Elgin A cannot be caught in race for Division 1 title
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WITH two games left to play, Elgin A cannot be caught in the race for the Division 1 mixed title of the Galbraith Highlands Tennis Leagues, writes Hamish McBain.
There was some doubt as to whether the team would retain the trophy as Nairn A were within touching distance.
However, Monday evening’s win at Rothes combined with the Duff Avenue second string holding title challengers Nairn to a draw meant a successful season for the A team.
At the other end of the table the Bs are doomed to relegation. A win on Monday would have kept them in the hunt to stay up, the draw leaves Rothes two points ahead.
The teams could finish level on 15 points, but the sets percentage is very much in the Speysiders' favour.
Mixed results
Rothes A 2 Elgin A 6
Michelle Fraser and Peter Scott lost to Jasmin Taylor and Ed Borrowman 3-6, 6-7; beat June Buchan and Ross Jagger 6-2, 6-3.
Maureen Turner and Jack McConnachie lost 0-6, 1-6; lost 5-7, 1-6.
Elgin B 4 Nairn A 4
Riana Oeschger and Dave McPherson lost 2-6, 3-6; won 6-1, 6-1.
Teresa Tait and Ewen Fraser lost 4-6, 1-6; won 6-2, 7-6.
Men
In the men's section, the surprise result of the week came in the Division 1 derby match at Duff Avenue, with Elgin A out of the championship running, the club’s Bs managed to find a way to force a draw - a result that takes them one step closer to safety.
In Division 2, Rothes A are undefeated at the top of the table.
The others are evenly matched with only three points between the other five teams (Elgin C in last place and Forres A in the runner-up
spot). The Rothesians will play top league tennis next season.
Although their 8-1 thrashing of Nairn looks impressive on paper, the match hung on a series of tie-breaks – all won by the homesters
Peter Scott and Mark Hearns won 7-6, 6-3; won 6-1, 6-0. Jack McConnachie and Chris Robertson won 7-6, 4-6, 11-9; won 6-3, 7-6.
The talking point of the week came in the Division 3 top of the table clash between Rothes B and Bellfield Park B.
Both sides were in with a real chance of taking the title.
The visitors had difficulty finding a fourth player and instead of playing up one of the very strong, talented youngsters from the Cs, went with a player from the First Division champions, the club’s A team.
The selection was queried but no rule had been broken. The player involved, Sandy McWilliam, is not a named player thus he was within his rights to play.
However, the spirit of fair play was deemed to have been thrown aside.
The matter is in the hands of the League Committee who will review the loophole that allows top team players turning out in a third division match.
Rothes went down 6-3. An injury to Martin Johnston in the latter stages of the second set saw the Invernesians level, going on to take the match breaker 10-1. Martin was partnered by Neal
Anderson and Neal’s son, Liam, was paired with Jack McConnachie.
Women
The Elgin club added to the Mixed gong when the women’s A team thrashed Rothiemurchus A 8-0.
This was not a close result. The Elginians ran riot as the scores show Jasmin Taylor and June Buchan won 6-2, 6-2; won 6-1, 6-0.
Riana Oescghger and Sally Walker won 6-1, 6-2; 6-3, 6-0.
The squad has only dropped one point – a draw with second place Kingussie. They are in a better position than last year, when one match was lost over the campaign.
With two fixtures remaining, the Duff Avenuers aim is to keep their undefeated record intact.
A treble is on the cards for Elgin as the B team lead the promotion race by five points from the chasing pack.
Meanwhile, Elgin C are in a dogfight with Nairn B to settle the relegation question.
Nairn’s draw was trumped by an Elgin C victory over Inverness B. A two-point gap has opened up between the two but the team from Elgin are far from sure of retaining their Division 2 status although The Elgin squad has an easier run in.
The coasters have to play the high flying division leaders Elgin B.
In Division 3, Forres A are in a three way struggle with the youngsters who make up the Bellfield Park B side (their oldest player is just 14) and Tain.
The Forresians hammered the Bellfield A team 8-1.
R and A B 1 Elgin B 8
Teresa Tait and Millie Ralph won 6-2, 6-2; won 6-2, 4-6, 10-2. Sarah Macdonald and Fiona Coull won 6-4, 6-2; won 6-4, 6-1.
Nairn B 4 Rothes 4
Marjory Stronach and Maureen Turner won 6-2, 6-1; won 6-3, 6-0.
Kate Malcolm and Martina Munro lost 6-0, 6-1; lost 6-0, 6-0.
Elgin C 6 Inverness B 3
Angela McWilliam and Isla Dickinson won 6-4, 3-6, 10-3; won 6-1, 6-0.
Hilary Dawson and Joan Flett won 6-1, 6-2; lost 2-6, 3-6.
Bellfield Park A 1 Forres A 8
Sarah Henbrey and Janette Ker won 6-0, 6-1; won 6-1, 6-1.
Pauline Brown and Julia Thomas won 6-2, 6-1; won 4-6, 6-4, 12-10.
JUNIOR
14s
The Final is between Bellfield, who received a walkover against Lossiemouth, and Elgin who came through a tightly contested semi, at home to Grantown.
The completion of the singles saw Elgin up by 5 sets to 4. The lead came courtesy of Amelie Anderson who, although losing her rubber, took the first set.
Grantown felt they were upstaged by the girls’ decision, in the doubles. Instead of the usual 1 and 2, 3 and 4 partnerships.
They decided to pair number 2 (Millie Ralph) with number 4 (Connie Simpson) and Amelie with Fiona Coull, The Strathspey boys, seeing the Elgin formations, felt they had to do the same.
However, as per the rules, the teams had been stated before the fixture began and that could not be altered.
As it turned out, the doubles finished 2 sets all.
Elgin 7 Grantown 6
Millie Ralph lost 6-7, 2-6; Amelie Anderson lost 7-5, 1-6, 6-10; Fiona Coull won 6-4, 6-1; Connie Simpson won 6-1, 6-2. Amelie and Fiona lost 2-6, 2-6; Millie and Connie won 6-2, 6-2.
12s
Elgin recorded a massive victory at Bellfield Park to take them to the top of Division 1.
This competition is being played in two stages. Half of the fixtures are scheduled to be completed by the summer holidays and the remainder beginning when the schools open for the new term.
Bellfield Park 4 Elgin 10.
Zofia Andrasovska lost 4-5, 1-4; Drew Murdoch won 4-2, 4-1; Donald Coull won 4-0, 4-0; Maya Kobedza won 3-5, 4-1, 10-6. Zofia and Drew won 5-3, 5-4; Maya and Donald won 4-1, 2-4, 10-3.
SCHOOLS
The Final stage of the Moray Tennis Forum Competition, sponsored by the Forsyth Foundation, saw three schools fight it out.
A closely fought Boys event resulted in a Gordonstoun win by one point from Forres Academy with Milnes in third place.
The girls competition saw a more clearcut result with Gordonstoun again coming out on top, followed by Forres and Milnes.
A fourth school, Speyside High, was meant to be competing but because of sports day trials were unable to attend.
