Ormskirk Tennis Club were faced with the tough task of facing Birkdale

Jun 18 2009 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

WITH the last match of the first half of the season, Ormskirk 1 had the unenviable task of welcoming First Division leaders Birkdale to their County Road courts.

They found no joy in the levels events despite some spirited performances.

In the first mixed event captain D Sherriff partnered V Cocks and squeezed a 6/4 but couldn’t maintain the pressure 3/6.

Third pair P Thomson/F Wisse recovered from a lost 3/6 to hit back by the same score. The result was Ormskirk 1, 2 points, Birkdale 1, 14.

Ormskirk III were at home to Ormskirk 2 who are in the same division.

Mixed events began (Ormskirk 3 names first).

J Olverson/E Gunstone v. M Webster/S Crowley 5/6,6/2; K Slater/S Lawton/v. B Humphreys/S Iliff 2/6,6/5: J Hobson/A Vernon v. B Sherriff/H Bell 2/6,6/2: D Smith/J Crompton v. P Morana/S Davison 3/6,6/5: With all matches halved the levels went on court.

J Olverson/J Hobson v. M Webster/B Humphreys 2/6,4/6: K Slater/D Smith v. B Sherriff/P Morana 0/6,5/6: E Gunstone/S Lawton v. S Crowley/H Bell 5//6,6/3: A Vernon/J Crompton v. S Iliff/S Davison 06/,5/6 At the end of the match played in a very friendly but competitive spirit Ormskirk 2 were the winners by 11 points to 5.

The fixture list threw up a similar situation as Ormskirk 5, in the same division as Ormskirk 4, played each other.

The mixed events were on first; Ormskirk 5 names first as the “home” side. D.Iliff/L Crossan v. A Mort/P Treanor 2/6,5/6: I Duffy/E Roberts v. C Wilson/R Jones 5/6,6/2: P Murphy/P Hesketh v. R Ward/J Campbell 3/6,6/4: M Winstanley/C Price v. S Charters/J Gregson 5/6,2/6.: Gents and Ladies Events:_ D Iliff/I Duffy v. A Mort/C Wilson 6/5,1/6: P Murphy/M Winstanley v. R Ward/S Charters 5/6,6/2: L Crossan/E Roberts v. P Treanor/R Jones 4/6,5/6.

There were some very close scores and several tiebeaks in this match which reflects the strength in depth of the club.

However the final score was Ormskirk 5, 4 points, Ormskirk 4, 12 points.

Ormskirk VI went to North Meols 4 and found points hard to come by. Mixed events began proceedings.

The stars were 2nd pair P McConnell/K Sumner who eased through 6/3,6/3. 4th couple T Sumner/L Murray did well to recover from a lost 1/6 to come back strongly 6/2. In the Ladies events only K Ratoff/K Sumner got on the board with a determined 6/3,6/5 but overall it was a disappointing loss by 5 points to 11 for North Meols 4.

Ormskirk II were again in action when they were drawn away to Formby HT 2 in the second round of the Trinity Shield. First events on court were the Mixed and Gents Doubles. M & P Webster showed their superior match play to win easily 6/2,6/2.

B Sherriff/P Morana started well just losing 4/6 when their opponents stepped on the gas 1/6.

B Humphreys is a Gents Singles specialist and it showed as he eased past his opponent 6/2,6/3. S Lawton drew the short straw to play the Ladies Singles, and began well, digging in to take the first set 7/5, but the long after noon took its toll 4/6,3/6.

The long established pairing of H Bell/S Crowley took the Ladies Doubles event 6/3,6/4. Ormskirk 2 go through to the semi-finals.