Helensburgh Tennis Club’s Ladies First Team ended their autumn campaign on a disappointing note, losing to a very strong Western side in their final match.

But, having been promoted to Division One this year, the team will retain their place for 2018.

All four Helensburgh players found the lack of pace on Western’s artificial clay courts tricky, meaning longer rallies and greater difficulty in putting the ball away for a winner.

At first pair, Karrie Walters and Ann Morison were unlucky to lose the first set on a tie break. But they were then unable to maintain their positive momentum, losing the next two sets.

Gay Black and Yolande Trewhella, playing at second, enjoyed a closer match with very little to choose between the couples in the first two sets.

However, the Glasgow pair, due to their greater consistency and effective volleying, managed to keep their noses in front and collect all three sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

The Men’s Second Vets team have managed victories at Rutherglen, Drumchapel and Woodend.

They currently sit fourth in the table with one match to go, and could finish in the top two if they win their last match at Giffnock.

The Men’s First team have had a disappointing season and are yet to win a match in a challenging Second Division.

This week they play their last two matches and need to win one of them to have a chance of remaining in the division.

The next block of junior coaching starts after the school holidays and a new after school club will be starting in Hermitage Primary school. Look out for more details next week.