Pictured: Elspeth Riley, Glenda Hagger, Carolyn Devereux and Rachel Elvin

Thank you to The North Somerset Times for publishing this article at https://www.northsomersettimes.co.uk/sport/congresbury-tennis-club-ladies-b-team-report-8092682

A silver lining of the pandemic has been an increase in local sport and activities, despite the restrictions.  Congresbury Tennis Club had a small surge of new ladies players after the first lock-down enabling them to field a Ladies B team for the first time as far as anyone can remember.

Carolyn Devereux, Rachel Elvin, Glenda Hagger and Elspeth Riley hosted a team from Bridgwater in the first North Somerset League match of the 2021 season.  Rachel was playing her first ever league match having learnt to play through the club's adult beginner group sessions, Glenda had never played a competitive tennis match before. 

Carolyn and Rachel paired up against a solid Bridgwater A pair, to lose a closely-fought rubber in a Championship tie-break.  Elspeth and Glenda played an experienced pair in a very close rubber with long rallies and lots of deuces that resulted in a win for Congresbury in a Championship tiebreak, winning 10-5.

Then the rubbers were reversed; Carolyn and Rachel played very impressive tennis to dominate Bridgewater B pair to win 6-0 6-1.  Elspeth and Glenda were involved in another long match, going down 7-6 (11-9) in the first set, and losing 6-2 in a second set that was very close; with almost every game going to at least two deuces!

So the fixture was drawn with two rubbers apiece, and also equal sets won, but the Congresbury B team prevailed on the number of individual games won overall.  A fantastic result for the home side making their debut.

If you would like to get involved in ladies tennis then go to www.CongresburyLTC.net to find out more, or book or adult beginners' classes online at https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/CongresburyLTC/Coaching