Newcastle teams get good start to season

Newcastle teams get good start to season

29 April 2015

NEWCASTLE Tennis Club’s U-14 girls were involved in a high noon battle with Ballycastle before running out 4-2 winners.

The girls won three out of four singles matches and this lifted their spirits, as could be seen by the smiling faces.

After some much-needed juice and fruit, they came out eager to conquer in the doubles.   

This was the first time the girls played together in their pairs and after a few games, really started to gel, communicating well and working on their strengths.   They won one doubles match and lost the other.

The second fixture on Sunday was another home match, this time against CIYMS, and the team was Katie Lowry, Sinead Flanigan, Aine Rice and Amelia Burns. 

Luckily, the rain stayed away and the girls commenced play.   Spurred on by their success the previous week, the Newcastle team were in fine form and eager to do battle.

The singles matches were closely fought and in the bright sunshine the girls had some superb rallies, fighting hard to win their points.   

All four girls were focused on their games. Katie had not played last week, but she more than made up for it by winning her match.   

Sinead and Aine once again played superbly and hit some stunning winners. The team’s newest recruit, Amelia Burns, made an impressive debut appearance and won in style.

The doubles set off to a flying start with both pairings working well together and playing some great rallies.

They were unbeatable and helped secure a victory for Newcastle. The overall result was 5-1 to Newcastle.  

A big thank you to Janet, Gabrielle, Julieann and John for their support and providing the refreshments.  

The U-14 A boys’ team of Gabriel Corrigan, Ben McGuigan, Ciaran Flanigan and Cormac Burns hosted Ballycastle B team. 

Conditions were good, and both teams played some great tennis. Newcastle were delighted with their well-deserved 5-1 win.

The competition continued in the afternoon, as the U-14 B boys’ team of Conaill Burns, Reuben McKibbin, Philip George, Luka Hallissey faced  a team from Lurgan. 

The boys played brilliantly, but Lurgan came out on top. A really great afternoon of tennis was enjoyed, and with all the Newcastle boys gaining more valuable competition experience.

 The ladies’ evergreens took to the courts home and away on Friday night. The new C team of Danielle Gorman (team captain), Carol Crilly, Sinead Kearney and Emma Hallissey hit the road and went to David Lloyd in Belfast, where they were sheltered from the weather but not from their opponents.

They lost, but played in good spirits, and enjoyed the craic anyway.

The B team were also on their travels to Cavehill in Belfast. Gabrielle Burns, Jutta McNaulty, Janet Flanigan and Mary Flanigan got together for the first time as a team. 

The weather was atrocious and everyone got very wet. Hardy and determined, however, both teams played on. 

Cavehill won overall, but Gabrielle and Jutta fought very hard and took their first match in a tie-break finish 6-4, 7-6.

The ladies’ A team played at home, hosting Downshire B. The team players were Hazel Carder, Joan Moore, Kay Speedy and Dolores Dornan. The ladies played well, but fortune shone on their opponents this time, and the ladies conceded after Downshire took three of the four matches. 

Supper in the clubhouse was served as usual, and next week sees the A and C teams travelling, the men’s team and ladies’ B playing at home.

The men’s evergreens hosted visitors Cloughey in Division 4 of the Belfast and District League.

Newcastle came out on top for the second year running, winning by a margin of 3-1. This included a ‘double doughnut’ victory of 6-0, 6-0 by Newcastle’s Eugene McGuigan and Trevor Long over their doubles opponents.

On the other court Newcastle’s Stephen Brown and John Lowry narrowly lost in tie-break to their Cloughey pairing.

With a change in opponents for the second part of the evening’s competition, McGuigan and Long secured a 6-3, 6-2 win, while Lowry and Brown scored an equally convincing 6-1, 6-2 success.

The victory followed another win in Thursday’s nights match of the Newcastle A team in the mixed league against Lurgan.

In short, a great start to the competition season at Newcastle Tennis Club.