Whoever felt that since the big guns were sitting out the opening salvos of the Massy United Insurance Clash of the Titans road tennis competition there would not have been any fireworks at The Villages in Coverley on Sunday night, were proven very wrong.
Hundreds of fans ignored the threatening weather to enjoy a fantastic layout of the court at Coverley as well as to enjoy scintillating tennis by some of the lower ranked players.
One such entertainer was Jim Haynes, who whipped Anthony “Baku” Simmons 21-9, 21-10 to continue the verbal taunts between the two “friends”. Simmons, who owns the popular indoor Sauna court, never matched the attacking style and flair of Haynes.
The classy looking Haynes repeatedly played his pet shot of drifting to the left corner and then lifting his right leg out of the way to drive past a bemused Simmons down the line. A leaping smash shot from Haynes sealed a straightforward victory with Simmons barely escaping the ignominy of a double sow.
Earlier, Donald Grazettes did not escape that fate as the unheralded Lloyd “Dick Man” Burke crushed him 21-6, 21-9. Burke advanced to meet Darius “Baraccus” Gaskins in the next round after Gaskin plucked Ian “Chicken” Yearwood 21-18, 21-11 with Gaskin proving to be the more consistent attacker.
Ryan Hall, from St Philip, set the tone for the night by defeating Lester Vaughan student Keon Murrell 21-15, 21-16 to earn a dubious honour of meeting Julian “Michael Jackson” White next. Kerry “TC” Francis, out of St Lucy, then toyed with and defeated Jamar “Bob” Best 21-11, 21-9 with Francis scoring 12 points in the second game before Best got off of the mark. Francis will meet youngster Kyle King next.
Edwin “Dark Man” Ward continued the straight sets pattern by beating Anthony Haynes 21-15, 21-10 and Allan Davidson stopped Andrew “Cripple” Holder 21-10, 21-16. Ward will meet the complex Shibbir Greenidge, while Davidson will have to face defending champion Mark “Venom” Griffith.
The night ended with two matches going the limit as the cocky Davian Taylor had to battle from a game down to stop Dwayne Hope 14-21, 21-14, 21-11 to set up a battle with Chesterfield “Boy-Boy” Brewster.
Abbie “Playboy” Clarke beat Hanson Chandler 21-15, 18-21, 21-11. Clarke will next meet talented youngster Emar Edwards.
