Adult Summer success stories

Men’s 1^st team: AEGON National Club League – Winners

Our men’s 1^st team were competing in the regional group stage and looking to gain promotion into the highest tier in the country. Our first match on the 9^th of April would dictate the final standings in the group. We faced Queens Club on a scorching hot day on four beautiful outdoor clay courts. This would be the pivotal match in our undefeated season. All four singles matches were in play and at the start there was a positive feeling that a victory was in our hands over a very strong Queens side. After 2-3 hours the tie was level at 2 matches all, with wins from Neil and Adam. Entering the doubles, with all to play for, Queens decided to freshen up their team with two substitutes. Sadly, Neil was substituted due to a migraine as a result of the heat but Josh would come into play and take a vital victory. After a gruelling and nervous 90 minutes, the doubles was split and the tie was level at 3 matches all. The tie would now be decided on two match tie-breaks and the choosing of the team needed to be wise. After two very tight match tie-breaks Adam and Nick pulled through and won the tie for Dukes Meadows. We thank Queens for their hospitality and, most importantly, our travelling supporters who came to cheer us on. Six matches later and every result won convincingly, Dukes Meadows gained promotion into the national tier for the first time. This is an incredible run considering we were in the bottom tier when we first started and have gained promotion every year. Throughout each match it would be impossible to compete if it weren’t for a team squad of players. Great effort from the team consisting of:

Neil Bamford, Adam Thornton-Brown, Alex Jhun, Nick Nugent, Joshua Jones, Harry Skinner, Finn Bass, James Lenton and Nick Katzaros.

Results:

9/04/17 vs Queens 7-6 win
23/04/17 vs Bromley 10-2 win
7/05/17 vs Sutton ST 12-0 win
21/05/17 vs Cumberland II 12-0 win
4/06/17 vs The Weald 10-2 win
11/06/17 vs Putney 7-6 win

Men’s 2^nd team: Division 4 – 3^rd place

Our 2^nd team had a stable and successful season considering they were competing in an extremely competitive group. We were one of three teams to only lose one match but sadly came third on count back of rubbers. Finishing third and confirming their spot in division four was a good effort all round. The team consisting of:

Chris Persson, Will Persson, Carlo Sparanero, Daniel Voyce, Erik Eliasson, Brooklyn Bamburac, Louis Tardis-Joubert, Fraser Dawson, Luciano Burgos and Louis Corbella. We thank everyone for representing Dukes Meadows.

Results:

9/04/17 vs Acorn 5-4 win
23/04/17 vs The Park Club 8-4 win
14/05/17 vs Wayfares 5-4 win
21/05/17 vs The Elms 8-4 loss
4/06/17 vs Wembley and Sudbury 12-0 win

Middlesex Tennis Summer West Premier League – Winners

Our campaign started on the 9^th of May with a victory over Holland Park, this led to a run that was undefeated over 7 matches throughout the group, losing only a total of 10 sets and winning 68 sets. It all came down to a penultimate match and looking for revenge over last year’s defeat to Lensbury. A fixture that had to be re-arranged due to weather saw us victorious in a comfortable but close victory 20-4. As winners of the West group and the Middlesex League being a large and very competitive county, we now go into a play-off against the East Globe LTC (winners of East division) on 17^th September. This will result in being the most successful club in the county.

Team consisted of:

Neil Bamford, Oscar Podlenski, Josh Jones, James Lenton, Alex Jhun, Nick Nugent, Harry Skinner, Glenn Kuma-Mintah, Adam Thornton-Brown, Enrique Vidal, Jack Middleton, Oliver Hudson, Nick Katzaros, Will Herbert, Florien Hagmann, Jeremy Gschwendtner

Results: