Champions!

​Hello everyone,
 
The mixed A team won the league last night. For the first time in quite a few years, a period dominated by Trull and Taunton School, they won Division 1 of the West Somerset League. Elliott Rugg (captain), Kelly Cunningham, Laurence Paul and Hayley Collins needed 7 points away against Wellington to move ahead of Taunton School into first place, and they came away with 9. Honourable mentions also go to Oli and Nicolette, who played a lot of matches, and maybe other people too (not sure exactly who played in every match).
 
Here is Laurence's match report:
 
Our first pair [ed: Laurence and Hayley] began their match holding serve effectively while securing several break points in some long games without being able to take those opportunities. At 2-2, and with a few adjustments to their play, however, these break points were soon converted and the set was secured 6-2. At 5-1 up in the second, their opponents managed to play an impressive game and broke back for 5-2 but, in the end, could not best their previous set; the final score being 6-2, 6-2. 
 
Taunton's second pair [ed: Elliott and Kelly] were even more imperious, finishing their two sets in record time with a 6-0, 6-0 victory, proving that consistency and tactics is a solid recipe for success. This proved to set in motion the next rubber, for the women managed to replicate this scoreline with good serving from both players and little to trouble them. While the men took longer to do so and had several very close games, they too pulled off a 6-0, 6-0 win, meaning the team lost only 4 games on the night and emphatically sealed their position as winners of the league.
 
What a fabulous way to finish the season and for Elliott to bow out: captain of the league champions and without conceding a single game in his final match. Unfortunately for us, he's moving away from Taunton next week. Our loss will be his club on the Isle of Wight's gain. We'll miss him, and I don't mean just for matches.
 
So that wraps up a very successful summer season. Let's not forget that three of our other four teams won promotion: the women will be playing in Division 1 of the North Somerset League next season, the men in Division 2, and the men's team in the Yeovil and District League won Division 2 with matches to spare and next season will be trying to spend more than their usual one season at a time in Division 1. The mixed B team narrowly lost to Wiveliscombe last night and finished in a comfortable third place in Division 2 of the West Somerset League. 
 
Winter league next: we have a team in Division 1 of the North Somerset League and want to enter another one, possibly in Division 4 of the Yeovil and District League, but we're looking a bit short of women. Is there anyone out there who'd like to play?
 
Mike