Lendrum raises the bar for the Baseliners

The fifth week of the ever popular Autumn League sponsored by Pat's Bar & Grill took place last week at Enniskillen Tennis Club. Wednesday night's games proved very competitive. First up were the inexhaustible Joshua Hanna and Brenda Davis for the Townhall Towers against Dominic Burns and Moira McAdams for the Earlybird Baps. With Josh and Brenda fastest out of the blocks, they held on for a comfortable win 7-5. This was nullified by the win of Andy Elliott and Heather Williams for the Earlybirds who won by a similar margin from Niall McGandy and Ann Mooney. The most significant result in the first leg of matches was the handsome win of Paul Carron and Diane Cadden for the Earlybirds which put their team four points in front at the halfway stage. All was to change however in the second leg, with a solid 8-4 win for those Townhall 'Triers' Dominic Burns and JR Dundas followed quickly by an equally good win of Moira McAdam and Janet Love. With the final ladies doubles between Roisin O'Connell and Heather Williams and Ann Mooney and Diane Cadden ending in a 6-6 draw, it was the 7-5 win by Niall McGandy and Paul Carron for the Earlybirds that managed to clinch a well earned draw 48-48.

The second match was between the Diamond Aces and the Galaxy Hotshots. Hugh Maguire and Martina Boyd combined effectively to take the opening match 7-5 against Innes Redmond and Maxine Leary. Once again, Martina's strong net play was a feature of this match. Ace players Martin Hamblin and Bernie Hall played all their cards right with some exquisite shots leading to a 9-3 win for the Diamonds. With the final two matches going to those Galaxy stars- Cyril Boyd and Sheila Colville and Nick Meeke and Michelle Hannah, the Galaxy Hotshots were six points ahead at the halfway stage. However three straight wins for the Aces in the second series of matches gave them an unlikely four point lead with only one match remaining. The 8-4 win of Nick Meeke and Cyril Boyd for the Galaxy Hotshots was enough to send their team into orbit and obtain a share of the spoils 48-48.

Monday night's matches kicked off with the Night Owls taking on the Carvery Cuts. Davy Thompson and Leonie Madigan got the ball rolling for the Owls with a 9-3 win over Jimmy Renfrew and Linda Corrigan. Alex Knowles was at his volleying best when partnering Michelle Kennedy, they achieved an excellent draw over Marius Blake and Anne Smyth. Cormac Jordan's serves proved to be a key feature of his match with Corrie Cadden which they won 7-5 and not to be outdone, Luke Todd served up five aces in his match when partnering Sheila Colville to a good win over Mark Cousins and Jenny Cruikshank. The second series of matches proved a runaway success for the Owls with three key wins giving them a 58-38 win on the night.

Midtown Magic did battle with the Backbar Baseliners in the second match of the evening. All four of the mixed doubles matches proved to be nip and tuck with Steven Ringland and Kathleen Murphy just edging out Reggie Ferguson and Bennie Sheridan 7-5 giving the Baseliners a two point lead at the break. However three decisive results for the Baseliners in the second leg caused them to disappear from view and the writing was on the wall for Midtown Magic long before the final match. Paul Lendrum and substitute Dominic Burns set the ball rolling for the Baseliners with a convincing 9-3 performance. With Paul now firmly in the groove, things are looking somewhat ominous for the other Monday night teams. The partnership of Liz Murphy and Liz McGuinness also continues to blossom and with Kathleen Murphy and Gwen Wilson following their lead with another 8-4 win, the Baseliners strolled home 58-38.