Michelle & Keith Yvonne & Tony ( capt. )
Shotley won by 7 sets to 1 45 games to 20
A comfortable home win for our third string mixed vets with Mrs & Mr Pensom claiming all 4 sets to earn bragging rights over Michelle & Keith who dropped the only set.
Has anyone else noticed how lucky Tony is with the partners he has, whether it's mens, vets or mixed they all seem to raise their game to carry him to victory.
Jan & Jackie Yvonne & Lily
Wylam won by 5 sets to 3 and 42 games to 38
A tough loss to take as the last fixture for this team saw them lose to Wylam.
Jan, continuing her fine form, & Jackie took our three sets . Yvonne & Lily were most unlucky not to be rewarded with at least a halve in each round losing all their four sets by the narrowest of margins. Unlucky ladies but no one can doubt your fighting spirit and committment.
Jayne & Amy Lisa & Lindsey Susie & Silvia
Durham Archery won by 11 - 6 and 88 games to 55 with one set incomplete
After a cracking start to the season only 3 days previously our ladies came unstuck against a very handy Durham Archery team led by our former coach Christine. Again number one pair Jayne & Amy were top couple with 4 sets while Lisa & Lindsey won 2. Our very own SaS pair of Silvia & Susie, although battling bravely just couldn't quite manage a set.
Jayne ( capt. ) & Amy Lindsey & Lisa Silvia & Susie
Shotley won 12 - 5 and by 82 games to 59 with one set not completed
A great start to the season for our ladies as they saw off the home team in style. Top couple were Jayne & Amy with all six sets with our other two pairs both winning three sets each.
Jan & Tony (capt.) Silvia & Vince
Shotley won 7-1 and 47 - 31
A sparkling display by Shotley marred only by Vince letting his partner down by losing a set.
Meanwhile super Jan was in fine form and managed to curb her partner's penchant for wild crossing at the net to steer them to four sets and top couple status. Well done
Yvonne & Jan Shannon & Lily
David Lloyd won by 5 sets to 3 and 39 games to 30
A tough start to the season for Yvonne and her team as they went down fighting to a good team
Steven & Darren Alex & Phillip Philip & Peter
Shotley win by 18 sets to 0 and 108 games to 0
Shotley were handed the game by Jesmond who said they were unable to field a team ( or perhaps they were unable to field their best team ) which puts the boys firmly into top spot in the table with just one away match at Blaydon to come Steven's team have the title in their own hands.
Captain Steven thought the walkover score was a good indication of how the match would have gone if it had been played and is confident going into the final match.
Good luck at Blaydon
Tony & Vince David (skip) & Chris Jonny & Peter
Shotley won by 12 sets to 6 and 92 games to 74
Another win for a somewhat re-jigged third team with Tony & Vince just pipping David & Chris to top pair by way of fewer games conceded as both pairs took all 6 sets. Stars on the night were Tony for carrying his lacklustre partner for most of the night and Chris "Kid" Nichol who was outstanding in most aspects of his game but especially his phenomenal court coverage as he chased down apparent lost causes and turned them into winning points.
Third pair in the team was "Pistol" Jonny, easing his way back after injury and Peter who stepped up from the fourth team for his first taste at this level. The pair performed well in patches and were unlucky not to come away with at least two sets.
That's 3 wins and two losses for Skip David's boys and with an away match at local rivals Blaydon to come it looks to have been a good year for Volunteer of the Year and his motley crew.
Jackie & Yvonne Angela & Kath
Durham Moor won by 6 sets to 2 and 45 games to 26
A set in each round from capt. Yvonne & Jackie were scant reward for a more than creditable display against a good Durham Moor side.
Jan & Jackie Shannon (capt) & Yvonne Kath & Ursula
Northumberland won by 15 sets to 3 and 97 games to 50
Another tough night for our girls as a solid home team won easily against a battling Shotley.
Jan & Jackie took 2 sets off the home top pair but it was not enough to stem the tide as the home side continued on their winning run.
Angela & Joe Yvonne & Tony (capt.)
Shotley won by 6 sets to 2 and 43 games to 33
Shotley fielded a real Mr & Mrs team in the local derby against Blaydon and as you might expect it was the ladies who starred in a sparkling win with each pair taking 3 sets.
After a shaky start, where the men seemed to think they were in a one man team, the ladies as is their way, put them straight to the fact it was a doubles match and all went smoothly from thereon in.
Well played ladies.
Jan & Angela Yvonne (capt.) & Michelle
Durham Archery won by 5 sets to 3 and 44 games to 28
A battling performance by our ladies with Jan & Angela halving each round while Yvonne and Michelle took a tie break set.
Vince & Tony David (Skip) & Dennis Andrew & Chris
Boldon won by 11 sets to 5 and 73 games to 59
A fine display of battling tennis wasn't enough for our boys as Boldon came out comfortable winners in a much closer match than the score would suggest.
Yet again Vince & Tony were top couple as they won 3 of their 5 completed sets, two of which were against the Boldon top pairing. They are the longest established pairing in the club and look set to be together forever.
With holidays and injury hampering team selection Skip David issued a cry for help and the call was answered by fourth team captain Andrew and new club member Chris "Kid " Nichol. The pair played together for the first time, with the Kid playing his first match after a six year break from the game. Although they failed to win a set they fought for every point and i can see this baby faced assassin ( no, not you Andrew ) moving up to higher teams as he gets more time on court. A brave effort lads and well down.
Last but by no means least Skip David paired himself with Tennis Dennis and they performed heroically to win 2 sets at a canter, losing the other 3 by a whisker. The Skip couldn't wait to get home to see Michelle and tell her about it.
With 2 wins and 2 losses so far the team should stay put in this league for next season but will of course be going all out for wins in the last 2 fixtures.
David & Joe Vince (capt.) & Tony
Shotley won by 7 sets to 1 and 46 games to 25
With an awful lot of pre-match talk the relatively young pair of David & Joe were installed as first couple on another drizzly night in Shotley. They managed to walk the walk in the first round, easily beating the opposing second pair, but were well and truly found out in the second round as they scraped a half.
Meanwhile, the real deal top couple of Tony and Vince went quietly about the business of taking all four sets, proving yet again that there's a lot more tennis left in those old dogs.
A sad case of a pair whose mouths wrote cheques their tennis ability couldn't cash.
They will of course be given a shot at redemption in future fixtures.
Steven & Darren Alex & Phillip N Peter & Philip K
Shotley won by 16-2 and 106 games to 51
Captain Steven shuffled his talented pack as the Mighty Joe was rested for a vets match the next day allowing Peter to form a new pairing with Philip K
As England struggled to see off Tunisia at the World Cup the Mens II team had no such problem disposing of a resilient Boldon team on a drizzly night at Shotley.
On a night that saw Steven produce a career high double fault tally and Philip K hit the net more times than Ronaldo manages in a season the big news of the evening was Alex & The Reverend winning all six sets to claim bragging rights as top couple. This, despite the fact that the Reverend's pie had a lot more likes than his tennis, was still good enough as Alex, sporting a natty cap, showed that he is paying attention at the Sat. coaching and were easily the best pair on the night.
That's 4 wins out of 4 but with 2 tough away matches left promotion is by no means a certainty but is in their own hands.
I'm sure everyone joins me in wishing them well.
Kath S (capt.) & Jan Yvonne & Kath J
With an away win at N/Land and a w/over against Blyth Ridley a confident Shotley team set off with high hopes of continuing their winning ways at Riding Mill and the home side's fete was sealed as our top pair of Kath and a reinvigourated Jan lost only 4 games in taking all four sets.
The second pair of Kath J & Yvonne shrugged off any tiredness from a tough match only 3 days previously to beat Riding Mill's first pair 7-5, 6-3 but couldn't keep it going as they conceded the final 2 sets of the day.
Another good win for our Ladies and they can look forward to the next match with confidence.
Shotley won by 6 sets to 2 and 42 games to 24
Yes, it's finally arrived. The day we have been looking forward to for so long.
I am talking about our Mens II team and their last home fixture tonight against Boldon II.
Give the England game a miss and come along and support the boys in their effort to continue on the winning streak.
Captain Steven is keeping his selection under wraps and won't announce the pairings until just before the start as he ponders life without the Mighty Joe. Will he put the tried and failed pairing of the two Phils back together after a long break. Will he have Darren back as his partner or will that set Darren & Alex lost in the last match see them paired up again for redemption. Maybe the biggest question surrounds Peter and will the puzzle of does he or doesn't he be answered tonight. The Reverend's prayers have been answered and he is a certain starter - but who will be lucky enough to avoid him as a partner.
All will be revealed tonight at 6:30pm - be there or be square.
Tony (capt.) & Yvonne Kath J & Vince
A 7-1 and 47 games to 22 defeat was poor reward for an always battling and frequently brilliant Shotley against a strong Durham archery team including top player Richard Prisk.
Top couple performance went to Kath & Vince who although failed to take a set were a thorn in the opposition side all night and played well together in their first ever match in a team.
Top individual performance came from Yvonne who carried her partner to take the one winning set of the night. She had to be at her best and was in a great show.
Eric & Andrew Peter & Paul
A close fought contest saw the home team come away with a 5-3 and 45 games to 34 victory against a spirited Shotley team led by Eric. Our 1st pair of capt. Eric and Andrew were well beaten 6-1, 6-1 by their direct opposition but took the 1st set 6-4 against Collingwood's 2nd pair before losing a crucial tie break. Our top couple on the night were Peter & Paul who took a set in each round and came close to a third set. Peter now seems to be getting a taste for this winning sets malarkey so a special well done to him & Paul.
Andrew & Eric Peter & Jack Oran & James Another defeat for our battling fourth team sees them firmly rooted to the bottom of the league table as a very useful Cullercoats IV won by 16-2 and 100 games to 46.
James & Oran won the only two sets for the home side, one of which was a 6-1 against the top pair - it shows what they are capable of. The other two pairs fought their best but just could not get to the finish line in any set. Another tough night but 10/10 for effort.
Shotley and Benfieldside Tennis Club is a championship winning, community driven sports facility.
