington for their final match in another hard-fought struggle with four tie-breaks.
Judy Milburn with Louis Fell took two very good rubbers for the visitors leaving Sue Kendall and Bryan Edwards and Vicki Calow with Steve Jepson taking the one rubber each.
This leaves the team perilously close to the bottom of the division and they may be instantly returning to Division 4.