2008 Match reports
U12 V Bowerham
The U12's had their return match against Bowerham, Bowerham had contacted us to say that they would be playing an U14 player as they could not put a full U12's side together so we played Jamie Braithwaite in the team. The full team was Jamie, James Casey-Gibbs, Ted Mossop and Jo Marriott. The last match against Bowerham had been tied at 3-3 so we knew it was likely to be close again. In the singles Jamie and Ted both won, neither taking easy victories but both played well. James Casey-Gibbs played very well in his singles match and was involved in some excellent long rallies, it was good to see him asserting himself against his opponent, though eventually he lost out narrowly. Jo was drawn against a very competent opponent and could not quite raise his game against some solid hitting. It looked as if the doubles would be tight too but Ted and Jo combined very well and the increased pace of the match seemed to suit them well. In the end they took a fairly comfortable victory. James and Jamie too played well together and won their doubles match which meant that Lunesdale won an excellent victory 4-2.§
U14 Lunesdale vs Slyne home on 7 June
The U14’s team for this match consisted of James Alker, Will Mossop, Jamie Braithwaite and Calum Tough. It looked like a strong line up but they knew that the fixture would be tough having encountered some of the Slyne players earlier.
All of the matches were keenly fought, both sides playing some excellent tennis with some long rallies which had the supporting parents on the edges of their seats at times. Calum Tough and James Alker did very well to win their singles but unfortunately the other singles matches and both doubles were lost Slne winning the match 4-2.
U12 Lunesdale vs Bowerham home on 31 May
The team for this match was kindly organised by Mick Gibbs, arranging for Will Mossop to play at the last moment, Bowerham enlisted an older player too to make the match more even.
The team consisted of James Casey-Gibbs, Robbie McVickers, and the brothers Will and Ted Mossop. The match was keenly contested all the way through. Robbie and James played with real determination only really losing a few crucial points but it made the difference with the boys losing their singles and doubles matches, the score line was creditable in all the matches though.
Ted and Will made up for it in both their singles matches that they played well in but that brotherly communication really paid off in the doubles with them winning that 6-0.
The match score was 3-3, an excellent performance against Bowerham.
U12 Lunesdale vs Bolton Le Sands away on 24 May
The U12’s played a true U12 team at Bolton Le Sands and did extremely well on this occasion. Bolton Le Sands like our team were finding their feet with their first competitive match, again the match was played in great spirit. The team consisted of James Casey Gibbs, Lawrence Cwerner, James Fenna and Jo Marriott.
All of the boys did very well in winning their singles matches and James and Jo won their doubles match comfortably 6-1. It looked as if Lawrence and James were going to do the same as they took a commanding lead 4-1 but they relaxed at the wrong moment letting their opponents back into the game and unfortunately lost out in a keenly contested tie-break. Lunesdale won the match 5-1.
U14 Lunesdale vs Bowerham away on 17 May
The tie score was 5-1 to Bowerham. This does not give any indication how hard fought the tie was. All matches were keenly contested and, most importantly, played in the right spirit.
In the singles James (Alker) played well but lost out only 6-4 to a player well groomed in keeping the ball in play, Will (Mossop) did extremely well in losing only 6-2 to a young committed player with a very bright future, Jamie (Braithwaite) won 6-3, and Roddy (Forbes) played bravely and with commitment to the end in losing 6-1.
The score after the singles was 3-1 to Bowerham and all the team knew that winning both doubles would have resulted in a tie.
Both doubles matches were even more keenly contested than the singles.
Braithwaite/Forbes played with skill and increasing understanding but were unlucky to lose by the odd game 6-4 but the real drama was in the other doubles match.
The agreement before the match started was that games reaching 6-6 would go to a tie-break with the first team to reach five points, without a two point lead, would win.
It was not expected that this scenario would occur, but, it did.
The very keenly contested doubles match played by Alker/Mossop, who have a bright future, in particular, as a doubles pair, reached six games all, and then reached four points all in the tie-break. The match came down to one point which, unfortunately, was won by the opposition (but only, from an impartial observer (!), because of the proximity of the boundary fence to the court on the which they were playing, which is a particular feature of the Bowerham Club).
The Lunesdale U-14 team clearly enjoyed playing on a fine morning in May.
U12 Match Report Lunesdale vs Slyne 17/05/08
Team: Lawrence Czwerner, Robbie McVickers, Max Howarth, James Fenna
Lunesdale were forced to field an inexperienced team because of a combination of injury and absence. The boys were thrown in at the deep end a bit as for most of them this was the first time they had played competitive match tennis. This was against a strong Slyne team who had already played a season in the U14 league last year.
Both Robbie McVickers and Lawrence Czwerner were unlucky not to take some games in their singles matches. They both took part in some sustained rallies and some excellent tennis was played.
In the other matches Max Howarth played some super shots with great power and a very good length on occasions, James Fenna chased hard and showed some real signs of improvement, with work on their serve and a little more experience James and Max should do well in the future.
Both sets of boys were again unlucky not to take games in the doubles. The match was played in an excellent spirit and all the boys seemed to enjoy the mornings tennis. Well done everybody.