WALMER Mixed A team conceded a handicap of 34.5 games to Division Two side Ellesmere TC in the first round of the Bolton Tennis League’s Cecil Cup.

Walmer dominated the match after taking a narrow lead from the mixed section with wins by Mike Davies and Dianne Hardman, 6-3, and Andrew Hoskins and Hattie Morley, 6-2. Adam Gooddy and Lisa Morley, and Paul Biggins and Gail Blackburn both lost 6-5. The ladies opened up a big lead as L Morley and Blackburn, and Hardman and H Morley recorded identical 6-0, 6-2 wins.

This was followed by 6-5 and 6-3 wins from Biggins and Hoskins and 6-3, 5-6 sets by Gooddy and Davies. Despite an overall win by 69-38, the handicap advantage saw Ellesmere through to the next round by 3.5 games.

Walmer Mixed B played their first round match at Markland Hill B and, unlike the A team, they had a handicap advantage of 38.5 games to aid them. They were behind in the mixed section when all pairs lost their sets but spirited resistance from the men kept them in touch as Phil Mansfield and Andy Parton scored 4-6, 5-5, and Brian Richards and Raj Rhaman 4-6, 2-6. The ladies got vital games with Megan Suthurst and Kate Mansfield scoring 2-6, 4-6, while Pam Leach and Sophie Parton added two more games. Walmer progress to the next round by a narrow half a game margin.

In the men’s league fixtures, Walmer A played away at Markland Hill A in Division One with the home team in excellent form. Gooddy and Davies, and Rick Morley and Ryan Tierney, failed to score, while Biggins and Hoskins recorded Walmer’s sole set win as they lost 8-1.

In Division Two, Walmer B were at home to Chorley A where a tight match ensued. Dave Gerrard and Steve Routledge were victors in two of their sets before Rhaman and Graham Jebb, and Mansfield and Parton, each added a set but Walmer lost the match 5-4.