DARENTH TABLE TENNIS CLUB
NATIONAL CADET LEAGUE 2007-2008
SEAN BACK ON FORM FOR THE A AND THE B MAKES A LATE CHARGE IN DIVISION 2
At the start of the final meeting of the National Cadet League, Darenth A (Sean O'Mahony/Jamie Dunleavy/Joel Galley) were lying in second place in Division 1 on 64 points, 14 behind St Michael's & All Angels A. The B team (Meg Sullivan/Ollie White/Callum Bennett/Dan Blackburn) were in fourth place in Division 2 on 62 points, six behind Geoffrey Chaucer C who were only three points adrift of joint leaders, Geoffrey Chaucer B and St Michael's & All Angels B. The meeting was marred by the non appearance of Geoffrey Chaucer who had three teams in the competition , two of whom were doing well.
The A began with a comfortable 6-0 win over Bishop Challener A (Liam O'Niell/Leo Ackon) which was a nice warm up for the battle with the Graham Spicer girls (Kim Beard/Lydia Regan/Sophie Lucas). O'Mahony got the team off to a good start, defeating the defender Regan in four. Dunleavy had a fine scrap with Beard, eventually getting home 12-10 in the fifth. Galley lost his way in the fifth against Lucas after doing well to level at two all from being 0-2 down. O'Mahony avenged his loss to Beard at the last meeting but Galley struggled against Regan and went down in four. Dunleavy secured victory with a demolition job on Lucas.
Then came the battle with leaders St Michael & All Angels A (Mario Reid/Curtis Clough/Reece Placid). O'Mahony again got the team off to a great start, defeating Clough in five. This is the first time he has managed to beat Clough. The next four sets were all lost in straight games. This was particularly disappointing for O'Mahony who had a good track record against Reid. Dunleavy got into trouble against Placid going 0-2 down but staged one of his charges to snatch the third and ran away with the next two. A 2-4 loss, the only one of the day.
The A had a welcome break next, time to stoke up on energy drinks and lunch, before tackling Kemnal (Claire Harvey/Matt Clark/Daniel Chen) whom they have not handled particularly well in the past. Perhaps because it has always been the last match of the day and energy levels are low. O'Mahony got the A off to yet another good start and another defeat avenged, this time taking Clark out in four. Dunleavy followed suit by defeating Harvey, reversing the recent run of losses to her. Galley had to work hard to beat Chen but got there in four. O'Mahony had to get his head down to get the first game from Harvey who then capitulated in straight games, perhaps disappointed with her loss to Dunleavy earlier. Galley, who wasn't playing badly but not having a particularly successful day, then lost to the very shrewd Clark but Dunleavy wrapped it up with a four game win over Chen.
The B sat down and did their sums before play began and realised that they could come in as runners up if they played up to par. Dan Blackburn was on hand if need be but was kept busy helping out teams who were a player short. All valuable experience and will stand him in good stead for next season.
First were St Michael's and All Angels C (Arzan Kamara/Qudus Patrick/Lusano Kusiluka) whoere were summarily despatched 6-0 without the loss of a single game – what a start.
Bishop Challener B were a player short so that was two in the bag for starters. Sullivan and White won the first two sets very comfortably but Sullivan had to watch it in the third game with Daniel Temesgen who started to play better as he went along. Bennett dropped the second game to Emeka Uzoho but went up a gear to cruise away with the third and fourth.
The B had a break courtesy of Geoffrey Chaucer B and time to check up on their progress. They were closing fast so a good result against Graham Spicer B (Jack Montague/Zain Doorah/Scott Robinson) was essential and it wasn't likely to be an easy match. Bennett went 2-0 up on Montague, lost the next two and had to do a rapid rethink to take the decider. Sullivan found herself 0-2 to Montague but cut out the errors to take the third and ran away with the next two. White dropped the opening game to Robinson but then got his thinking cap on to run out a comfortable winner. Bennett likewise dropped a game this time to Robinson but White made few mistakes against Doorah to wrap it up 6-0. This was, perhaps, an unjust reflection on a team who competed well but a spirited performance from Darenth B.
The B were by now well clear of Geoffrey Chaucer B but even if they beat the leaders whom they were due to play next, St Michael's & All Angels B (Hossein Kabi/Hassan Kabi/James Hoang), they couldn't overtake them. With nothing to lose and all to gain, the B set to work with a zest for their task. Sullivan survived a very lengthy first game with Hassan Kabi, winning it 20-18, took the second, dropped the third, got a good start in the fourth and pulled it off. White and Bennett rattled off the next two in straight games to put Darenth B 3-0 up. Sullivan lost very narrowly in five to Hossein Kabi, having played exceptionally well to go 2-0 up. Bennett was going really well, he was 2-0 up against Hassan Kabi who put the brakes on by pinching the third, but Bennett made no mistake with the fourth. White blocked out Hoang in straight games for a surprising but well deserved 5-1 victory.
In summary the A finished in second place well ahead of Geoffrey Chaucer A but some way short of St. Michael's & All Angels A. They have played unchanged all season and O'Mahony has done a splendid job leading the team, averaging 68.42%. Dunleavy has developed into a solid No. 2 achieving the best average of the team at 78.38% with Galley making 64.86%. They finished, seventh sixth and eighth respectively in the averages. Mario Reid topped the averages on 90.63% with just three losses to his name – all of them to O'Mahony. There was some sympathy for the Geoffrey Chaucer teams who couldn't get to the venue but even if they had, would the results have been any different, perhaps not.
The B have been brilliantly led by Sullivan. Both White and Bennett have proved themselves to be excellent match players and have supported Sullivan loyally. White finished second in the averages on 77.14% whilst Sullivan finished third on 75%. The star performer though has been Bennett who lost only one set and that only at 10-12 in the fifth to Ryan Hutchinson. In actual fact Bennett was the best player in the Division on 94.12%. He needed to have played only one more match to have been automatically included in the leading averages. How sad it was that flu ruled him out of one session which also meant the team went a player short. This obviously affected their final points tally and ultimately cost them the title that the St Michael's & all Angels coach generously said they deserved.
In considering averages it should be borne in mind that players have to play in order of ranking and only compete against two of the opposition, Nos. 1 and 3 do not play each other, nor do the No. 2s. Everyone has a job to do within the team but the responsibility of being No. 1 can weigh heavily on young shoulders. O'Mahony and Sullivan rose to the challenge magnificently.