Amherst Ladies Lose Status
Amherst Ladies first team lost all four doubles matches on Sunday at home to Hove visitors Pavilion & Avenue, and thus failed to preserve their place in Division 2 of the county’s winter doubles competition.
The two teams started the day each with just four points (representing four rubbers) from their previous five matches and, with Amherst boasting a marginally better record of sets won against sets lost, a 2-2 draw should have been enough to keep their noses in front of their visitors and also lift them above already relegated Weald. Experience was there in abundance for the home team – Nikki Crowhurst paired with Jane Garrett, Karen Cunnington with Debi Ani. But all four visiting players, each with considerable youth advantage over their hosts, hit the ball with greater power from both sides of the court, moved quicker and made consistently fewer errors. Only when the Amherst pairs came to the net were the rallies more evenly disposed.
Next winter they’ll be re-joining neighbours The Green in Division 3. The pair of Amanda Ruck, fit again after serious injury, and Beaula Page, resumed their sweeping successes for the St Leonards club but did not find enough support to push the ladies team higher than fourth.
The Amherst men’s first team, meanwhile, with a settled first pairing of Dylan Preece and Quentin Soucek, ably backed by veterans Andy Chapman and Mark Cunnington, had looked capable for much of the season of progressing in their Division 5E, only to be crushed 4-0 by winners Saltdean in their final match and finishing third out of seven.
Over at The Green, a disappointing 2-2 draw between their men’s team and Pavilion & Avenue on the last Saturday resulted in both teams sinking to Division 4.
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