Driffield League Week 3
May 28, 2024
See below for all our results and match reports from the third week of the Driffield League season.
Mixed:
Market Weighton A 4-5 Beverley & ER A
Beverley & ER B 5-4 Market Weighton B
Market Weighton C vs Bridlington B – Postponed
Beeford B 8-1 Market Weighton D
Ladies:
Market Weighton A 9-0 Brandesburton
Beverley Town A 5-4 Market Weighton B
Market Weighton C 5-4 Driffield LTC B
Sledmere B 5-4 Market Weighton D
Men’s:
Market Weighton A 7-2 Bridlington A
Bridlington B 4-5 Market Weighton B
Market Weighton C 7-2 Driffield Rec B
Match Reports:
Men’s A Report (written by Tom Bowman, captain)
An interesting evening from the off tonight versus our traditional relegation rivals, Bridlington A.
I arrived at the tennis club at around 4.15pm with threatening clouds making me expect a downpour and a postponement. The rain never arrived despite the threatening clouds never leaving either!
Bridlington arrived, to our surprise, with only 4 players. As we were missing Dave this week I’d made some alterations to our team to try and secure a victory, however in hindsight I could have perhaps reversed those changes given we’d start with a 3-0 lead.
Laurence and Jack, renowned for their love of a proper warm up were volunteered to wait of the first round. Whilst they hit hundreds of serves, Henry/myself and Jan/Robbo got to work against two tricky pairs. All four players had little difference between first and second serve with a game style suited nicely to a grass court, making us wonder why they always choose to play on their hardcourts. After multiple chances Henry and I finally broke serve and ended up winning 8-5. Jan and Robbo found themselves in a close battle, fighting back and saving 4 match points in a tiebreak, however this ultimately still wasn’t quite enough as they lost the tiebreak 8-6. 4-1 to MW overall..
Into the second round with Henry and myself waiting off. Laurence and Jack walked straight onto court against their first pair fully warmed up and raring to go. Despite a contender for worst shot of the season by Jack (witnessed by everyone) the Lewis brothers sealed a great 8-6 victory. I don’t want to repeat myself, but I do have to emphasise how good Laurence was again! Unfortunately Jan and Robbo lost 8-6 in another close encounter. 5-2 to MW overall.
As Laurence and Jack walked over to play their last rubber, they were sadly informed that Sunbed Charlie’s partner had injured himself, so Laurence and Jack only actually got one meaningful set in tonight. Robbo offered to fill in to make a great match and soon found out why Charlie’s partner ended up injured as he was running everywhere whilst Charlie stood and watched. Tom and Henry played their first pair and after a close first 8 games changing at 4-4 (including me taking a “heavy” fall according to my opponent) we went up a gear to secure a 8-4 victory.
Overall a 7-2, 69-30 win. An odd evening, with only 5 out of the 9 sets actually being played for. Particularly odd as our B team played their B team who fielded a complete team. The season is short so it’s always a disappointment to play a team missing a pair as we all want to play tennis!
However another victory and 3/3 so far. I don’t think we’ve ever had a team in the men’s division start off so well. Next week, without Dave, is a big test Away at Hackness & Scarborough. With the Lewis brothers on the form they are on though who knows what can happen.
Men’s B Report (written by Matt Taylor, captain):
In the famous words of Meatloaf Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad. Equalling last seasons total victories so early in the season is a fantastic achievement and allows us to aim for greater things rather then just trying to avoid relegation.