Bromley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club

National Club League Team News

 

 

2008

Day

Date

Home/away

Opponents

SUNDAY

13TH APRIL

HOME

CONNAUGHT

SUNDAY

20TH APRIL

HOME

WOODFORD WELLS

SUNDAY

11TH MAY

AWAY

GOSLING

SUNDAY

18TH MAY

AWAY

GLOBE

SUNDAY

25TH MAY

HOME

IPSWICH

SUNDAY

8TH JUNE

HOME

CHANDOS

SUNDAY

15TH JUNE

AWAY

WESTCLIFF
 

Bromley’s Experience shows!

11/5/2008                     Bromley vs Goslin

On a glorious sunny afternoon, Bromley played their toughest match of the season so far on the indoor courts against Goslin at Welwyn Garden Leisure Complex in the Men’s NCL Division 1 match.

It was Jim May’s first game of the season after retiring from full time play, but he could not find the consistency required to beat the young George Coupland who is playing full time, Jim lost 6-3, 6-2.

Rob Searle took a set to warm up before cruising past the junior Matt Thompson in 3 sets, 6-4,4-6,3-6.

Tom Higgins showed what an astute signing he is for Bromley and, despite 6 months out with a cruciate ligament injury, showed good form to win easily 6-2,6-2.

Ollie Freelove lost in straight sets to another full time junior to leave the match score at 2-2 after the singles round of matches.

Bromley’s renowned doubles strength was now about to be tested. With Kent County Cup pairing of May/Searle winning a close first set on the tie break, before their experience over their young junior opponents saw them through to a 7-6, 6-2 victory.

It was then left to Bromley’s longest serving player Ollie Freelove and Tom Higgins to try to secure a match victory.

Although Freelove was showing signs of fatigue, his doubles experience came through with some excellent serving and good service returns at the right time. Tom Higgins maintained his high level of play, and his consistent backhand returns: keeping the pressure on the Goslin pairs serves. The pressure eventually told enabling Bromley to win 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 (long tie break final set decider).

Manager Charles Baylis was pleased with the result and described the away win as ‘a very tricky away match against a good young side’. 

‘We have now given ourselves a good opportunity to become top of the division, and ensure a home draw for the NCL play offs on Saturday 5th July 2008.

 
 

Bromley LTC National Club League (NCL) tennis side started the 2008 season with two straight wins.

Playing away to Connaught the Essex based club, that boasts Mark Petchey’s dad as coach, they were no match for Bromley as they won the four singles matches comfortably, with Rob Searle, Sean Thornley, Tom Higgins and Ollie Freelove, all winning in straight sets.

In fact, Bromley’s only loss was the doubles rubber when the Kent County cup team pairing of Searle/Freelove withdrew through Freeloves shoulder problems.

The following week at Bromley LTC Sandford Road, another Essex based club Woodford Wells who had gained promotion to the top flight division for the first time, faced Bromley who had their big guns playing in Jamie Delgado and their new signing for the season James Auckland; poor Woodford Wells was blown away with Bromley winning 6-0.

“It was a rout, the type of lesson that Bromley has experienced when climbing up through the divisions,” commented Manager Charles Baylis. “This is the strongest squad Bromley have ever assembled, with out top players making themselves available, it should see Bromley qualify for the play offs in July.

The next fixtures are on the 18th May away where Bromley play Globe before coming back to Sandford Road on May 25th to play Ipswich, singles start at mid-day.
 
 
 
 Bromley Squad 2006  Rating
   
 Oliver Freelove

TEAM CAPTAIN
Attended Sevenoaks School  (11-18) on a tennis and academic scholarship. He attended the University of  Illinois (1995-99). Oliver played professional tennis from 2000­2004 winning the British National Doubles Championships and reached a career high champions race ranking of 270 in singles and 190 in doubles. He played 3 years' doubles main draw at Wimbledon and was selected to play in the European Cup for                 Great Britain.
 Jim May

Played full-time for two years before university,
Playing futures and satellite tournaments at home and abroad. Singles world ranking achieved September 2001 and kept for three years. High of 25 ATP doubles points held at one time. Part of winning Kent County Week team of 2002 and 2004 win­ning 13 from 14 rubbers in 2002 and 12 from 14 in 2004. BUSA Individual Singles Champion 2001. Part of winning Loughborough University team 2002 and 2003. Captain of Loughborough University team 2004. World University Games gold medal in Doubles with lain Bates, Daegu, South Korea, 2003.CurrenUy play­ing full time again after graduating from university.
 Rhys Hanger

Rhys is a performance coach at the Brighton
Health and Rackets Club,  where he is working with top national level players, and young county players. Playing off of a rating of  2.2 Rhys has been unbeaten for 2 years in singles in the NCL, and was part of the team that won the NCL title in 2004. Rhys is an ex full-time player reaching 1,100 in the world for singles and 800 for doubles.
 Sean Thornley

Returned from injury under a year ago. In last year has been a semi finalist of international ranking U18 event in Norway and semi finalist of the U 18 nationals. Runner up in the U 16 nationals. Stopped school and joined Queens Club full time. Debut made for men's county cup team and helped win the league and gain promotion to
division one. Obtained clothing sponsorship from Ellesse.
 Dan Shirley Now part of the successful tennis coaching set up at the Sutton Junior Tennis Centre, Daniel won Kent Junior titles in all age groups up to U18. He has won the Junior County Tennis Championships in all of the Home Counties and has represented the South East Region. Dan has practised with Maria Sharapova pre-Winbledon which is a credit to his playing ability, He has been a regular member of the Bromley NCL Team for the last few seasons.