Traditionally the summer season finishes with the Wirral Tankard competition. This year the finals were held at Heswall LTC on Sunday 17th September.
This year the Wirral league introduced a Seniors competition (over 55s’). Hoylake valiantly defeated Upton in the semifinals to earn their place in the final against Heswall. The team competed well in the doubles and mixed matches but on the day a strong Heswall side won the competition. Without doubt, Hoylake seniors will have another good go at it next season.
Our open age team beat Wallasey Manor, Heswall, Bertram and in the semi-finals beat Neston to earn their place in the finals against Birkenhead who have a number of elite players in their squad. We picked the best team we could, as Birkenhead came up with a couple of surprises to enhance their chances of winning. However ,we played our own game and performed incredibly well in all 7 matches. The match went to 3-3 with Dave Callanan & Matthias Matellini playing doubles against a very good young pair. It was extremely tense but Dave & Matellini kept their nerve to win an incredible match and meaning Hoylake won the competition 4 to 3.
A big thank you to all the squad who played through the competition, to our winning team and it must be said to our supporters on the day, it felt like a Davis Cup atmosphere. I believe the day just showed how together we are as a club, we support each other. I’m very proud of my team and the club, we are the best club and nobody can take it away from us.
Vamos Hoylake!
Craig Head Coach