Firecrackers outshine Sparklers to widen gap

Following heavy opening week defeats in the Enniskillen Autumn Tennis League for the Conkers and the Wizards, last Monday night gave both teams a chance to get their league campaigns up and running and also avoid propping up the table. Having to play through pouring rain it was the Wizards who took the initiative, winning three out of four mixed doubles matches. Fine performances from Innes Redmond and Gareth Armstrong in both their men's and mixed doubles matches saw both men secure 15 games each on the night and this was enough to keep the Wizards in front ultimately winning 54-42.

Second match on the night threw up a clash between early Monday pool leaders the Pumpkins and second placed Bonfires and in keeping with the inclement weather the Bonfires found it hard to get going,. This however had more to do with the standard of the opposition particularly in the top order matches where the first match had the Bonfires Danny Redmond and Louise McGann pitched in against Jenny Humphries and Jimmy Renfrew with the Pumpkins pair proving too powerful on the night claiming a 9-3 victory This created a cushion for the Pumpkins which the Bonfires had to chip away at for the rest of the match. Following victory in the second mixed for the Bonfires Leonie Madigan and John Reihill and again with Leonie and Louise McGann holding Jenny Humphries and Josie Boyle to an extremely tense 6-6 tie the Pumpkins had to rely on the last ladies doubles match to secure the tie. Victory for Bonfires captain Sandra Parker and Catherine Sloan would have been enough to snatch victory but it was the Pumpkins pairing of Anne Smyth and Vanessa McBrien who prevailed running out 10-2 winners thus giving the Pumpkins the match 53-43. However after a great match down the whole card the Bonfires will not be disheartened and will fancy their chances of reversing this result when the teams meet again later in the season.

First match on Wednesday night was a crunch match for the Bangers and the Rockets with both teams trying to avoid losing touch with matters at the right end of the pool. Out of eight matches played in the tie, three were drawn 6-6 and three finished 7-5. With every game hard fought it was Enid Redmond who shone for the Rockets with some sparkling tennis throughout both her matches. Over these 6 games Bangers led by 37-35 but a combination of great tennis from Bridie McCaffrey in the last match for the Rockets and a walkover in the men's doubles turned the tie in the Rockets favour who eventually ran out 55-41 winners.

Close fought games in the previous match meant that expectations were high going into the table topping clash between the Sparklers and the Firecrackers. Although Matthew McGann and Heather Boles got the Sparklers off to a winning start it was the Firecrackers who lit up the night with convincing wins in six of the remaining seven matches. Strong partnerships throughout the team enabled Firecrackers to close with a comfortable 61-35 victory and while all of the Firecrackers contributed it was Mary Davidson who fired brightest with an outstanding tally of 20 from 24. This now leaves the Firecrackers out front on their own and the pressure is now on the other pool teams to chase them down.

Standings after week 3 with the top two to qualify from each group are:

Monday Nights: Pumpkins 161 games, Bonfires 149, (both 3 matches played) Toffees 105, Wizards 86, Conkers 75 (All 2 matches played)

Wednesday Night: Firecrackers 183 games, Rockets 141, Sparklers 138, Bangers 114 (All 3 matches played)