Newcastle Ladies A are a smash hit in tight win

Newcastle Ladies A are a smash hit in tight win

20 May 2015

THE Ladies Evergreen A and C teams were pleased that the weather stayed fair enough to permit play after the original fixtures had to be postponed from the previous week due to very inclement conditions.

Luck held for the A team, and a strong Newcastle side of Wendy 

Laffin (captain), Hazel Carder, Patricia Stewart and Dolores Dornanwon all four matches, giving their Bangor opponents no real chances to fight back.

Unfortunately, lady luck did not shine on the Newcastle C team as they succumbed to the stronger Belfast Boat Club team.

However, this new team is playing happily together, and the girls are having great fun while gaining valuable match experience.

The matches were played in good spirit and there were some fine shots scored by the home team.

The final score did not reflect the closeness of the games, as many games went to deuce.

The team was comprised of Sinead Kearney (this week’s captain), Emma Hallissey, Carol Crilly and Karen Lockhart.

Both the A and C teams had prepared a delicious supper, and this part of the evening always gives the club a chance to socialise and strengthen bonds with affiliated clubs, and to catch up and have a good laugh with opponents old and new.

Also representing the club this weekend were the U-14 B boys’ team.  Captain Joel McKibbin, Conaill Burns, Reuben McKibbin, and Philip George travelled to take on Windsor Lawn Tennis Club. 

Arriving in plenty of time, the boys had a chance to warm up and get used to the different bounce on these courts, and to get settled down for this last match of the season.

Joel and Conaill had a tight doubles match, losing out in the end 6-5. Reuben and Philip had a very impressive doubles win of 11-0. 

The four singles matches proved long and close affairs, and the spectators were treated to some entertaining shots and a nail biting finish. 

Neither side was prepared to give in and both clubs parted company with three matches each overall. This is a respectable draw for the U-14 B boys, who are a new team this year and doing really well.

Captain Joel McKibbin gave a very polished speech, and Newcastle Tennis Club can be very proud of the tone set by these boys who are unfailingly fair, polite and good-humoured. They are great ambassadors for the club.