With such a good start in round 1, tensions were high for another great week. With some close matches across the board we emerged with 4 wins from 7 after round 2 and are in very good shape to compete for promotion or to survive in the current class. Teams 1, 5 & 6 all have maximum points from their opening 2 rounds with the remaining teams harvesting good totals as well. We continue to have a high dependency on Subs to help the teams collect valuable points, so a big thank again to all who subbed last weekend and who are subbing this weekend.
Teams playing at home this weekend are Team 1 (Friday 7.30), Team 3 (Sat 2pm) and Team 5 (Sat, 4pm). Teams 2 & 4 play away on Friday night while Team 5 play away on Saturday at 2pm. Team 7 have a rest week! The bar will be open this Friday evening during the 1sts game so please drop in if you can to this and any of the other games.
Some high stakes games this weekend so best wishes to all for a successful Round 3.
Liam Hurley
MEN’S SUMMER LEAGUE MATCH REPORTS, ROUND 2
Team 1, Class 2 – v Fitzwilliam 3, Score 5-0, Points to Date = 10
The firsts played Fitzwilliam 3 in Sandycove on Friday evening. No subs required, so the team lined up as Ronan Sweeney, Rob Neiland and Mark Griffin at 1,2 and 3 singles, Steve Gill and Ivan Brady at 1 doubles and Reon Ferreira and Brian O’Gorman at 2 doubles.
A tougher assignment than week one against Laytown. The score line of 5/0 to Sandycove doesn’t tell the true story. Only Ronan Sweeney had a comfortable (and impressive) win. Rob Neiland and the Gill/Brady combination both had tough 2 set matches, with second set tiebreaks. And Mark Griffin and the Ferreira/Rocher (sorry O’Gorman) combination both went to 3 sets. Kudos to Mark in particular who put together a fantastic third set to overcome a tough opponent. So 10/10 so far, but tougher matches lie ahead….
Team 2, Class 2 v Shankill 1, Score 1-4, Points to Date = 4
The 2nds lost 4-1 to Shankill 1sts. Liam Reynolds had a great win 6/2 , 6/1 at 1st singles. Oisin O’Hanlon was unfortunately injured at no. 2 but should be ok next week. Jocelyn O’Callaghan was edged out at 3rd singles 6/4 6/3. Paul Kilduff and Paul Ivory were also edged out 6/4, 6/4 at 1st doubles while Kevin Nowlan and Ken Browne lost out 6/4 6/1 at 2nd doubles.
Team 3, Class 4 v Terenure CYM 1, Score 3-2, Points to Date = 7
The Men’s 3rd team travelled to Terenure CYM 1 and left with a 3-2 victory. Andy Ward and Mark Cunningham enjoyed quick 2 set singles wins. Roy Bailey succumbed to a long 3 set defeat. Ken Browne and Paul Kilduff lost 5-7 in the 3rd set, despite having had 4 match points. The heroes of the evening were the established combo super subs Colin Wardlaw and Paul Ivory who won 7-6 in the 3rd set in 2 ½ hours. We have 7 from 10 points.
Team 4, Class 4 v Glenalbyn 1, Score 2-3, Points to Date = 6
4ths travelled to Glenalbyn Friday evening. The team went down 3-2. Super straight sets win at #1 singles for Will Fitzgerald. The other youngsters Conor O’Reilly and sub John F Burke eaked-out a tight 2 set victory at 2nd doubles. However, Maurice J and Philip C lost in 2 at 1st doubles as did battling sub Alan Warren at 3rd singles. Frank McCooey battled in a long 3 setter at 2nd singles but went down in the end. Thanks to John F and Alan for subbing.
Team 5, Class 6 v Templeague 8, Score 5-0, Points to Date = 10
The 5th team travelled to Templeogue for our second league match of the campaign. It was another successful outing with the team securing a 5.0 victory. Our singles players Colin Wardlaw, Alan Warren and Sam Totterdell were off court quite quickly with 3 wins only losing a total of 5 games between them in the process.
Our doubles pairings of Jim Brady & Joe Cunningham , Dave Hanley & Dermot Bennett were involved in much closer contests but both pairings came through in two close sets. A great start to the campaign with 10 points out of 10 secured but tougher challenges lie ahead no doubt.
Team 6, Class 7 v St.Annes’s 1, Score 5-0, Points to Date = 10
Seal team 6 were at home v St.Annes on Saturday and came away with another 5-0 victory. In the singles Tom O’Higgins came through a tough match to win 6-3 6-4, Steve McGoohan was 3-1 up when his opponent had to retire (the poor chap couldn’t bare to look at Stephens outlandish shorts any longer and just gave up). Pat Leamy lost just one game in a 6-1 6-0 win.
In the doubles Liam Hurley and Harry Wall didn’t take long to win 6-2 6-1, while our other doubles pairing Tim McNichols and Simon Hugh-Jones took slightly longer to win 6-2 6-2. Thanks to Simon for subbing again this week. 10 wins from 10, well done lads,….. top of the table clash this weekend v Castleknock.
Team 7, Class 7 v David Lloyd 7, Score 1-4, Points to Date = 5
The ‘7’ lost 1-4 to Riverview in Sauna like conditions indoors. All three singles were very tight and grueling and but for fine margins could have gone our way. Huge efforts from Tony, Philip and Lar but luck was short on the day for. The two Kens again delivered and secured the lone point for the team, which could be very valuable. At halfway point we sit one point behind leaders Blackrock.
No game this weekend so until the 9th of June…..