Leeds Men’s 2nds handed an expected battering to Hull 2nds in the Northern Conference Cup this week, as the Gryphons won 12-0 in the tennis.
Sitting in Division 4B, Hull were up against it from the start, as Uni’s 2nds sit 3rd in Division 2B.
The singles went by in a series of whitewashes at the John Charles Centre for Sport, confirming progression in the competition before the doubles had even begun.
Captain George Robinson, despite winning his first set 6-0, allowed his aggression to surface on a number of occasions – a competitive edge which saw him overcome his rival easily. Powerful service games and ground strokes meant Robinson surged to victory, winning 6-2 in the second set.
A dominance in power and stature was a common theme for Leeds in this fixture, though not necessarily for Adam Hodgkinson.
The slender player relied on ability and technique alone to beat his rival 6-4, 6-1 in what turned out to be the closest game of the afternoon.
Yann Idelsen and Ivan Decovsky each held a dominance in strength over their opponents, and this told as they lost only one game between them.
Idelsen won 6-0 6-0 while Decovsky conceded a point in the second set. Their opponents were left chasing the ball around the court, while Idelsen and Decovsky were able to conserve energy to hand out another pounding in the doubles.
Dealing out a 6-1 6-1 drubbing, their dominance was overwhelming, as their opponents were left running while the Gryphons never broke sweat.
The other fixture certainly dealt a fairer hand, as Uni worked hard for their victory over respectable rivals. Robinson and Hodgkinson won 6-4 6-3 to seal a clean passage through to the next round for Leeds 2nds.
Next for the 2nds is a mid-table clash with York 1sts.
Jamie Kirby
Image courtesy of Sports Hotline Tennis