WITH three weeks of the Coventry & District Ladies’ Lawn Tennis League still remaining, Kenilworth first team have already secured their First Division place for next year, despite losing 3-1 at Warwick Boat Club.
Melanie Jennings and Kate Perkins started too slowly against Danielle Frankish and Kate Young and were unable to recover, going down 0-6, 4-6. They took a well deserved consolation rubber against Helen Simpson and Jenny Waggott 6-3, 1-6, 1-0, but Rebecca Stevenson and Laura Wilkins lost both matches in straight sets.
The 2nds too collected just one point in their fight for Second Division survival. Kay Gebbels and Hannah Kingston found the power of Sarah Feghhi led to too many winning volleys for her partner Wendy Supperstone and they lost 3-6, 3-6.
Linda Clements and Kay Tomalin lost a nerve-wracking Championship tie-break to Flora Blackett and Kathy Griffiths 1-6, 6-3, 0-1, before going down 2-6, 1-6 to Feghhi and Supperstone.
Gebbels and Kingston needed a Championship tie-break, after an incredibly long and exhausting match, to take the consolation point from Blackett and Griffiths 6-7, 6-3, 1-0.
The 3rds picked up a draw against Leamington 3rds, but this may well prove too little too late in their relegation battle.
Carolyn Lindsay and Philippa Middup were reinvigorated by recent holidays and had excellent wins against Fiona Hopley and Catherine Tart 7-5, 6-2 and then Alison Farr and Joy Lewis 6-3, 7-5.
Kate Fagan stepped up from the 4th team to join Jacquie Roe, but found the going tough at this level as they lost both rubbers in straight sets.
The 4ths found themselves at the bottom of Division Four after a 3-1 defeat by Beechwood 4ths, but all is not yet lost as the three teams above them are only two points ahead.
Helen Hunter and Chris Coe lost to Claire Jones and Keiko Martin in straight sets as well as to Penny Nunn and Beth Jepson. Belinda Simmons and Sarah Sheldrick captured the one point by beating Nunn and Jepson 6-1, 6-4 before losing to Jones and Martin.
New tennis, squash, racketball and croquet members are always welcome at the Crackley Lane club. For more details visit www.ktscc.co.uk.
