Charnwood Tennis Club's mixed doubles team travelled to the Leicestershire Club on Sunday to play the semi-final of the prestigious county knockout competition, the Mercury Cup.

Charnwood were without any men's first team players, but were able to call upon former County Champion Rob Leck, who travelled from London for the match along with his former County junior sister, Katie.

The other ladies were the powerful and classy Emily Rodbourne, and the wholehearted and determined Holly Cheeseman. The male half of the team was completed by the dynamic Russell Mayes, making a welcome return to competitive play after a decade away, and promising 18-year old Jack Phillips.

The Leicestershire line-up was led by former top County player Adam Popowicz alongside current County representative Lottie Adcock.

At second pair, the experience and talented Bobby Brooke partnered former County player Jennifer Gadsby, with the team being completed by big-serving 22-year old Theo Woolhouse-Lorber alongside the extremely solid and consistent Martha Thomas.

Slow start for Charnwood pairs

The first round was difficult for Charnwood, adjusting to the conditions and the courts.

Rob Leck and Cheeseman took on Brooke and Gadsby with The Leicestershire pair taking the first set 6-1. This prompted Leck and Cheeseman into a change of sides for receiving, and service ends.

With Rob Leck hitting aggressively, despite a neck injury which hampered his serving and backhand, the Charnwood pair gradually took charge and won the second set 6-3. With the momentum on their side, the deciding tie-break went to Charnwood by 10 points to 7.

Things did not go so well on the other courts. Mayes and Rodbourne could not entirely settle against Woolhouse-Lorber and Thomas, while the experience and quality of Popowicz was decisive against Phillips and Katie Leck, as both Charnwood pairs suffered straight sets defeats.

In the second round, Rob Leck and Cheeseman were relatively comfortable against Woolhouse-Lorber and Thomas, winning 6-4, 6-3.

With the other pairs making an excellent effort, there was plenty of entertainment in extremely windy conditions, but again both Charnwood pairs were beaten in straight sets.

Clean sweep needed in final rubbers

Going into the final round, Charnwood needed to win all three matches to win the tie.

Rodbourne and Mayes maintained their improvement to earn a creditable 6-4, 6-4 win over Brooke and Gadsby.

Rob Leck and Cheeseman were gradually gaining the upper hand over Popowicz and Adcock, with Cheeseman serving for the first set at 6-5, but despite a battling performance from Katie Leck and Phillips, the latter were unable to overcome Woolhouse-Lorber and Thomas.

This put Leicestershire in an unassailable 5-3 lead overall, so Popowicz and Adcock conceded the match with Leck and Cheeseman, making the final score 5-4.

Charnwood thus fell just short, but had played their part in a quality match in very tough conditions.

Overall, this had been a very good run in the competition from Charnwood, given that they had been without any men's first team players in two of their three ties, and had been drawn away in every round.

The players who did play had shown great determination and commitment, and the level of performances bodes very well for next year