Holcome coming up roses

2:44pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

TENNIS: HOLCOMBE Brook's second team returned to winning ways in a close- fought battle of the roses against Ilkley in a National League Divion One match.

After the opening singles round the teams were locked at 2-2.

Brook's team captain Mark Hartley and partner Steve Darlington then ran out comfortable winners in the first doubles match by 6-0, 6-3.

The Brook's number one pairing of former Lancashire county captain Eric Knowles and 14-year-old Ben Churchman had a much stiffer challenge against Ilkley's top pair Steve Hunt and Cameron Johnson.

The home duo lost a close first set 6-4 with young Churchman the only player to concede his serve. In the second set, they were soon down 1-3, but they fought back to level at 3-3, breaking the Johnson serve.

The guile of Knowles and some flashing winners from Churchman's racket saw the Brooks pair break the Johnson serve a second time to win the set 6-4.

They then won a championship tie-break by 10-8 to secure an excellent victory.

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