Out of luck Guernsey finish bottom

GUERNSEY'S men suffered tie-break agony not once, but twice this weekend in their final Lawn Tennis Association National Club League matches of the season. The Bank of Bermuda-sponsored side finished bottom of Division Two South having failed to record a win from their five fixtures.

However, the overall standings do not tell the full story for Chris Hickling's men, who lost out in three matches after tie-break deciders only and were forced to default a fourth to catch a flight back to the island.

Overall they won more individual matches than the two teams that finished immediately above them.

This weekend's action was a familiar combination of missed opportunities and bad luck as Guernsey lost to both Oxford and East Glos.

The slow tarmac courts at Oxford suited their opponents and Guernsey took some time to get into their stride.

Andy Privett, playing at number one, and Hickling at two, both lost their singles matches in straight sets, before Richard Smeed and Danny Strappini fought back to level the match at 2-2 going into the doubles.

The visitors then stormed ahead with the Guernsey pairing of Smeed and Ian Robinson in devastating form.

They destroyed their Oxford opponents, dropping just one game on their way to a straight-sets win that put Guernsey firmly in the driving seat.

On the next court, however, Oxford put up a much tougher fight against Hickling and Privett. Guernsey took the first set, only to lose the next two.

That left honours even at 3-3 and the turning point of the match came in the first tie-break.

Hickling was drawn against Oxford's number one, a former pro once ranked in the world's top 800. However, the Guernsey captain got the early advantage, taking a 5-2 lead, only to see his more experienced opponent hit back to win 7-5.

Danny Strappini then lost the second tie-break by a similar scoreline to give Oxford the victory.

The result saw Oxford move into top spot in the division going into the final day. Guernsey were still rooted to the bottom but still within reach of a fourth-place finish.

However, their chances of victory in Cheltenham were dashed by an injury to Ian Robinson. This not only cost Guernsey a near certain point, but deprived Smeed of his regular partner in the doubles.

The Guernsey veteran was in breathtaking form in the singles. Playing at number two, he took the first set 6-3 before racing into a 5-1 lead in the second with some magnificent strokeplay.

Having tasted victory in the seventh game where his match-point return was called long, Robinson agonisingly suffered a knee injury which allowed his opponent back in. He went on to lose the second set and eventually had to retire at 1-1 in the third.

Privett also lost his singles, but Hickling and Strappini both won which meant it was still all to play for going into the doubles.

Hickling and Privett easily overcame their opponents in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, but the second was a much tighter affair. Strappini filled in for the injured Robinson, and the Guernsey pairing lost the first set, but fought back to take the second.

However, the home pair then rallied in the third for a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win.

The tie-break decider was a familiar story for luckless Guernsey, with Privett battling hard against the home side's top player before eventually losing out 7-9.

Hickling then lost 4-7, with Smeed and Strappini also going down 6-8 in the doubles.

After the match, Hickling paid tribute to his players.

'We've had our chances this season and we haven't taken them, but you have to say we did not have an ounce of luck today. Ian was awesome in the singles, and had it not been for the injury we might easily have won the match 5-1.'