Nine-year-old Ackland enjoys the taste of victory with Dad

JOSEPH Ackland took the Head Plymouth & District Summer League Division 5 by storm in his first match for the senior team.

- DAVE AND SUE GALE

MEN'S 

The experienced Mannamead pairing of John Putman and Chris Shorter knew they were going to be in with a tough game when St Mellion's nine-year old Ackland, sent his first return of serve whizzing down the tramlines with a lovely top spin drive out of John's reach.

Chris and John had to draw on their many years of experience to ensure a tough few sets followed and Joseph and his father Richard were pleased to take the match winning the championship tie-break.

Mannamead's other pairing of Steve Matcham and Andy Regan won both their matches but not before they had to go to a deciding championship tie break in both events. St Mellion won 53-45.

In Men's Division 1 Mannamead A beat St Budeaux A 57-33, while newly promoted Ivybridge A and B teams played each other but the A team proved too strong and won 72-7.

Devonshire A overcame Tavistock A 59-43, where the Tavistock pairing of Luke Wakley and Peter Bradley took both Devonshire pairs to tiebreaks, winning one event but losing the other.

In Division 2, it's a new era for Newton & Noss Mayo A men with the retirement of regulars Ron Cole and Rob Thomas, who were founding members of the team as it progressed from Division 6 to their current position in Division 2.

The team had a great first game of the season against Plympton A but were beaten 54-37.

Tavistock B played out a very closely fought match with St Budeaux B, which went to five tiebreaks, which were ultimately won by St Budeaux 65-40.