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There are six teams in a division with two sides promoted and two relegated. After the first five weeks of the season, where everyone has played everyone once, we looked at the league table. We were 4th, which is not a relegation place, however we were level on points with Ivybridge C, so they were clearly our main rival for not being relegated.

With this background, you can imagine we discussed tactics and strategy. We did, however it wasn’t clear, should we play the strongest two as a pair, like last week, or maybe try for a more balanced side ? In the end we stuck with last weeks line-up.

The objects were thus, Tim and Dave have to try for lots of points and Steve and Mark have to scrap for enough points to edge the tie.

Here is the score sheet

The objectives were met. Tim and Dave scored maximum 36 points. Steve and Mark beat the number two pair in the tie breaker and managed a set against the number one pair.

Final score Plymstock 58: Ivybridge 31

All this happened side by side with a bowls match where we have been playing the local cricket/bowls/football sides. Today we beat the footballers, which was very satisfying.

The (young) sisters of Hill Lane B were very good !

The score Hill Lane 57 : Plymstock 26

So that is half way through the season. Both men and ladies have played one match against each of the opposition.

The tables are available on the P and D website at www.pndtennis.org.uk and have been updated with this latest score. So, below, the table as it stands at the half way stage for the ladies

A quick look at the league tables before this game informed us that St Budeaux were leading our division.

Hence we decided to adopt the strategy of the previous week, putting the best two players together in the A team.

This resulted in a similar points score as last time, 44, albeit this time the opponents total was slightly higher. Mark played well in his first game as he and Steve scrambled to add the odd game here and there to the teams total.

The club session of Saturday 4th June 2022 occurred in the middle of the queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations. For the historical record then, let it be known that Plymstock Tennis Club gathered round a celebratory meal including a jubilee pudding.

There was also some tennis played, although possibly not the same standard as at Roland Garros where Iga Swiatek was winning her second French Open title.
Back to the tea then, here are a couple of shots from either side of the club house.

In this match we were forced to change the line up. Given that recent results seem to suggest that avoiding relegation is more pressing that achieving promotion, we went with the plan of playing the best two players together. So Tim and Dave B were the A team. Which means that the two new players drafted in, Dave R and Doug, were playing together.

Here is my version of the match score spreadsheet. It differs slightly from the one submitted to the league in having better stab at getting the players names right.

Tim writes….”Congratulations to Douglas on making his league debut in last night’s match away at Hill Lane. With a low sun causing problems, the match finished in a rare draw, 43-43.”

So the plan sort of worked. And well done to the B pair for grafting away for 7 games worth of points.

The club sessions will start at 5pm on Wednesday for the rest of the summer. We hope that this encourages people to turn up after work. Even if you can’t get there at five, then between six and seven there should still be a lot of people still playing.

A slightly different looking line-up this time, with a first showing for Debbie and Jess absent – resting her ankle. The result was close, with three matches going to a third set as well as tie-breakers at the end of a couple of sets. So it could have gone either way but the final score was 37 – 57 in favour of Looe

In the mixed doubles knock-out cup, Tavistock visited us on Monday 23rd May. Based on what we know of their players, they seem to have send their strongest team. Our top pair, Tim and Jess had a good win, 2-0, over their second pair. The Tavistock top pair, Rhys Dunford and Tracey Morrison won all their sets. Nicky and Dave B managed a couple of games which is probably a better achievement than it might at first sound. Final score 2 – 6 in sets.

Another win for the ladies.

The match report says that Jane had a fantastic game.

Score Plympton D 22 – Plystock 67

The journey to Tavistock can be a problem, today the traffic mysteriously wasn’t too bad. The same four players formed our team as the previous two weeks.

Here are both teams

The result was 64 – 33 to Tavistock. Here is the scorecard which I’ve constructed after the event, I had to make up Tim and Phils tie-break score as that wasn’t recorded on the official bit of paper.

The team will change for the next match. We need to new players as Phil and Steve are away. Perhaps the new players can improve our points scoring !