Hadleigh Forum are beginning to make an impact in the Summer League. Having been a bit behind the other teams in terms of games played they are now up to date and successive 8-1 wins have taken them up to third in the table six points behind Basildon A and ten points behind Hockley A but with a game in hand on Hockley.
Their latest success saw them crush Matchpoint A with Keith Willett taking the match honours but only just ahead of Richard Jackman also unbeaten. Team mate Berti Makoli found it a little harder losing to Richard Sloman in five sets but coming back from 2-1 down against Rob Harris to clinch the decider 11/4. Other than that only two other games went beyond three sets. Matchpoint sit sixth in the league but just seven points above bottom club Basildon B.
Stanford A sit fifth in the table and although they won again beating Invicta 6-3 they are twenty five points behind the leaders and too far behind, I think, to be considered a threat. Invicta can feel quite pleased with their effort in this match as they had to call on two players from their B team, Charles Morris and Trisha Winter, to complete their line up and this has been a continuing problem for them this season. Peter Weatherall won both his singles for Stanford but Invicta’s Tony Ayliffe matched that performance with wins over Rob Salvage and Vivaan Babbar. Two doubles went Stanford’s way but the final match of the evening saw Ayliffe and Charles Morris defeat Salvage and Weatherall in straight sets. Invicta now find themselves level on points with Matchpoint and above Hockley B and Basildon B.
Hockley B’s attempt to improve their position at the bottom end of the table didn’t meet with any sympathy from their own A team. The A team’s blend of youth and experience was far too strong for their more senior opponents and whilst two games went to five sets, both doubles, the rest did not extend beyond four. Result – a 9-0 victory. Joseph Odegbami, Elliot Brackenbury and James Evesham all remained unbeaten with Elliot taking the match honours. Paul Ogden and Brian Bissenden fought back from 2-0 down against Brackenbury and Evesham but lost 11/8 in the fifth and Paul Ogden and Paul Strutt actually led Brackenbury and Odegbami 2-0 but conspired to lose the next three sets 11/2 11/7 11/3. Hockley A stay top by four points from Basildon A who have a game in hand.
Player of the Week – Tony Ayliffe
Team of the Week – Hadleigh Forum