Seb Kay reviews a stunning season of success for UEL tennis.
It was another scintillating season for the UEL tennis as all four teams gained promotion, with the men’s first team winning their fifth successive promotion to join the Southern Premier division.
With this, the men are now in the UK’s second tier, one behind the National Premier which holds the six best tennis teams in the nation.
The men’s second team are into division three after back-to-back league successes. Also, both Women’s teams won their leagues as well. The firsts are into division one and the seconds are into division 3.
Head coordinator Richard Buscombe said: “I’m very proud of the guys and girls, it isn’t easy turning up every week to matches where the opposition aren’t as strong and stay focussed on the job in hand. We now have to prepare for next season on and off the court and look for the same success as well.”
Men’s 1sts
The men’s first team won the league just like they have in every title run, by going unbeaten in the season and only losing three rubbers the whole campaign.
They were dominant both home and away, with the team showing up every week prepared to deliver win after win in a consistent manner.
The firsts also won the Men’s Trophy cup event at the first attempt, with the team having to travel to Exeter twice in three weeks to pick up two impressive away wins.
Men’s 2nds
The second team had a very strong start to the season, but came slightly off the gas towards the end of the campaign, leaving it until the penultimate match before sealing the title.
There was disappointment in the cup however, with the side turning up late for their second round match. Bad light stopped play and resulted in a forfeit for UEL due to the fact the seconds were at fault for the match not being completed.
Women’s 1sts
The Women’s first team duplicated the success of the Men’s first team by winning the league unbeaten and also making it the double with a cup victory.
With a team far too strong for the level of competition, the Ladies of UEL blasted through their matches every Wednesday, dropping a total of just 92 games, whereas they won 600.
Women’s 2nds
Strolling through division four the women’s seconds also went through the season unbeaten.
However, they were in the same cup competition as the first team and eventually lost in the semi-finals to Surrey who would then lose at the hands of the first team.