TENNIS: Walmer keep up top challenge

4:41pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

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LAST week's matches in the Bolton Tennis League proved fruitful for the Walmer men’s A and B teams as the wins kept up their challenges for the top position in their respective Divisions.

The A team were at Leigh in Division Two and despite a clean sweep from Leigh’s first pair, Walmer’s pairs all added two sets to the score.

Rick Morley and Phil Mansfield scored 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, Dave Gerrard and Steve Routledge 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 and Mark Booth and Paul Biggins 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to give them a 6-3 win and three point lead at the top.

The B team kept their top place in Division Six with a healthy six point lead after their home game with Lostock D where Stu Hardy and Adam Goodie won by 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

Win Lees and Andy Parton won 6-4, 6-2, 6-1, while Julian Nuttall and James Edge added two sets with 6-4, 6-3, 2-6 to guide Walmer to an 8-1 win.

The Men’s C team have come into form rather too late to make an impression in Division Eight but their recent run has pulled them steadily away from the lower reaches.

A trip to Leigh CC is always difficult but last Monday all pairs contributed as Brian Richards and Stu Donaldson, and Dave Worsley and Nico Renzuli won two sets each and Ray Tait and Alan Carney added 1.5 sets to Walmer’s 5.5-3.5 win.

The Men’s D entertained a strong Chorley side at Mosley Avenue and suffered a heavy defeat in Division Nine, prolonging their recent poor run of results.

With the Mixed A team having an open date, Walmer B were at home to Lostock eager to keep up their challenge near the top of Division Five. They opened well, taking a small lead from the mixed section, and the match progressed with close sets in the gents and ladies section. The crucial set came, however, when Brian Richards and Adam Goodie disappointingly lost a set by 0-6 and the match was lost by four games. This reverse dropped Walmer off the top, but they have a game in hand which could prove crucial at the end of the season.

The Mixed C team were visitors to Bradshaw B and another close match ensued.Walmer started well with wins from Nico Renzuli and Chris Salmon, 6-3, Keith Fairhurst and Carole Turner, 6-4, and Tony, and Gina Ball 6-5. Carole and Chris won 6-3, 6-4 in the ladies and Fairhurst and Renzuli recovered from early deficits to win 6-5, 6-5. In the end it was close but Walmer lost the match they really ought to have won.

Finally, congratulations to the Walmer Juniors who ended as champions of Division Six.