Round 8 of Jazzey’s Spring League was completed at Enniskillen Tennis Club last week. Monday night saw league leaders the Aristocats strengthen their leading position with a healthy 53-43 win over the Bear Necessities. Playing a smart game, Donal Burns and Enid Redmond (Aristocats) claimed a resounding victory in their mixed doubles which was cancelled out by an equally good win by Seamus O’Connell and Ruth Armstrong. At the half way stage both teams were level. However, two good wins by Leonie Madigan and Enid and Kathleen Murphy and Liz McGuinness were the key matches which clinched victory for the Aristocats.
In the other Monday night series of matches, the Jazz Standards continued to close the gap on the Aristocats with a 58-38 win over the Sweet Spots. The clear win masks the fact that three matches were drawn and the Standards won three matches to the Spot’s two. One of the tightest matches on the night was Mark Cousins and Joanne Knowles against Claude Bersot and Ruth Elliott with every ball being chased down and a 6-6 draw was a fitting result. With one round to go before the semi-finals, the Aristocats are only six points ahead of the closing Jazz Standards.
On Wednesday, good wins for Finn Corrigan and Martin Sharkey and Cyril Boyd and Tony Ringland gave Nice & Fly a deserved win over the Rhythm Section to maintain their position at the head of the table for the Wednesday night teams. Clive Funston and Berni Cornyn (Rhythm Section) put in a fine performance to inflict a rare defeat over Finn and Leonie Madigan 7-5.
In the later series of matches, Andrea Crawford and Josie Gillen (Blue Notes) overcame Sonja Hateboer and Geraldine Miller (Cool Cats) 8-4 in a match full of entertaining baseline rallies. Nick Hambley and Vanessa McBrien also enjoyed a high quality match against Ollie McShea and Lisa Greaves. With no quarter given, the match ended in a 6-6 draw.
With eight rounds played and only one week remaining before the semi-final stages of Jazzey’s Spring League, the league table is as follows:
