ALTC have three men’s teams in the Basingstoke League and all of them started their summer campaigns at the club’s Balksbury home.
The winter season saw the Men’s A narrowly lose the Division One title; by one set. The B team consolidated their position in Division One and the C team won Division 4.
Men’s C team; Darren King, Ben Mead,
Richard Shipway and Andy Taylor at Balksbury.
For the summer season, Keith Robinson has taken over the B team. Richard Shipway is the new C team Captain and it was his team that were first to play. The opponents were Oakley C and although Oakley showed prolonged resistance, the Andover team was too strong all round and emerged victors by 8-0.
Shipway and Andy Taylor won both rounds 6-3, 7-5 and 6-3, 6-2, with superior shot making and movement. Ben Mead and Darren King kept the rallies short with accurate volleying and won 6-3, 6-0 and 6-2, 6-1. The team aim to gain promotion and this was a great start.
The Men’s A team, sponsored by KJM this year, also had a first victory in a close match against the B team.
It was a new look A team with an average age under twenty and the B team were determined to put up a good show.
The A team first pair of Gregor Corcoran and George Beare won against B team firsts, Dan DeMarco and Andy Snellgrove, 6-2, 6-2. They were playing with confidence and power, but found their second match against Keith Robinson and Harvey Stuart more tricky as Robinson’s accurate lobbing and sharp interceptions upset their rythym. Stuart’s strong backhand and sharp movement also made life difficult. They did emerge winners 6-4, 6-4, but it had been close.
Kyrill Kennett, Myles Cole, George Beare, Gregor Corcoran, Harvey Stuart, Keith Robinson,
Andy Snellgrove and Dan De Marco, indoors at Balksbury
Younger pair, Kyrill Kennett and Myles Cole had ensured a win for the A team by beating Robinson and Stuart 6-4, 6-2 with a strong combination of power and movement.
The B team gained a consolation win at the end when De Marco and Snellgrove plotted a win by 6-4, 6-4 against the youngsters, taking the initiative with accurate, forcing net play.
The overall result was a 6 sets to 2 win for the A team; a good start for them and an encouraging one for the B team who had competed well.
