SDTTL SUMMER LEAGUE 2014
Week 7 Report
Lentern played two of the stronger teams recently in Division 1 of the Southend Summer League and made sure that they put out there strongest teams. They beat Castle Point 9-0 although several of the games did not reflect the score line including the final doubles of the evening, when Charlie Bates and Django Fung beat Richard Jackman and Simon Jacob 12-10 in the fifth set. In there game against 2nd placed Hullbridge "A" Sid Dorn had an excellent victory over Charlie Bates and then in the final doubles of the evening Charles Sweeny together with Gary Young beat Ben Warner and Kevin Read to make sure that no one remained unbeaten on the night and everyone was involved in at least one victory. Lentern also had an 8-1 victory over the Sandpaper Boys, the one to get away was a victory for Glen Johnson and Fred Dove over Ian Rattray and Ben Warner in the doubles. Hullbridge "C" had a good 8-1 victory over Warehouse "A" with Bill Smith rolling back the years with some unstoppable back hands to beat Kim Shead three straight, although Kim did gain his teams sole point with a hard fought victory in the fifth set against England international veteran player Lin Attridge.
The top two teams in Division 2 played against each other this week and leaders Bluehouse managed to keep their unbeaten record with a 6-3 victory over Hadleigh Forum, thanks to an unbeaten performance from Pat White. They then beat Hockley "A" who had Liam Squirell beating Dave Kirston for their sole point. Canvey "A" gained their revenge for the 6-3 defeat by Warehouse "A" in the first half of the season, with an 8-1 victory in the return fixture with Tony Westwell and Terry (the taxi) Giddens unbeaten. Phil Puckey beat Peter Cray for the Warehouse sole point.
Top played bottom in Division 3 and the leaders Hullbridge "E" beat Hockley "B" 8-1, the one consolation was a win for Jon Knight over Sam Fullick. They also had a 6-3 victory over their club mates of the "E" team in a game where no one remained unbeqten. Canvey "B" managed to inflict the first defeat of the season on Runnymede in a close 5-4 victory in a game, with several close matches. This is the closest Division and Runnymede are only 4 points of the led with a game in hand. Castle Point "B" currently in 2nd place had a good 5-4 victory over Hullbridge "D" in a game where no player remained unbeaten, they also had a 6-3 victory over RESSC in another game where no one remained unbeaten although Martin Roberts for the Council and Mike Worship for RESSC were unbeaten in their singles games.
In Division 4 Basildon Hospital claimed a 9-0 walkover against Hockley "C", who were unable to raise a team on the night and wanted to try and rearrange the match but the Hospital side would not, which is a pity as the Summer League is meant to be for fun and we would much sooner see games played than claimed. The Hospital side are now 24 points ahead of the other teams and also have games in hand. There was a close match between Hullbridge "F" and Invicta "B" in which no player was unbeaten, although Adam Jackman (Hullbridge) and John Golding (Invicta) did manage to win 3 games eachi n the matches they were involved in. Warehouse "C" had a good 5-4 win away at 2nd placed Invicta. Phil Mardle was unbeaten in leading Warehouse "C" to a 6-3 victory over Canvey "C" who had Stuart Curham unbeaten in his singles, although he only just managed to beat Simon Lisner 13-11 in the fifth set.
Chris Jacob
