Charnwood Men’s First Team secured their second win in three matches with victory over Anstey Gynsill Second Team.

With captain Chris Cottrell and club singles champion Chris Mears returning after missing their previous defeat to Market Harborough, Charnwood were able to field a strong side.

But while Gynsill had lost both previous matches this season, they made the home side work hard for the result, needing a tie-break to claim the decisive rubber in a 5-3 win.

Mears and Kevin Leck played first pair for Charnwood, seeing off Gynsill’s second pair of Mike Tortice and Zak Harris with minimum fuss, and a rare ‘double bagel’ 6-0, 6-0.

But Cottrell and partner Neil Ruikar struggled to assert dominance against Gynsill’s experienced first pair of Cees Valk and Norbert Steil, ultimately slipping to a 2-6, 4-6 defeat.

In the second round of matches, Mears and Leck bounced back from losing the first set to draw 3-6, 6-1 with Valk and Steil.

Cottrell and Ruikar stormed to the opening set against Tortice and Harris, then had to weather a spirited comeback by the Gynsill pair in the second set, saving set points at 5-4 down before sealing a tie-break for a 6-1, 7-6 win.

Ladies first team seal first win

Charnwood Ladies first team recorded their first victory in this year's Winter League following a hard fought victory away on the slow and bouncy courts of Lutterworth Tennis Club.

Captain Caroline Wilkinson varied the usual pairings as she partnered Holly Cheeseman while Mary Nevill played with Emily Rodbourne.

Wilkinson was delighted with the victory and is looking forward with enthusiasm to the rest of the campaign.

Meanwhile, Charnwood Ladies fifth team faced a difficult fixture away at Market Harborough thirds.

The visitors started well with Charnwood 1st pair of Kathy Moore and Vasanthy Watt enjoying a good win against the Harborough 2nd pair. 

However, the Harborough 1st pair proved too tough for both of the Charnwood pairings and with Christine Greenall and Deidre Chandler, the Charnwood second pair also losing two hard fought sets against the Harborough second pair, the match ended in an overall defeat by six sets to two.

The team now look forward to their next fixture at home against Welland Park on November 2nd