Good week for higher-ranked sides in intra-club derbies
The focus was on the men’s matches in the Portsmouth & District Tennis League this week, while higher-ranked sides won through in three intra-club derbies.
Men’s Division 1 winter champions Warsash 1sts opened their summer campaign by taking two points from a 5-4 win on sets at Avenue 2nds with a changed line-up.
Avenue’s second pair was outgunned in their rubbers, but Tom Dow and Lloyd Sampson struggled past Antonio Mironovic and Jeremy Saunders 5-7,
7-6 (9-7), 13-11 and then beat Antonio Petrella and Matt Savage in two sets.
Avenue 1sts had a more comfortable time than their second team in the same division, winning 4-0 at home over Ventnor.
Courtx 3rds has been entered as a new team in Men’s Division 2, though most of their players against the club’s 4ths were league stalwarts. Tim Clark and Stuart Gray won their rubbers in straight sets, while Angus Ball and Ben Macdonald won one of two three-setters for a 3-1 win.
Men’s Division 2 newcomers Ryde Mead 1sts won all eight sets at home to
Chichester 2nds, though the visitors pushed them close in most of them.
In Men’s Division 3, Abshot beat Lee 3rds 5-4 on sets at home for two points and Ryde Lawn 2nds also won 5-4 on sets at PTC in the same division.
Lee’s fourth team overcame Warsash 4ths 3-1 in Men’s Division 5. Trevor Spence and Syd Quinn recovered from losing a long first rubber 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 to win their second rubber in straight sets.
Steep selectors were vindicated when the 1sts beat their 2nds 4-0 in the same division, dropping just one set.
Last in Men’s Division 5, Southsea 2nds beat Rowlands Castle 4-0.
In Ladies’ Division 1, Chichester 1sts enjoyed a 4-0 win against Courtx 1sts on their artificial clay courts.
In Mixed Masters 1, Chichester 1sts took two points after winning 36 games to Avenue 1sts’ 35.
Wellow beat a weakened Ryde Lawn 1st team, winning one rubber 7-5, 7-6, another more easily and one of two champions tie-breaks.