HELENSBURGH Tennis Club continue to have a smashing summer after their junior team clinched second spot in the league in their first season of competitive tennis.

The club’s junior green team’s season culminated in a runners-up spot in their respective division following an impressive season. The four young players: Andrew Wilson, Lucy MacRae, Conor Niblock and Ciaran Hoskkins, were all competing in their first competitive season and showed great courage as they stunned their opponents with some outstanding play.

Their first win came at home to Milngavie courtesy of a 12-0 victory. That was followed by another whitewash away to Stepps, and a crushing 10-2 win at Westerton. The team then came up against leaders Thorn Park, and despite coming close, they ultimately came away without a set to their name.

Their final game was against Woodend, knowing a win would seal second spot in the table. The side knew they would have to dig deep, but that did not deter their efforts as they wound up 7-6 victors to cap an all-round great season for the quartet.

Up the age ladder now, and last week the men’s second team travelled to Rutherglen know a win would solidify their chances of finishing in the top three of the division.

Rutherglen have been the most consistent side in the league and team captain Ian MacLaren, who was celebrating his birthday, was aiming to pick up as many sets as possible to keep promotion hopes alive.

The night started badly for first couple Bobby Kerr and Bill Ram who lost their opening set 2-6. The pair admirably battled back to the next set 6-0 but couldn’t hold their own in the third and final set as they eventually fell to defeat.

Iain and Allan Adam were always in control in the second contest, taking the first set 6-4. The second set was much closer and the Helensburgh pair eventually sealed the second 7-5. They soon wrapped up the third set to give their captain a welcome birthday present.

Third on court were Ian Parland and Alistair Morison were also in winning form and sealed all three sets courtesy of a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 scoreline.

This victory ensured a 7-2 victory overall for the side, leaving them sitting top of the division, 10 points clear of Rutherglen in second place with just one game to play.

The men’s first team finally got the win they were looking for, beating David Lloyd Renfrew last week thanks to a 6-3 scoreline.

Mark Leonard and Kevin Stephen lost 3–6, 4–6, 6–4, while David Reid and David McCowan were unlucky not to win all three sets as they lost the opening set 6–7 in the tie break. They soon wrapped up the match winning the next sets 6–4, 6–1.

The evening was saved by veterans Alistair Hope and Robert Dunbar who comfortably won 6-2, 6–3, 6–4.

Helensburgh first ladies, having lost their penultimate match to Newlands the previous week, were determined to finish the season with a win away at Titwood on Tuesday evening.

At third pair, Suzanne Marshall and Gay Black managed to collect a tight first set 7-5 before their opposition stepped up a gear to win the remaining two sets. Katie Hope and Ann Morison faced a hard hitting pair who mixed up their shots to good effect but after a close first set which went Helensburgh’s way, the greater consistency of Katie and Ann, coupled with Katie’s strong volleying, saw the Helensburgh pair win the last two sets.

With the match evenly balanced, Karrie Walters and Yolande Trewhella had everything to play for at first couple.

Having been on court practicing when the Helensburgh team arrived, the Titwood pair were nicely warmed up and were very quickly in command of the first set. Although Titwood also won the second set, it was a much closer affair and by the third set Karrie and Yolande had got the measure of their opponents and were able to, with powerful, accurate serving, take control of the match and the set, giving the Helensburgh team an excellent 5-4 victory in their final match of the summer.

After leading the division for most of the season the ladies second team failed to finish in the top three thanks to two late heavy defeats.

The team started very strongly with great wins at Fort Matilda, Stepps, Virgin Active, Uplawmoor and Strathgryffe but defeats at David Lloyd West End and Thorn Park meant they finished fourth.

The ladies third team played host to the ladies second team from Mount Vernon and recorded a great win that puts them second top of their division. Team captain Janette Howieson hopes their final match against Uplawmoor will secure the win that will keep them in second spot.

Helensburgh’s ladies fourth team squeaked through to win by the narrowest of margins in their match last week. It all came down to the last set on court being fought by Fiona MacLaren and Shona Bulloch against the Lenzie first couple. It went to a tense tie break with all to play for as it meant a win or a loss for the team but Fiona and Shona gave it their all and took the tie break 7 - 2, having lost the first two sets.

Sue MacRae and Clare Claxton at second couple were playing a long established Lenzie partnership and got a valuable point by winning the middle set 7-5, but lost the other two sets.

Jane Carroll, came to the rescue of the team along with partner Susan Russell who were nursing injuries but did brilliantly taking all three sets confidently, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

The popular summer camps are once again being hosted by CBF Tennis. Week one starts on Monday, July 6 and week two starts Monday, July 27. All camps run from Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm ages five years to 16 years. There is also a tots camp 10am to 10.45am Monday to Friday.

For full details contact Chris Bowman at CBF Tennis on 01436 675403 or email cbftennis@gmail.com.