IRTPA

FLM Super League – Final Day

SHENKMAN’S HENCHMEN
WINNERS OF THE INAUGURAL FLM SUPER LEAGUE

The most amazing 4 days of tennis which has created a”buzz” around the U.K.’s competition scene.

Thank you FLM for your support of this new event and your continued support of the National League divisions.  By all the feedback received the Super League has been a resounding success and now we will think along with yourselves on possible enhancements for the next season.

The great thing about the IRTPA’s National League is it is open to any player, regardless of their professional or amateur status; the only criteria is their standard.

20 players put their name into the mix hoping to be one of the top 16 players.  There were 4 teams and the Captain’s determined by the 4 highest handicappers.  The lowest handicapped player was a -9 with the highest handicapper being +9.  There was a Draft for choosing the teams, which were already named – Shenkman’s Henchmen, Matthews’ Mavericks, Sayers’ Slayers and Fahey’s Forcers.

The Captain chose one of the twelve available players, and their choices did not have to be in order of strength. For instance, they may choose their first team member from Pot 3.

Once they have chosen a player from that specific group, they could not pick another player within that group on their subsequent choices.

There were 3 days of round robin matches to determine which teams would be in the final on Saturday.  These days are memorable and thanks to Ben Geytenbeek’s streaming are there for posterity.  We knew after the first match was completed on the Friday that Shenkman’s Henchmen were going to be finalists but not who the others joining them would be.  It was mathematically possible for the other three teams to qualify.

• Fahey’s Forcers had to win all three matches and with this the bonus point available.
• Matthews’ Mavericks had to defeat Fahey’s Forcers.
• Sayer’s Slayers had to hope hope Fahey’s Forcers did not win all the matches but the Forcers defeated the Mavericks

The result went down to the wire. The final match of the round robin matches saw Forcers Williams v Mavericks Trueman.  Forcer Williams knew even by winning his team would not be in the finals and for Maverick’s Trueman he knew he had to win for his team to be the finalists.  Well it was just so exciting and this match could not have been closer.  Williams just was not going to capitulate and even with Trueman 7-4 up, there was no let up from Williams.  The match saw competitiveness at its very best, the result was down to the last game.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award was determined at the end of the round robin matches and it saw Nino Merola at the top of the ladder.  Many congratulations from us all on this achievement.

The Finals saw Sayers’ Slayers taking on Shenkman’s Henchmen.  The line up was

Bryn Sayers – v- Robert Shenkman
Louis Gordon & Neil Mackenzie -v- Darren Long and Nino Merola
Vaughan Hamilton – v – Will Flynn

The Henchmen won the 1st two matches but Slayer Hamilton was not going to let it be a clean sweep and he defeated Henchman Flynn.