FINE performances from Walmer Tennis Club’s mixed pairings helped the A team to a 66-35 win against visitors Lostock B in Bolton League’s Cecil Cup competition.

The Walmer team were conceding 10 games in the handicap, but made a good start with 6-2 wins by Jay Hardy and Hattie Morley, Adam Gooddy and Lisa Morley and Steve Routledge and Gail Blackburn.

Phil Mansfield and Diane Hardman went down 6-5 which meant the handicap was level.

Hardy and Gooddy scored heavily with 6-1, 6-1 sets and Routledge and Mansfield were even at 6-2, 2-6. In the ladies’ section, Lisa and Gail won both sets and Dianne and Hattie scored 6-2, 5-6 leaving Walmer to go into the next round.

In the men’s league, Walmer A's bright start to the Division One season was halted when they hosted Lostock A at Mosley Avenue. Andy and Mike Davies were Walmer's best scorers with 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 sets, before Hardy and Gooddy returned 1-6, 6-3, 3-6 sets. Tom Lemon and Rhys Taylor scored 7-5, 4-6, 4-6, as Walmer lost by 5-4.

The Men’s B team enjoyed better fortune in Division Three with a win at Bradshaw A. None of Walmer's pairs achieved a clean sweep but an all-round effort saw Dave Gerrard and Routledge, Andy Parton and Mansfield, and Rick Morley and Raj Rahman each contribute two sets to Walmer's winning 6-3 margin.

The Men’s C team played at Hawkshaw D and Stu Donaldson and Wynn Lees won 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to give them a solid start. Julian Nuttall and Luke Blackburn won 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 before Brian Richards and Bruce Hardman added a set as Walmer won by 7-2 to keep up the pressure near the top of Division Six.

The Junior squad have opened brightly in junior Division Two and won again at Holcombe Brook C against a young home side. Blackburn and Megan Suthurst, Dominic and Sophie Parton, Ben Donaldson and Hattie Morley and Elle Ward and Lulu Morley set up an early advantage and the pressure continued as Walmer won by 9.5-2.5.