IT HAS long been tradition for the Casuals tennis section to travel down to the Algarve in the spring for a weekend of tennis with local clubs. This year, the format was slightly different with two days being spent at the Quinta do Paraíso Country Club with a mix of social tennis and competitive play.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Casuals team played against a team invited from local clubs for the Eddie Rudd Memorial Trophy. With the first two victories falling to the Casuals, but with the Algarveans winning in very closely contested matches for the last two seasons, there was all to play for this time.
After a morning of social tennis, the match started in earnest on Saturday afternoon with six mixed doubles. The Casuals showed their strength in mixed play with a comprehensive demolition of the Algarvean team, taking five of the six matches. Although five behind, with nine further matches to be played on Sunday, the locals were still confident.
It was another beautiful day for tennis on Sunday, with the six men’s and three ladies’ doubles programmed to decide the trophy.
The Algarve produced a trump card in Duncan Baldwin, who had flown in especially for the weekend. In the first match, he and his partner Bill quickly demolished the Casuals pairing of Rob Levitt and Villy Petersen 9-1. The only other victory in the men’s doubles was a most unlikely win for team captain Greg Leadbeater and James Lee against the locals’ very strong top pair of Mal Roche and Rob Saunders.
Suffering from a recurrent leg injury, it seemed unlikely that Greg would be on court, but after strong anti-inflammatory treatment and much encouragement from the team, the Casuals came from a long way behind to take a most exciting match 9-7.
The Casuals ladies demonstrated an excellent level of play, going on to win all three ladies’ doubles as well as having only lost one mixed on the previous day. Elaine da Costa and Britta Petersen completed their matches undefeated.
Mal Roche, accompanied by his wife, Maggie, who had been responsible for the local organisation, presented the Casuals captain, Greg, with the trophy at a celebratory lunch. The overall result was 10-5 in matches, 112-82 in games.
The Casuals play tennis every weekend at St. Julian’s School (Carcavelos) and players of all levels are invited to telephone Greg on 214 579 612 or 214 665 232 for further details.
