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Collapse AllActive Newcastle Singles - Round 30 | Thursday 16 January 2020 to Wednesday 11 March 2020 (Midpoint: Wednesday 12 February 2020)

An excellent round in Newcastle with 84% of all possible matches played! Well done and many thanks for all your scheduling efforts, commentaries and great tennis. Here's to the next one1

Group Summary:

Great matches here and all played in a very generous spirit, judging by the match reports. There was a 'cracking' match between Kishan and James, in which James saved 3 set points and bouncing back from 4-0 down in the final set; Stuart and Dan had 'an enjoyable game as always' and Gordon played a match in which he made just 3 mistakes in the whole match! We would like to know the recipe for that! In the end, there was a tie at the top between Stuart and Kishan but as Stuart won the head to head (a 'nip and tuck' affair), he takes gold this time. Well played all!

Final Rankings:

Pos. Name Played P Won W Lost L Bonus BNS Total PTS Form
1 Stuart Mcgowan 4 4 0 2 10 WWWW
2 Kishan Patel 5 4 1 2 10 WWWW
3 James Lethaby 4 2 2 2 8 LLWW
4 Gordon Smith 3 1 2 2 6 LLW
5 Dan Hayman 3 0 3 2 3 LLL
6 Chris Quince 3 0 3 0 0 LLL

Match Results:

Reveal CommentStuart Mcgowan bt Chris Quince (Mar 7) 6-1, 6-2

Player Comments:

  • "What better way to finish up the round than at a windswept exhibition park?! Some canny play from chris in both sets, I think he sucked me in to the net and then lobbed me at least a dozen times! I was able to get my serve going pretty early on though and relied on that for a few free games."  -- Stuart
Reveal CommentKishan Patel bt Chris Quince (Feb 29) 6-0, 6-0

Player Comments:

  • "Chris and I played indoors on what was a very windy day. This was very different to our last match which took a touch under 3 hours to finish! After some consistent returns in the first set, the second set started with a deuce that seemed to last forever, if Chris had won that I would’ve expected a totally different second set, but I fortunately managed to stay ahead and fend off Chris’s more attacking style for the remainder of the match."  -- Kishan
Reveal CommentKishan Patel bt James Lethaby (Feb 20) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4

Player Comments:

  • "James and I played a cracking match, in which I was leading for the majority of the 1st set, James was 5-3 down and over the next couple of games he saved 3 set points, most impressively one against serve! James took the next 4 games to clinch what was an hour long set! I managed to win the 2nd set with James taking his foot off the gas following what was a high intensity 1st set. We had to come back another day to finish the 3rd set, in which James had an injury which scuppered his ability to hit the ball with any real power, this led to me taking a 4-0 lead, James then gave me a real scare by winning the next 4 on the bounce, before I managed to clinch victory."  -- Kishan
Kishan Patel bt Gordon Smith (Feb 12) 7-5, 1-6, 6-1
Reveal CommentStuart Mcgowan bt James Lethaby (Feb 11) 6-1, 4-6, 6-0

Player Comments:

  • "Really good contest with james. I got out to a fast start and really got my eye in early, hitting well off both sides allowing me to take the first set. Second set was a much tighter affair. Both of us couldn't hold serve and my play got pretty scrappy and james really starting to tee off on his backhand side, blasting a good few winners by me. Before I knew it we were heading for a decider. Luckily for me I started the third serving was able to hold, then get the early break, then hold again and with a 3-0 hole and a couple of jammy net chords going my way James's head may have dropped slightly and I was able to eek out the win."  -- Stuart
Reveal CommentKishan Patel bt Dan Hayman (Feb 9) 6-4, 6-1

Player Comments:

  • "Dan and I had a good match (fortunately indoors during the ‘storm’). The match started with some ebb and flow tennis with only one break each until 5-4, at which point I managed the crucial break to take the first set. I found some more consistency in the second set to clinch victory. Looking forward to playing Dan again in the Spring league!"  -- Kishan
Reveal CommentStuart Mcgowan bt Dan Hayman (Feb 8) 6-2, 6-4

Player Comments:

  • "An enjoyable match with dan, as always. A couple of early breaks in the first set as we both struggled with the low sun at one end, with me jumping out to a 2-0 lead before dan broke back and held to make it 2-2. I then managed to find a bit of a rhythm that carried me through the rest of the first set and into a 4-1 lead in the second, before dan managed to mount a comeback and draw level at 4-4. I was able to stop the dan surge and close out the match. Lots of good rallies and played in a good spirit."  -- Stuart
Reveal CommentJames Lethaby bt Gordon Smith (Jan 25) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5

Player Comments:

  • "Really close game with Gordon, I took the first set 6-3, he came back strong in the second with some strong serving and managed to break me for the set 4-6. After a switch of courts we started the third set and it was really back and forth. I pulled out a great passing shot to break at 5-5 then held for the win. Thanks for the game Gordon, and happy to hear your admiration for some West Brom legends! Good luck."  -- James
Reveal CommentStuart Mcgowan bt Kishan Patel (Jan 24) 6-3, 6-4

Player Comments:

  • "Nip and tuck stuff with both players hitting well throughout. Just the one break of serve in the first set. The second set was more of a rollercoaster, with me jumping out to a 5-2 lead before kishan fought back to 5-4. I just about held on for the win but wouldn't have liked my chances if kishan had forced a third set as I was pretty much out of gas!"  -- Stuart

Match of the Group:

Reveal CommentJames Lethaby bt Dan Hayman (Jan 19) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3

Player Comments:

  • "Thoroughly enjoyable start to the league on Sunday morning with Dan. Playing indoors at Northumberland club, I started the first set strong, serving well and pushing Dan back with my returns, managed to run away with the first set. However, in the second Dan improved massively and was hitting some incredible passing shots, not giving me a chance at the net. He managed to break for the set. The third was still close, and had a couple of really eventful rallies. I came out on top in the end as I was managing to hit my shots well, really good game and good luck for rest of your matches!"  -- James
Reveal CommentGordon Smith bt Chris Quince (Jan 18) 6-0, 6-0

Player Comments:

  • "Unfortunately Chris caught me on a good day with a wind that became an increasing problem, I think I made about 3 mistakes the whole match through and that's kind of unusual. Long may it happen. We didn't have long to chat but Chris came across well. Nice guy, I wish him good fortune in his remaining matches."  -- Gordon

Group Summary:

Every possible match was played in this group - fantastic stuff and well done all! Some great matches here, many between familiar foes, and in the end there was just one point between the winner (Joseph) and runner up (Matthew). Fittingly, they had a great three setter in which Joseph had to up his consistency and find his best form at the right time to win! Congratulations to both and many thanks to everyone for their commitment and great match commentaries.

Final Rankings:

Pos. Name Played P Won W Lost L Bonus BNS Total PTS Form
1 Joseph Barton 4 4 0 2 10 WWWW
2 Matthew Davis 4 3 1 2 9 WLWW
3 Joe Charlton 4 2 2 0 5 WLLW
4 Sean Stephen 4 1 3 2 4 WLLL
5 Peter McCue 4 0 4 0 0 LLLL

Match Results:

Reveal CommentJoe Charlton bt Peter McCue (Mar 6) 6-0, 6-3

Player Comments:

  • "Finally a nice day to play tennis! I started the match strongly and rushed to take the first set despite a couple of deuce games on the way. The second set was quite competitive, with us tied at 3-3 before I regained the momentum and finished the match. Peter scored some beautiful lobs and drop shots in the match and the second set in particular had some amazing points"  -- Joe
Reveal CommentSean Stephen bt Peter McCue (Mar 2) 6-4, 6-4

Player Comments:

  • "A very enjoyable match against Peter, some very close games particularly the final two of the first set with the last game going back to Deuce many, many times. I did feel a bit guilty playing the dropshot more than I should have but I felt it was a more reliable shot from my backhand than to try and drive it. A low blinding sun towards the end of the second set proved difficult for both of us as we both were broken when we served from the end the sun was shining in to. Overall a very fun game and I look forward to playing Peter again!"  -- Sean
Reveal CommentJoseph Barton bt Joe Charlton (Mar 1) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Player Comments:

  • "Always an enjoyable and close match with Joe, and this one did not disappoint. Joe started better, serving very well and hitting some great forehands to take a 4-1 lead. I improved my consistency to get back to 4-4 and then made it 5 games in a row by winning a couple of very tense games at the end of the set. Second set was the opposite, I went 2-0 up but then Joe upped his level and came back to win 6-3 and take it to a decider. The deciding set was tight once again, Joe led early on but I managed to improve my volleying after a couple of shockers early in the set and came back to lead 4-2. Joe won the 7th game of the set to increase the tension but I was relieved to see the match out winning the decider 6-3 after plenty of long rallies"  -- Joseph

Match of the Group:

Reveal CommentMatthew Davis bt Joe Charlton (Feb 22) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)

Player Comments:

  • "Another good game with Joe in which I got off to a good start in set 1 and jumped out to a 4-1 lead before a couple of tense games ended with Joe getting back on serve at 3-4. I managed to regroup and break Joe before serving out the set to take it 6-3. Joe started the better in the second set and served particularly well and maintained this to give himself a 5-2 lead. I managed to break Joe whilst he served for the set at 5-3 and then when Serving at 4-5 Joe had two set points on my serve which I managed to save with big serves. I broke Joe next game before Having 2 match points courtesy of two aces! However Joe broke me back and took it to the tie break and despite Joe taking a 3-1 lead I managed to win the next 6 points to take it 7-3! "  -- Matthew
Reveal CommentJoseph Barton bt Matthew Davis (Feb 2) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2

Player Comments:

  • "After a delayed start due to rain, Matt and I managed to play an enjoyable match at a soggy Exhibition Park. Matt started better with some strong serving and was helped by some poor volleying from me. Despite some long games Matt took the first set fairly comfortably. I improved my consistency in the 2nd set fortunately for me and adapted to the slow, heavy balls and court caused by the pre-match rain. I managed to better neutralise Matt’s big serve in the 2nd set and therefore took us into a decider. The first 4 games of the final set were as expected very tense with plenty of deuces and long rallies leaving the score at 2-2. Fortunately for me I managed to find my best form at the right time and won 13 points in a row which proved vital"  -- Joseph
Reveal CommentJoseph Barton bt Sean Stephen (Feb 1) 6-0, 6-0

Player Comments:

  • "Incredibly windy match played at Exhibition Park. I think my experience of having played more matches in the league and particularly in the wind helped against Sean. The first set had a number of close games and rallies with Sean producing some great serves and my forehand being surprisingly consistent in response. The second set was probably a bit more comfortable for me as Sean made more mistakes but he kept battling until the end in spite of the conditions."  -- Joseph
Reveal CommentJoe Charlton bt Sean Stephen (Jan 31) 6-0, 6-1

Player Comments:

  • "A fun game, a lot of close games but Joe managed to win the important points!"  -- Sean
Reveal CommentMatthew Davis bt Peter McCue (Jan 26) 6-0, 6-0

Player Comments:

  • "Always a good hit with Peter. The score line was maybe slightly flattering as there were several games where Peter had some game points and did not take them. I particularly hi my forehand well today and even served a couple of aces too! Thanks for the game Peter! "  -- Matthew
Matthew Davis bt Sean Stephen (Jan 19) 6-0, 6-0
Reveal CommentJoseph Barton bt Peter McCue (Jan 19) 6-4, 6-3

Player Comments:

  • "As always this was an enjoyable match with Peter. Very sunny, cold wintery day, where the very low sun behind the city centre end of the Exhibition Park courts wreaked havoc for both players. Balls kept low throughout the match as well in the conditions but as ever with Peter there were still a lot of long rallies as he played very consistently. I edged the first set 6-4 thanks to being the winner of the only game won against the low sun (the 8th game)! In the second set Peter led 2-1 early on thanks particularly to a series of great lobs. However I was able to see out the match 6-4 6-3 thanks to some solid retuning which made up for some poor serving from myself. An enjoyable start to 2020 on the tennis court. "  -- Joseph