Wells Teams start season strongly

Mens Teams roundup

With the tennis season underway Wells Men’s A Team travelled to the coast to take on Clevedon B Team in Division 1 on Monday 14 May .

First pair Seth Cunningham and Jon Parsons won their first match 6-4, 6-1 and followed that up with a convincing display to win 6-0, 6-0. Second pair Matt Goatcher and Dave Mills fought back from 4-2 down in the first set to win their first match 7-5, 6-3. Their second match went to a championship tie-break which they won 10-6 to give Wells A a satisfying 10-1 win.

Meanwhile the Wells B and C Teams met in a Division 5 clash. The B Team’s Kevin Durney and Rob Powell took their first match against Ed Pearce and Steve Hall 6-2, 6-4 only for Ray Brook and Dave Cotton of the C Team to level the tie 6-4, 6-4 against Marcus Fisher and Bryan Jessett. In the reverse matches the B Team’s strength showed and they won both matches 6-4, 6-1 to take the tie 8-2.

Also at home the Wells D Team met visitors Congresbury B. Martyn Halliday and Richard Hole took their first match 6-2, 7-6 but were edged out 10-6 in a championship tie break in their second. Second pair Dan Cooke and Steve Hall (no relation to his C Team namesake) swept aside the opposition in a blistering 6-0, 6-0 first match following it up with a 6-3, 6-4 victory to give them a 9-2 win. The balmy summer evening was ideal for tennis and the season has started well for Wells Tennis Club.

Every set counts for battling Wells Teams

There were mixed fortunes for Wells this week (Monday 21 May). The B Team were looking to maintain their 100% record in Division 5 away to Brent Knoll A. Derk Erkelens and Marcus Fisher were edged out 6-3, 7-6 in a competitive first match while Dave Mills and Rob Powell started strongly with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 win. The reverse matches proved decisive as Erkelens and Fisher won theirs 6-3, 6-3 whilst Mills and Powell were taken to a 3^rdset which they won on a championship tie break. This gave Wells an 8-3 win, remaining unbeaten and on 26 points from 3 matches.

In the same division the C Team played out a dramatic and closely fought contest against Clevedon D. Both first matches went to 3 sets. Ray Brook and Karl Tucker started well but lost out in the third 6-7, 6-3, 6-0 while Ed Pearce and Dave Cotton played a gruelling match losing 6-7, 7-6, 7-5. With the 10pm cut off time approaching both final matches went to championship tie breaks. Pearce and Cotton won their first set 6-3 and took a championship tie break to win the second and the match. Brook and Tucker narrowly lost the first set 6-3. They then won a championship tie break to level the score and before losing a deciding championship tie break. In a match that could have gone either way they narrowly lost 8-5.

The A-Team were at home to Division 1 leaders Bridgwater A. Matt Goatcher and Kevin Durney competed well but were outplayed 6-2, 6-0 in their first match, it was a similar story in their second match which they lost 6-2, 6-1. Seth Cunningham and Jon Parsons played out a hard fought first match losing 1-6, 7-6, 4-6. They lost out 10-5 in a championship tie break in the second match after levelling at 1 set all. The final score was 10-2 to Bridgwater A. Wells D Team struggled at home against a strengthened Weston D Team. Martin Halliday and Richard Hole lost their first match 6-3, 6-4 before bouncing back and winning the second 6-2, 6-3. Graham Harvey and Colin Blatchford-Brown lost a tight first match 6-4, 7-6 before losing out to the strong Weston first pair 6-2, 6-1. The 8-2 loss still keeps them top of Division 7 showing that in league tennis every set counts, even in defeat.

Ladies Team round up

On Tuesday 15/05/2018 Wells Ladies A-team had to travel to Taunton to play against their A-team. Unfortunately Wells lost with 4 – 7 points, but good tennis was played and the whole team enjoyed the experience. Both Wells’ pairs Wendy Edwards + Caroline Moule and Julia Nest + Marie Bruckshaw lost against a strong playing 1st Taunton pair, but equally both were winning against the 2nd Taunton pair.

Wells Ladies A-team travelled to Woodland A in Weston-super-Mare for the North Somerset league match on Tuesday 22 May 2018.

Both pairs had close first rubbers and were playing to win their matches each in a third set tie-break, with the pair of Wendy Edwards and Caroline Moule facing 3 match points against them, but turning around the match eventually. The second rubbers were played with the pressure of fading day light as no flood lights are available at the courts. Unfortunately the pairing Binkie Heather and Julia Nest had to give in to the first pair of Woodland and lost, but not without a fight. The pair Edwards / Moule managed to win convincingly after a tight first set. Overall Wells A won with 8-4 points.

Last Tuesday’s D team consisted of Jeannie and Arabella, Ruth and Kate. We played away against Victoria B in Street on their very sandy astro turf courts .It was a beautiful warm, sunny evening and we had more sand between our toes at the end of the evening than if we had been on the beach! The Victoria team had a home advantage in the first round rubbers as we struggled to adjust to the slippiness of the courts and the different bounce. Both first round rubbers were won by Victoria in straight sets.

Whilst Jeannie and Arabella lost their second rubber in straight sets, Ruth and Kate (in her first ever league match), put on a great performance against the Victoria 1^st pair winning in three sets to get 2 points for Wells. Final score 2-9.

I think the B team may be stronger than in previous years as I understand that their A team has new players moved to them from Wedmore club and there has been a knock on effect. We will look forward to Wells home advantage on our return match!!