Week 6 Report - Summer League 2015
The top two teams in Division 1 of the Southend Summer League had a close game this week with Rawreth just getting the double for the season over Lentern with a 5-4 victory. Mindus Sinkus and Ben Warner were both unbeaten in their singles but both Keith Adams and Django Fung would be pleased with their singles victories over the current Southend veterans champion, Duncan Taylor, who was also unbeaten and top of his 8 man group at the recent English National veterans tournament, as was Keith Adams and Babul McLeod in their groups. A fine performance from all three Southend players. The "Ace" was also there but only came fifth in his group..but it was a very tough group, so he informed everyone !!. Rawreth also had an 8-1 victory over Kingswood, the one to get away was a win for Paul Churn and Richard Storey over Reece Seddon and Adam Brewer in the last doubles of the evening. Fed Dove and Glen Johnson won both of their singles and combined to win the doubles to give the Sandpaper boys (although surely that should be old men !!) a 5-4 win over Warehouse. Although the best game of the evening was a win for Bertie Mckolli and Kim Shead against Glen and Bruce Kettle 14-12 in the fifth after being 7-0 down. Hadleigh Forum won their first game of the season and avenged the 9-0 thrashing they received from Hullbridge in the opening game of the season with a close 5-4 victory in a game where no one remained unbeaten. For the attention of all captains in this Division, with immediate effect Castle Point will now be playing their home games at 33 Leitrim Avenue, Southend, SS3 9HD with a 7.30 start.
Hockley "A" lead Division 2 after a good win over 2nd place Runnymede, 6-3 in a game where everyone was involved in a win but no one remained unbeaten. There were lots of close games including a 13-11 in the fourth set win for Tim Pang over Tony Millward. Although an unbeaten Tony Millward lead Runnymede to a close 5-4 victory over Castle Point "B" in a game where both Colin Smith and Martin Roberts did well to take him to a fifth set. Peter Cray had two good wins for Canvey "A" over Peter Pond and Colin Clements but it was not enough to prevent his team losing to an inspired performance from an unbeaten Susan Body of Kingswood "B".
Basildon Hospital lead Division 3 after beating Castle Point "C" with just two players, but Keiran Wood and Clive Beauchamp won all of their games to get the 5-4 victory. Adam Jackman did well for Hullbridge "E" in their 6-3 victory over Canvey "B" winning both of his singles against the experienced Rob McDonald and Alec Taylor and was also unbeaten in both of his doubles. Geof Banthorpe continued to be an awkward opponent with his defensive style and won his two singles for Canvey. Simon Neale led Rawreth "B" to a 6-3 victory over RESSC in a game where Robbie Appleton also played his part with a good win over the experienced Gordon Swan.
The new leaders of Division 4 are Invicta "B" after their 7-2 victory over Canvey "C" thanks to an unbeaten John Golding. Although Wakering are only 4 points behind with 2 games in hand. Keenan Ford did well to gain his teams sole in Rawreth Juniors "B" 8-1 defeat to Canvey "C" with a win over Brandon Bennett, at 11-9 in the fifth set, to double his teams point tally over the whole season. Conrad Gomes won both of his singles for Warehouse "C" but it was not enough to prevent his team from losing 7-2 to Hullbridge "D". Obviously the practice of doubles at the Warehouse centre on their Tuesday practice night pays off, as this week they just beat Hockley "C" 5-4, thanks to winning all of their doubles games. I expect that the Warehouse players are not too pleased that at the recent Annual General Meeting it was decided that for the next six Winter seasons (at least) that doubles games will not be played in the Winter League !!.
