This was the best week so far for the men’s teams with 16 points won across our 6 teams. Three of our teams have now won all 4 of their group matches so are leading their groups and are in a great place to try and make the play-offs. The optimism is bubbling ahead of the crucial last round of games next weekend.
1sts – WON 4-1 away to Newtown Park 1sts in Class 2 (Total 14 points)
Rob Neiland had another fantastic win in 3 sets at No.1 singles. Rory Curtis made short work winning No 2 single while Harry Owens showed brilliant strength of character at the end of a really tight third set to claim victory at No 3 singles. Oisin O’Hanlon and Reon Ferreira had an effective change of tactics to win the 3rd set at No 2 doubles. The team are now 3 points clear at the top of the table. At the start of the campaign Rob said he would jump into the forty foot if the team made the play-offs so it looks like he will now have to honour that commitment!
2nds – LOST 4-1 at home to Portmarnock 1sts in Class 2 (Total 4 points)
Keith O’Byrne had a super win in straight sets at No 3 singles. The rest of the team were largely outplayed by Class 1 standard players. The team now need 4 or 5 points from their last game to stay in Class 2.
3rds – LOST 3-2 at home to Meadowvale 1sts in Class 3 (Total 6 points)
There were two vital points picked up here at No1 doubles by Paul and Will Fitzgerald and at No 2 doubles by Roy Bailey and Ken Browne. The team now look safe in Class 3 but another point in the last game would rubber stamp that.
4ths – LOST 5-0 away to Deerpark 2nds in Class 4 (Total 3 points)
There was an extraordinary turn of events in this match as Sandycove won the 1st set in 4 of the games but ended up winning none. Apparently there was music playing for the mini-world cup football competition in Deerpark that stopped at the end of the 1st set and everyone lost their rhythm! The team are unlucky to have lost 7 of their 8 three set matches so now need an emphatic win in their last game to stay in Class 4.
5ths – WON 4-1 at home to Bective 1sts in Class 5 (Total 13 points)
After winning their first 3 games by 3-2 the 5th team had their first home match of the campaign in front of a supporting balcony and had a huge 4-1 win. Cian O’Higgins came up against a ringer at No 2 singles who was a former ATP tour pro while everyone else won their match with some injury assistance from the opposition at No 1 doubles. The team have stayed 1 point clear at the top of the table and Fitzgerald’s pub was busy with team celebrations.
6ths – WON 5-0 away to Greystones 5ths in Class 6 (Total 14 points)
After winning their first 3 matches by 3-2 the team were 4 points off the lead going into this match. The team had a huge 5-0 win with a special mention to Paul Sinnott who is a new member and won his first match for the club after a long absence from league tennis. The team has now moved to the top of the table with a 1 point lead in a tight group going into the last match.
Next Friday at 7.30pm our 1st team are at home in their final group game against Donnybrook. The bar will be open as usual from 8pm. The team need 2 points to win the group and get vital home advantage in the quarter-final. All support would be really appreciated.
On Saturday at 2pm our 3rds are at home to Elm Park. At 4pm our 5ths are at home to Blackrock in a crucial game when a 4-1 win would guarantee they top the group and get home advantage in the play-offs. All support for these games would also be appreciated.
Many thanks as always to all of our subs that make a vital contribution to the club each week and the very best of luck to everyone playing next weekend.
Colin