Melton Mowbray Tennis Club: Mixed teams boost title chances

Captain and club coach Charlie Griffin was unavailable for the first team’s match at Carisbrooke, but the team did her proud, returning with an 8-1 win to keep on course for the Division One title.

The hosts played out the match with just two pairs, but were well beaten by the visitors with Corinne Blythe and Ryan Parmar, and Jess Gadsby and James Rowe collecting maximums, and Ellie Jenkins with Tom Rowe weighing in with two wins.

Scores: C. Blythe/R. Parmar W 9-2, 9-5, W/O 6-0; J. Gadsby/J. Rowe W 9-2, 9-6, W/O 6-0; E. Jenkins/T. Rowe W 9-6, L 7-9 w/o 6-0.

* Melton’s mixed second team continued to press 3B title favourites Hinckley Town when they secured a superb 9-0 whitewash at Charnwood to keep the pot boiling nicely.

Etienne Ellis and Ellie Jenkins led the way, losing just seven games in their three wins, and were backed up brilliantly by skipper Justin Horobin and Sarah Diver, and third pairing Jake Beagle and Beth Lowe.

Scores: S. Driver/J. Horobin W 9-1, 9-8, 9-1; E. Jenkins/E. Ellis W 9-1, 9-3, 9-3; B. Lowe/J. Beagle W 9-4, 9-8, 9-7.

* The club’s mixed third team kept up their recent improvement with a convincing 9-0 win at Loughborough Greenfields.

Scores: L. Hayward/J. Beagle W 9-8, 9-1, 9-3; B. Lowe/S. O’Regan W 9-8, 9-7, 9-3; E. Jenkins/J. Wheatley W 9-2, 9-3, 9-7.

The teams are gearing up for the run-in, with the club hoping to add to the three summer titles and a runners-up spot already in the bag.

* On the veterans front, the club’s over 40s men’s team finished their campaign with a four-all draw against visitors Rutland Academy.

Skipper Nigel Haynes made a welcome return to the side and partnered Stuart Mullard to win two sets, while Paul Heaton and Phil White weighed in with two more.

The draw caps a much-improved season which sees them finish in fourth place.

Scores: N. Haynes/S. Mullard L 5-7, 2-6; W 6-2, 6-1. P. White/P. Heaton L 1-6, 2-6; W 7-6, 6-4.