20th May 2007 - Match Report Congresbury"s season starts with joy, pain and tears!
Congresbury Tennis Club kicked off their summer league campaign this week and there was drama of all kinds across the matches played.
Congresbury Mens A v Avenue (home) Congresbury mens A team started this years campaign in fine style by carrying last seasons winning form over to this year and thumping Avenue 8-2. The team of Adrian Whittaker, Phil Collins, Trevour Crocker and Phil Jones played some great tennis and won three of the four rubbers played, winning comfortably by 6 sets - 2 sets. There were convincing scores along the way: Congresbury 1 beating Avenue 2: 6-0, 6-0 and Congresbury 2 beating Avenue 2: 6-3, 6-1.
Congresbury Men"s B v Street (away) Congresbury b travelled to Wells for a match that was packed full of drama. Both of these teams were promoted into to division 7 last year making the competition fierce, yet good spirited. The No1 pairing of Colin Higgins and Ian Beverage were very unlucky to lose their first rubber and took the No1 pair from street the full distance of three sets which lasted over 2 hours, with good tennis played by both teams. On the next court Martin Dibsdale and Geoff Amor were playing some dazzling tennis and easily took the first set 6-3. Early in the second set Martin bravely charged down a street smash in his usual "never say die" style and was hit in the eye by the ball from point blank range. Despite a very serious injury that later required hospital treatment Martin bravely played on and the pair dug in to take the rubber to three sets. Unfortunately Wells capitalised on Martin"s deteriorating eyesight and managed to win the rubber. Due to this serious injury Martin was unable to continue so it was left to Colin and Ian to bring home some points. They battled hard against a strong Wells pair and took the first set 6-4. Wells dug in and just managed to sneak the second set 7-5. With everything to play for the third set began and with three points played and adding to an already drama filled fixture the floodlights failed leaving the courts in darkness and the rest of the match unplayable. Both teams agreed due to the unfortunate circumstance and the nasty injury that the unplayed rubber and third set would be played at a later date. With Martin out injured Wednesday saw Congresbury travel to Wells again to finish off an eventful first fixture. Richard Bourton replaced Martin to play alongside Geoff. With the fixture played on a different surface in high winds and after sustaining another injury to Geoff who strained a calf muscle Congresbury were unable to compete with stronger wells side who won the fixture 10-3.
Adding to an eventful week Congresbury ladies travelled to Avenue. The drama continued when due a to last minute family emergency Congresbury were down to just two players Liz Greaves and Lesley Heggarty. It was down to these two ladies to play their two rubbers and bring home as many points as possible. Securing what could prove to be valuable points at the end of the season both Liz and Lesley played some fabulous tennis winning one of their rubbers 6-2, 7-6. Having been 5-2 down they dug in and battled back in true Congresbury spirit to win 9-7 in the tiebreak.
April 2007 - Congresbury continue promotion run! Having successfully had four of it"s league teams promoted in last years summer league Congresbury "A" continued this successful trend by securing an automatic promotion place into division 5 of the North Somerset Winter League.
Congresbury went into the last three matches of the season in a second place position in division 6 and came through two difficult matches beating Lympsham "B" 8 - 2 and then gaining a valuable four points in a 7 - 4 defeat to local rivals Cheddar "B".
Going into this weekends final match Congresbury"s opponents Wells needed to win by the full ten points. Sporting a slightly changed team from the last two weeks matches of: Leslie Hegarty, Susan Duerdan, Trevor Crocker and Phil Jones Congresbury thumped their apponents 10 - 1. On the way to securing victory and promotion Congresbury lost just one set in the mixed doubles, this set falling to Wells as a consolation after a very closely fought tie break. This result continues Congresbury"s recent good form and sets up the club very nicely going into this summers up coming league campaign.
