Tennis: Double celebrations for Poppleton at presentation night (From York Press)

Tennis: Double celebrations for Poppleton at presentation night

11:12am Wednesday 16th November 2011 in Tennis

POPPLETON celebrated a double-winning feat at the Tyke Petroleum Men’s Tennis League end of season presentation.

The successful club hosted the awards night and first-team captain John Moore collected the division one championship, while Tom Cantrell picked up the cup for the division two-winning second team.

Stamford Bridge were also twin champions, with Tim Hunt picking up the division three cup and Matty Taylor lifting the division seven trophy.

Rowntree Park 2 collected their fourth trophy in as many seasons after winning the division four shield this year.

Harlow skipper John Shackleton was presented with the division six cup, his side’s second trophy in only their second season in the league.

Steve Hubbard picked up the division five cup for Starbeck 2, who came from behind to snatch a last-gasp title success.

At the annual general meeting which preceded the presentation, it was confirmed that Civil Service have withdrawn from the league.

However, officials have welcomed six new teams for next season, including three from new clubs, to take the total number of teams to 62.

The expansion has led to introduction of a division eight. There will be eight teams in divisions one to six, and seven in the bottom two divisions.

The new clubs are Harrogate Racquets, Harrogate Academy and New Earswick, with new teams entered for David Lloyd, Knaresborough King James and Stamford Bridge. They will all start in the bottom tier.

Members voted unanimously in favour of a season-long trial of a new 12-point scoring system to replace the current two points per match scoring.

The team winning the majority of the 108 games at the conclusion of each match will be awarded three points, instead of the present two.

In addition, one point will be awarded to the winners of each of the nine rubbers (or sets) contested.

Each 12-game rubber will still be played in full, but the pair which scores the most will win a point for their team.

Rubbers ending 6-6 will garner a half point to each side.

If the overall match score is tied 54-54, then each team will share the three point win bonus.