Now in week 8 of 9 qualifying rounds the top teams were focused on ensuring they converted their strong placings into semi-final spots.
Monday Night
Monday’s first match was the most competitive tie of the week on paper with third placed Fine Wines looking to back up their big win from last week and bridge the 11 win game gap on the Silverhill Ducks who were their opponents on the night. The mixed doubles produced four close matches with Scott Hubbard and Martina Boyd serving up the only win with a 7-5 victory over Jerome Nicolle and Sonja Hateboer. With the remaining three mixed matches finishing 6-6 the Silverhill Ducks lead by two games at the halfway point. Winning both men’s doubles 7-5 further stretched the Ducks lead but it was an incredible 11-1 for Martina and Leonie Madigan in the top ladies match crowned an impressive 56-40 win and gap the Silverhill Ducks the breathing space they needed in the hunt for the second semi-final spot.
The night’s second match was a much more predictable affair with top team Francos Specials anticipating victory over bottom placed Crème Brulees. With the Brulees fielding four subs the odds were stacked against them. A brave 6-6 draw in the top mixed match gave the Brulees hope with sub JR Dundas and Brenda Davis matching Davy Thompson and Louise McGann shot for shot. However this was as good as it got for the Brulees as the Franco Specials won all three remaining mixed by a combined 24-12 to lead by 12 games at the break. While Brenda again put up strong resistance, this timing winning 7-5 with ladies partner Janet Love it was not enough to prevent a strong 59-37 win for the Francos Specials. Top performing Francos on the night was Captain Yvonne Masterson who firstly won her mixed with Rory Houston 8-4 before closing out the win with an impressive 9-3 wine in the ladies doubles with Michelle Kennedy.
Wednesday Night
Wednesday’s first match had Innes Redmond’s Early Birds battling for their first league win against John Griffin’s Private Diners. The two teams swapped 7-5 wins in the top two mixed matches and after a clear cut 8-4 for Early Birds Peter Neill and Gwen Wilson over Mark Cousins and sub Fiona Drumm on court four, things were looking up for the Birds. However it was at this point that the big serving Anne Mooney produced her best tennis of this year’s league to post a 9-3 win in the mixed with partner Keith Miller to give the Private Diners a narrow two game lead at the break. Anne went on in the doubles to win 7-5 with Fiona in what proved to be the decisive score line as the Private Diners held out for a close fought 49-47 win.The Early Birds will have one last chance to find that elusive victory in next week’s final round of matches.
The week’s final match was second placed Pizza Slicers big chance to threaten table toppers Chilli Monks dominance of the group with the Slicers needing to reduce the gap at the top from its current 17 games and give themselves an opportunity to overtake the Monks in next weeks final round of matches. Things started evenly with the two teams swapping 7-5 wins in the top two mixed. However it was on courts 3 and 4 that the Slicers made their move winning the level 3 mixed 8-4 through the impressive pairing of Johnny Guette and Anne Smyth and then securing a 10 game halfway lead as Emmett Stewart and Aine King romped home 9-3 on court 4. The doubles again produced tight matches on courts 1 and 2 but the Chilli Monks did manage to bring themselves back into the match with a strong 8-4 showing from the inform Stuart Miller and John O’Callaghan. However this was quickly cancelled out by the unbeaton duo of Anne Symth and Aine King who ensured the Pizza Slicers held on to their 10 game victory in a 54-42 win. This has resulted in only a 5 game gap at the top of the group with the seeded semi final spot now back in play for next week’s final round of group matches.
Standings after Week 8
Monday: 431 Francos Specials; 396 Silverhill Ducks; 369 Fine Wines; 340 Crème Brulees
Wednesday: 415 Chilli Monks; 410 Pizza Slicers; 366 Private Diners; 345 Early Birds
