1) Winter season

The Club entered a winter high ten teams in the North Kent/Kent leagues. Results overall were mixed with a couple of hard earned promotions offset by a couple of relegations. However, we received four promotions last winter (two relegations), so in the round the club’s status in these leagues is higher than it was 12 months ago.

North Kent League

Pride of place in North Kent goes to our Men’s one team who, in an incredibly tight finish to the season, won Division 2A. They fought valiantly in the divisional final before going down 1-3 to a very good Willett Rec team. Congratulations team and hopefully you get a kinder draw in Division 1 then previously. Men’s 2 retained their status in Division 2 by finishing fifth (of six) teams in Division 2B.

After promotion last winter our Mixed Doubles team finished third of five teams in Division 3. However, the bottom team finished on the same number of points as us, which shows the importance in winning any rubber, even in defeat, since this is how league placings are settled.

Mid week Mixed Vets finished fifth of six teams in Division 3. The team secured the same number of points as the team finishing third, but dropped a couple of places due to losing more rubbers than a couple of teams.

Kent League

Congratulations to our Vets 2 team for securing promotion by winning all their 4 matches in Division 5B. Unfortunately they were unable to attain silverware, going down to a strong Margate 2 at the weekend.

Following promotion Vets 1 got a really unfair group and succumbed to their first ever relegation after losing all 4 of their games in Division 2B. Vets 3 successfully avoided the trapdoor for a second successive season by defeating Herne Bay 2 to finish fourth of five teams in Division 5A.

Men’s Over 60’s ones exceeded expectations by surviving in the top Division (of six) winning two of their five matches to finish fifth. Our fledgling Over 60s 2 team unfortunately finished bottom of Division 6, with just the one victory to show from three matches played.

Finally following an excellent promotion last winter, our Men’s 1 team were automatically relegated from Division 3 for failing to fulfil a fixture away to Tunbridge Wells. The team were unaware that this would be the case, so hopefully a valuable lesson has been learned, albeit the hard way!

2) Summer season

The season commenced on 23rd March and we will be fielding 10 teams. Whilst each year becomes harder to win promotions as our teams continue to rise through their respective Divisions, I am confident the club will at the very least win a couple more trophies this summer.

Let the games begin!

We fielded a record eleven teams compared to seven the previous summer. With four teams being promoted, I urged caution that the usual plethora of positive results recorded on our WhatsApp group may not be as regular. How wrong I was! All four promoted team excelled in their higher surroundings.

Two teams won their division whilst five finished second. An excellent achievement, providing evidence that we continue, results wise, to be a club very much on the up.

North Kent League

The Men’s one finished runners up in Division B, an improvement on third place last time out. The team raised hopes of promotion to the “big league” by winning their first four (of eight) matches but ultimately fell short to a very good Gravesham side, who deserved their promotion.

Men’s two every bit lived up to my pre season expectations by winning Division G convincingly by four points, with a perfect 10 wins out of 10 and an incredible 50 - 0 rubber score line! I have absolutely no doubt that this team could play several divisions higher, but due to historical vagaries they will encounter three top teams in Division F. It kind of feels a bit unfair but c’est la vie!

Our inaugural Men’s three performed well in basement Division J, winning six of their eight matches. They finished second to a crack Will to Win team, who will most likely receive a double promotion in testament to their ability. New teams join the leagues all the time, but I am hopeful of a more successful season for this team next summer.

Following promotion last year Vets one performed excellently to finish runners up in a highly competitive Division D. Taking three points out of four from Park Langley, who won our league last season was the standout highlight here.

Vets two & three finished third and second respectively in Divisions F&G. Both Divisions were won by Oakwood, although Vets 3 ran them close, before a rule infringement scuppered their title hopes.

Following promotion last year Men’s Over 60’s performed well to finish second in Division B, two points behind Sundridge Park, but six points clear of third place Knoll. Unlike the previous two campaigns, where only five players were used, injuries/unavailability meant eight players were used and I believe this cost the team the title. Nevertheless, the teams memorable 3-1 victory at home to Sundridge Park (the Clubs first victory over them in over five years).

The Midweek Mixed Vets team enjoyed their first season by finishing fourth (of seven) in Division C. All matches were played in excellent spirit and the lunches were a joy to behold, so take a bow Claire. The Team should be able to build on this solid start next Summer.

Kent League

In Division 3A our Men’s one won four of their five matches but an opening day 5-4 set loss to Canterbury three, meant Canterbury merely need to win at rock bottom Bromley LTC two to win the Division. To everyone’s astonishment, Canterbury lost the match, handing us the title by virtue of a better rubbers aggregate. This provides an opportunity for silverware and we play Division 3B winners Knoll at fortress Park View Road on 10 September. Knoll are a very good team but the very best of luck to Dami and his team.

Our Men’s one also trialled in Aegon Open Men’s Division 2 - Division 3 North, finishing third. A memorable 7-6 victory v Park Langley in their first game was the standout result.

Finally the Mixed Doubles Team finished sixth in their second season in Division 6B, winning one of their six matches.