The men’s first team were the first out of the traps when Oswestry Tennis Club commenced the new Summer Doubles League Season.

Captained this season by Martin Shorrt, who has recently joined the club when he re-located to the area from Portsmouth, the team tracked their way across the county for their first fixture to take on the third team of Bridgnorth Tennis Club.

In the first round rubbers Martin, partnered by Oliver Tombs, dropped the first set on a tie break 6-7 before taking the second set 6-3 taking it to a third deciding set tie break which the home side narrowly won. The second pairing of Gary Edwards and Matt Grice won their first rubber in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 against the opposing second pair.

In the reverse rubbers Shorrt and Tombs were too strong for their opposition and took in 6-3, 6-3. Edwards and Grice dropped the first set to the Bridgnorth first pair 2-6 but they fought gallantly in the second set taking it to a tie break before just losing out 6-7. So an honourable draw saw Oswestry come away with two points.

The men’s third team, captained this season by Richard Hann, played their first fixture away to local opponents OTT, a team of very capable junior players.

In the first round rubbers Han, partnered by Keith Grice quickly dropped the first set 1-6 before regaining their composure to take the second set 6-3 taking the rubber to a deciding third set tie break which they narrowly lost 0-1. The second pair of Lowell Lloyd and Nick Elliott also dropped their first set 2-6 before fighting back to take the second 6-1 but they won their deciding third set tie break 1-0

In the reverse rubbers Hann and Grice won in two very closely contested sets 6-3, 7-6 but Lloyd and Elliott went down in straight sets 2-6, 5-7. So again a draw was the final result with each team gaining two points