12:30pm Thursday 15th May 2008
By Andrew Simpson
HARTFORD Tennis Club's ladies succeeded where the men failed at the weekend with success in the Cheshire Shield.
Played in stifling heat, Di Fielding, Sue White, Jacqui Wood and Lin Wood went to one of the best clubs in Cheshire, Brabyns, and secured an impressive victory.
The men were less lucky, losing 3-1 at home to Rycroft despite a spirited battle on the club's new astroturf courts.
In the league the men's A Team squandered a 3 to a lead to lose 4-3 to Alsager in the Slazenger Mid and South Cheshire League's top tier.
UNDER strength Winsford suffered two heavy defeats this week.
The A team went down 7.5-0.5 at defending Division One champions Congleton A, where Andy Yearsley, David Jones, Richard Clorley and Mark Abbiss were on court.
Their second string were also on the wrong end of a 5.5-2.5 scoreline at Bentley B in their Division Three clash.
Chris Mayoh, Brian Congleton, Stephen Harris and Andy Carr made up their quartet.
A MUCH changed Cuddington Men's B team had a difficult fixture away to a young Congleton side in Division Two.
Captain Jamie Cummins, partnered by in-form Brad Bird, played some of their best tennis to draw their first match and narrowly lose the second.
They were well supported by Russ Smith and Jo Ralph, pulled up from the C team, who also battled to a draw in the first match but succumbed to the heavy artillery of the Congleton's first pair.
The Men's C team and Ladies A won their matches at home to Wistaston, while the Ladies B team were delighted to celebrate their first victory of the season against neighbours Hartford C.
Captain Sue Bradley, partnered by Anne Griffiths, and new regular couple Margaret Wilding and Liz Oldfield scored a decisive 7-1 win.
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