Last week saw the opening of the Autumn League at Enniskillen Tennis Club, generously sponsored this year by Pat’s Bar & Grill. The Backbar Baseliners captained by Liz Murphy took on the Carvery Cuts captained by Catherine Sloane. Jerome Nicolle and Linda Corrigan opened up proceedings with a hard fought 6-6 draw against Ollie McShea and Liz Murphy. Michelle Kennedy and Alex Knowles had a similarly close encounter against league specialist Paul Lendrum and the rapidly improving Liz McGuinness. Mark Cousins and Jenny Cruickshank got off to a flyer against Claude Bersot and Gwen Wilson and led 4-2 with a break of serve. However Claude and Gwen to their credit never gave up and with Gwen retrieving some amazing balls, they fought their way back to take the match 8-4 for the Baseliners. This was the key match that gave the Carvery Cuts the lead at the half way stage 25-23. The following mens and ladies doubles were also keenly contested, with Alex Knowles and Jerome Nicolle being the architects of the Carvery Cuts overall win with a decisive 8-4 win over the strong combination of Ollie McShea and Paul Lendrum. The vastly experienced Seamus O’Connell partnered by Mark Cousins put in a resounding performance to lead 5-0 over Claude Bersot and Stephen Ringland. But even a spirited fightback by Claude and Steven was insufficient to stop the Carvery Cuts from gaining a 51-45 victory on the night.
The second of the Monday nights matches saw Marius Blake’s Night Owls take on John Griffin’s Midtown Magic. With seven of the eight matches ending up 7-5, it was obvious from a long way out that there was little between the two teams. Darragh Dillon proved an able deputy at number one position and partnering Leonie Madigan enjoyed a good scrap against Lisa Greaves and John Griffin with the 2 Gs just prevailing. Nick Hambley and the ever improving Jenny Kelly pulled everything out of the hat to give Midtown Magic an early lead. Corrie Cadden put in an admirable display of solid groundstrokes when partnering Cormac Jordan to a 7-5 victory over Reggie Ferguson and Bennie Sheridan. Luke Todd and Kate McManus just got the better of Euan Gebler and Nadine Stewart by 7-5 to tie the scores at the half way stage. All remained delicately poised until the last match of the night was completed and it was two newest recruits to the league Corrie and Kate who clinched the decisive victory for the Owls over Bennie Sheridan and Nadine Stewart. Overall the Owls won 52-44 on the night.
The mid-week monsoon put paid to the Wednesday night matches and the points were split between all four teams.
