Stablemates fight it out for doubles crown

The Buffalo City Mixed doubles tennis league got off to a fine start in perfect weather.

The Beacon Bay A team put up a solid performance in defence of their First League trophy by putting their B side to the sword 4-0.

Ryan Armstrong and the hard-hitting Lizelle Botha edged past Gary Thorne and Cindy Taylor in a closely-fought first set tiebreaker before taking the match at 7-6 6-2. They then defeated Grant Stuart and Sheila Smith 6-3 6-3.

The tall Bernard de Boer and doubles specialist Cherie Biggs beat the Stuart-Smith combination before going on to defeat Thorne and Taylor 7-6 6-0.

The greater experience of the Old Boys team led to the victory over the young Destiny side spearheaded by Avela Ndlabhu.

Having captured the first set on a tiebreaker, Sam Townes and Jenny Milne pressed home their advantage defeating Ndlabhu and Siviwe Gogo 7-6 6-3.

Avela Ndlabhu and Gogo later made amends by gaining a 64 6-4 victory over the Jason Bezuidenhout/Jilda Manson pairing.

The well-balanced Alfa side registered a sound 11-1 win over Gonubie.

Lester Barkhuyzen and the ever-so-steady Joy Brits gained two comfortable straight-set victories.

Having defeated Danie Dewaal and Gill van Niekerk who has made a welcome return to league, they beat Gareth Fray and Nadine Rousseau.

Results of First League Matches Beacon Bay A v Beacon Bay B

Bernard de Boer, Cherie Biggs bt Gary Thorne, Cindy Taylor 7-6 6-0; bt Grant Stuart, Sheila Smith 6-2 6-2

Ryan Armstrong, Lizelle Botha bt Thorne, Taylor 7-6 6-2; bt Stuart, Smith 6-3 6-3

Beacon Bay A 4 (11); Beacon Bay B 0 (0)

Old Boys v Destiny

Sam Townes, Jenny Milne bt Avela Ndlabhu, Siviwe Gogo 7-6 6-3; bt Kwanda Mbalekwa, Sistpho Ndlabhu 63 6-2

Jason Bezuidenhout, Jilda Manson lost to Ndlabhu, Gogo 4-6 4-6; bt Mbalekwa, Sistpho Ndlabhu 6-3 6-1 Old Boys 3 (9), Destiny 1 (2)

Alfa v Gonubie

Lester Barkhuysen, Joy Brits bt Danie Dewaal, Gill van Niekerk 6-3 6-0; bt Gareth Fray, Nadine Rousseau 6-2 6-1; Tony Brits, Kim O’Leary bt Dewaal, Van Niekerk 6-2 6-4; bt Fray, Rousseau 6-3 3-6, 10-6

Alfa 4 (11); Gonubie 0 (1)

Results of other leagues

2nd league: Stirling 4; Old Boys 7 3rd league: Buffalo Flats Khoisan 0, Gonubie 11; Destiny 11; Mdantsane 0