The Andover Mixed A team suffered a disappointing defeat in the Prince Inter Club Challenge away at Alverstoke (Gosport).

The match was played on a very windy and damp evening. In the ladies' doubles, Claire Coomer and Helen Eckersley were slow to get to grips with the tricky playing conditions and went 5-3 behind in the first set. They eventually worked their way into the set to take it 7-5 and went on to win the second set comfortably 6-1. In the men's doubles, Anthony Brown and Andy Winnett lost a close match 6-3, 6-4. The match was therefore decided by one mixed rubber. The weather conditions outside deteriorated during the evening meaning that this vital rubber had to be played indoors.

Helen Eckersley and Anthony Brown lost their first set as they struggled to come to terms with yet another different playing surface. In the second set they found their range and established an encouraging lead only to see the Avenue pair fight back to take the set and the match 2-1.

With none of their regular A team squad available the Men's A fielded a weakened team against RSF A in Division One of the Basingstoke and District League. Neither Andover pairing troubled the RSF A first pair who only conceded five games. However, the sets against the second pair were more closely fought. The Andover second pair of John Snowden and John Mathias lost 3-6 and 5-7, having failed to take advantage of three chances to take the second set to a tie-break.

Meanwhile, Barry Austin and Mike Reynolds fought back from losing the first set 2-6 to win the second 6-4, thus saving Andover from a whitewash.

The Men's Veterans recently played at the Avenue Club (Havant) on grass which Paul Jenner and Ian Kirpatrick adapted to from the very start winning both sets. Alan Keenan and Barry Austin shared the first two sets and Paul and Ian continued the good form they have enjoyed all season winning the last two while again Alan and Barry picked up another valuable set to win the match overall 6-2. With three matches left to play all at home, Andover Vets have a very good chance of promotion to Division One if they win all three.

The Ladies' A continued their winning run with a 5-3 victory over Old Basing. Claire Coomer and Helen Eckersley won their sets 6-2, 6-2 and 6-0, 6-0. Linda Penn and Glenys Chambers shared their first rubber 6-2, 4-6 and lost their second rubber 2-6, 4-6.

10:23am Friday 4th July 2008

Print

Email this