By Ipoh Echo Correspondent
The fifth and penultimate tie of the KLK Premier Inter-Club Tennis League (KLK Tennis League) held at the end of October saw League leaders Royal Perak Golf Club (RPGC) host Polo Tennis Club (Polo), while Perak Turf Club @ YMCA (PTC) hosted Ipoh Swimming Club (ISC). Weather conditions were perfect for what was anticipated to be a very tough fight between the clubs; however in a bizarre twist of events, Polo found themselves unable to stitch together a full team to play in all the categories. It was an anti-climax for both teams when Polo had to concede three of the five scheduled matches – the Men’s Open, Men’s 110 and the Ladies categories were declared walkovers – thus gifting three points to RPGC. The two remaining matches that were played were the Men’s 90 and the Mixed.
In the Men’s 90 category, RPGC’s pair of Ng Keh Jun/Alex Chai played inspired tennis to take out Polo’s Idris Noor/Mohd Zhafran 8-0 in barely half an hour.
The Mixed Doubles was a much closer and tougher fight for both teams, and provided some nail-biting moments and wonderful entertainment for all spectators. RPGC Ladies Captain Lingli Chong partnered with Tang Kwong Wai against Polo’s undefeated pair of Jane Foo/Amir Syahrul. With a combined age difference of more than three decades between the two teams – the RPGC pair being 31 years older combined than their opponents – it was always going to be tough, but the older pair put up a brave fight throughout the match, even staging a comeback when they were down 3-7 and on the brink of defeat. Just one point away from losing, and with Polo’s Jane Foo serving for the match, the RPGC pair managed to break her, and then Lingli held her serve to bring the score to 5-7. Serving for the match again, this time with Amir serving, he showed the first signs of cracking, and sensing a breakthrough, Lingli/Kwong Wai took their chances and managed to break the Amir power serve. The RPGC pair had somehow found their way back into the match, and it was now back on serve, with Kwong Wai serving at 6-7 and all eyes on this very crucial game. However, it was not to be, as Jane/Amir took their game to another level, successfully preventing a dreaded tiebreak by breaking the Kwong Wai serve, thus winning the rollercoaster match 8-6. This was a match that had everything including more than its fair share of deuces, and the relief showed on the faces of the Polo pair when they finally clinched yet another victory.
It would be Polo’s sole win of the day, a very well-fought one. The team’s three walkovers also meant a deduction of three points from their overall points.
Over at YMCA, hosts PTC were in no mood to be generous; this time they beat ISC 4-1. ISC’s only win came from their Men’s 110 pair of Dr Goh Dar Wen/Lam Kar Wai, who defeated Kiko Thadani/Chin Yat Yin 8-6.
PTC won in all the other categories. In the Men’s Open, Dr Yee Meng Kheong/Foo Loke Fu beat Alan Then/Khoo Peng Keat 8-1, in the Men’s 90s Dr Foo Joo Ee/Chow Seng Wai had an easy win over Tong Ling Siew/Simon Yeap, also 8-1. In the Mixed Doubles, Ram Kumar/Fiona Toh were too good on the day, winning 8-4 over ISC Captain Kenny Lai and wife Shamaine. PTC’s ladies pair Jillian Chong/Ivene Chong meanwhile defeated Billie Tan/Jacqui Ng 8-1.
Overall points at the end of Tie No. 5: RPGC leads with 18 points, PTC follow closely with 16 points, Polo lose 7 points and end up with 7 points, just one point ahead of last-placed ISC which has 6 points.
With the league table poised as such, and with one last tie to go before the Final, it was a given that RPGC and PTC would be the two teams going into the final from their unassailable points lead. However, in true sporting spirit and in keeping with the rules of the tournament, the tie did take place, and this time it was PTC hosting RPGC. This being a “courtesy match”, with no real pressure by either club to win, the atmosphere was friendly, as PTC warmly welcomed their guests.
The first match to be played and completed was the Men’s Open and PTC drew first blood when their pair of Chan Wan Kong/Teh Hooi Hong had a good win of 8-2 over RPGC’s much younger pair of Jansen Lew/Manson Cheng. The Mixed Doubles showcased entertaining tennis between two pairs with contrasting playing styles, PTC’s Ram Kumar/Fiona taking on Giri Sitham/Rita Tan of RPGC. The RPGC pair had an early break and were leading 3-1 when PTC upped the ante and caught up to 3 all; it continued to be a topsy turvy match, with Ram/Fiona ahead 6-5 but the match on-serve, when the skies opened to suspend play. In the Ladies Doubles, RPGC’s young pair of Emilie Ooi/Kathryn Beh raced to a 5-2 lead against PTC’s Pinky Leong/Ivene Chan; the match was then also suspended with the RPGC girls leading 5-3. In the Men’s 110 category, Captain Eric Tan/Tang Kwong Wai of RPGC got off to a slow start against PTC’s Dr Foo Joo Ee/YY Chin; they lost serve and Chin was serving at 1-0 when rain came.
None of these matches were completed and the Men’s 90 match never got started as heavy rain made it impossible to resume play on the same day. The Captains then decided not to reschedule the matches in view of the fact the results would not change the outcome i.e. both teams were already assured of their places in the final. It was also decided that, in addition to the one point won by PTC in the Men’s Open match, each team would be awarded half a point for each of the four remaining unfinished/unplayed matches of the day, amounting to 2 points for each team. With the win already in hand, PTC thus took home 3 points, and RPGC 2 points, at the end of the tie.
Meanwhile, the rain-beleagured encounter between Polo and ISC also meant that matches had to be abandoned for the day. However, in true sporting spirit, both Captains decided to reschedule and complete the matches, which they duly did.
Polo had a clean sweep in all the Men’s matches. In the Men’s Open, Polo’s Raja Hisham/Mohd Zhafran beat ISC’s Kenny Lai/Anthony Chin 8-5. In the Men’s 90, Nik Shahrom/Fazrul of Polo came out 8-3 victors over ISC’s Lam Kar Wai/KK Koo. In the Men’s 110, Idris Noor/Mohd Daud defeated Alan Then/Lee Kam Boon of ISC, also 8-3. In the Mixed, it was too easy for Polo’s Jane Foo/Amir Syahrul, who continued their winning partnership with a one-sided 8-1 win over their ISC counterparts Alice Ng/Khoo Peng Keat.
ISC’s only win came from their strong ladies pair of Cecilia Yip/Shamaine Chong, and it was an emphatic win, 8-0 over Polo’s Nur Safirah/Dr Mahirah Rahim.
The KLK Tennis League table stands as follows at the end of the final tie:
RPGC : 20 points
PTC: 19 points
Polo: 11 points
ISC: 7 points
Importantly for RPGC, the team can proudly claim that they completed the round robin without once losing their lead, and will go into the final as they began – at the top of the table. In fact, the team positions remained unchanged throughout the six ties, in spite of a scare for RPGC when PTC beat them and could well have gone up to top of the table. However, although PTC drew level with RPGC on points, they still lagged behind on games count, and were never able to topple RPGC from their top spot, a remarkable testament to the depth and strength of the team. The final between RPGC and PTC will be held at ISC on 23 November and Ipoh Echo will be keeping a close watch on that event with a final report to follow. Stay tuned.
