Last week saw the third round of matches played in the Erne Business Equipment Spring League at Enniskillen Tennis Club.
Monday Night
Opening tie of the night featured Paul Lendrum’s Markers hoping to build on last weeks first league victory with a win over Moira McAdam’s Staplers. However, after James Wilson and Moira fought out a thrilling 6-6 draw with John Reihill and Michelle Kennedy it was the Staplers who managed to squeeze out an early 4 game lead after the mixed doubles, helped largely by the skilful placing of Seamus O’Connell and Gwen Wilson in their 8-4 win over Mark Cousins and Yvonne Masterson. The pressure on the Markers increased further as James Wilson and stand in Marshall Coalter managed a comfortable 7-5 adjusted victory over Paul Lendrum and John Reihill. Conor MacMahon and Mark Cousins succeeded in clawing back two games with a hard running 7-5 win but it was ultimately the 8-4 victory from the Markers Angela Randall and Yvonne Masterson over Bennie Sheridan and Gwen Wilson which rescued the tie for the Markers and secured a 48-48 draw.
Second tie up had group leaders Erasers against the slow starting Punchers. With Donal and Sonja winning the opening match 7-5 for the Erasers it was the second mixed doubles, won 10-2 by Clive Funston and Leonie Madigan, which floored the Punchers. Despite an impressive 8-4 victory for Andrew Sheridan and Catherine Sloane over the strong pairing of Iain Kennedy and Vivienne Kells the Erasers still held a 27-21 advantage at the halfway stage. The top men’s doubles match then produced some great tennis finishing in a 6-6 draw which looked enough to see the Erasers home. However a 9-3 victory for the Punchers Kevin Burns and Andrew Sheridan gave the Punchers hope but this was immediately quashed by a convincing 10-2 victory for the unstoppable pairing of Sonja Hateboer and Leonie Madigan in the ladies doubles, who remain unbeaten in this year’s league. Overall score on the night ended 53-43 in favour of the Erasers with Leonie contributing another 19 game haul.
Wednesday Night
First tie on Wednesday night had the Copiers and Binders both looking for the win to maintain close contact with affairs at the head of the group. With three of the four mixed matches finishing 7-5 it was the 9-3 victory for Enid Redmond and John Reihill which put the Copiers into a comfortable 28-20 half time lead. However the Copiers began to fade at this stage managing only one 6-6 draw in the remaining four doubles matches as first Michelle Hanna, partnered by Maxine Leary, recorded her second 7-5 victory of the night and finally Reggie Ferguson and Brian Donaldson stormed through their men’s doubles match 10-2 to complete an impressive 50-46 turnaround victory for the Binders.
Last tie of the week served up a clash between the joint group leaders, the Dispensers and the Toners. With this match expected to be close it was the Toners top seeds Derek Elliot and Heather Boles who made the first breakthrough winning 8-4 in a match that was hard fought and competitive right to the last point. As the second and fourth seed matches both finished 6 games apiece it was down to the Dispensers third seeds Martin Hamblin and Mary Griffin to get the them back on terms before the start of the men’s and ladies doubles. With a fine display of powerful hitting they managed to pin their opponents to the baseline and secure an important 8-4 victory. The Toners however hadn’t yet run dry and managed to get their noses back in front as Derek Elliot and Martin Sharkey overcame Jimmy Renfrew and Hugh Maguire 7-5 in a pulsating battle featuring many fine winners. This however proved to be the final highlight for the Toners with the Dispensers going on to win the three remaining matches comfortably and ultimately take the match 54-42. Top scorers for the Dispensers were Ruth Armstrong and Mary Griffin both scoring 16 games while Derek managed a battling 15 games despite finishing on the wrong side of the result.
Standings after week 2 with the top two to qualify from each group are:
Monday Nights: Erasers 160 games, Staplers 150, Markers 136, Punchers 130
Wednesday Night: Dispensers 155, Toners 143 games, Binders 143, Copiers 135
