It’s all equal after five-hour marathon
It has been a record-breaking week in the Portsmouth Summer Tennis League.
Firstly, a highest ever 28 matches were completed in the week. That means 226 players were needed and, while some people turned out twice, that is still a substantial number.
The second and third records both involved the same match – a men’s Division 2 encounter between Avenue 2nds and Lee 2nds, writes
ALAN BEST.
Little did the players think, when they strolled on court at 2pm, that they would still be there five hours later!
It is believed to be the longest match ever played in the leagues. And even more remarkably, after five hours – and 12 sets – rubbers, sets and games were all equal.
The players involved were Colin Airton, Martin Lawrenson, Andy Gilliatt and Phil Broad for Avenue and Jim Clark, Chris Mueller, Gary Lyndon and Chris Cunningham for Lee.
A record 116 games were played, with each team winning 58.
The two clubs’ 3rd men’s teams, playing at Lee, nearly replicated the result. It was only prevented when George Bentley and Mark Boylett beat Lee’s Dave Walker and Alwyn Lewis in straight sets, with the other three rubbers having already gone to three sets.
That two-set win gave Avenue the winning draw points by 6 sets to 5.
In the midweek men’s masters, Wellow and Warsash 1sts shared their rubbers in another 11-set marathon. Wellow pair John Moret and Sheridan Easton saved this one from going the distance by beating David Marsh and Michael Isaacs in straight sets for a hardfought bonus point.
Ryde Lawn men’s 2nds shared the rubbers and the sets with CourtX 2nds, claiming the bonus point by winning 42-40 on games.
Other matches decided on games countback were: Wickham mixed, by five games against Southsea mixed 1sts; Southsea mixed 2nds, by four games against Lee 2nds; Lee mixed 1sts, by nine games against Warsash 2nds; and, finally, Court X midweek masters ladies, by four games against Chichester 1sts.
Warsash’s mixed 1sts also shared the rubbers 4-4 with Ryde Lawn 1sts, but Martin Wilkinson and Laura Jones won a set in their losing rubber to Ryde’s top pair, giving their side the winning draw by 5 sets to 4.
Ryde Lawn’s mixed masters ladies 2nds also lost on sets countback, 5-4 to Rowlands Castle, but their ladies masters 1sts team took the bonus point off Lee 6-4 on sets.
There were two impressive wins for Chichester’s new 3rds, a development team for promising youngsters.
Another young team, Active Academy’s mixed, are sweeping all before them, Warsash 2nds their latest victims.
Another new team, Stubbington mixed, notched up a second win, this one against Avenue 5ths, and sit top of their division.
A mention also for the 4-0 winners: Chichester ladies 1sts (v CourtX), Ryde Mead ladies (v Warsash 3rds), Ventnor ladies (v CourtX 2nds) Avenue ladies 4ths (v Chichester 3rds) and Alverstoke ladies (v Denmead).