Newberry and Gale see off their close rivals

IN Ladies A Sue Gale and Sue Newberry played their nearest rivals, Nicky Slight and Jess Randell, and it turned out to be a very close affair with the two Sues coming out on top - just.

- DAVE AND SUE GALE

Nicky and Jess took the first set 6-4, but Sue and Sue dug deep to win the next two sets on tie-breaks and the win keeps them battling for the higher position in the few remaining weeks of the season.

Katherine Rowe and Roanna George won the first two sets by a 6-2 scoreline against Sandra Fox and Chiara Ho. In the third, Katherine and Roanna managed to finish strongly and volleyed their way to win 6-3.

There was hard hitting and good tactical play when Luisa Warring and Sandra O'Sullivan beat Alison Miles and Lyn Helliwell 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, while

Sue Gale and Sue Newberry raced into a 4-0 lead, making very few mistakes, against Nicky Trevaskis and Fiona Crutchley.

The momentum then shifted as Nicky Trevaskis and Fiona Crutchley changed tactics, playing deep base line lobs and generally being more consistent, taking the next six games to win the set. Nicky and Fiona kept their consistency to win the two sets as well to win 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

There were lots of really good rallies as Katherine Rowe and Roanna George beat Claire Duffin and Helen Lucas 6-2, 6-1, 6-3, while Sandra Fox and Chiara Ho had a good start when they took on Alison Miles and Lyn Helliwell, but Alison’s winning drives and Lyn’s forehand cross-court winners resulted in a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 win.