HELENSBURGH Tennis Club’s men’s second team travelled to Bearsden to play Thorn Park in their final match of the season, winning the tie 6-3, putting them in pole position for the title.

Bobby Kerr and Bill Ram were in great form at first couple winning 6–4, 6–3, 6–4. Team captain Iain MacLaren and Allan Adam at second couple found their opponents tough as they lost the opening set 4–6.

They managed to come back in the second set to take it 6–3. The final set went all the way to the tie break and the heat of the evening and long rallies were starting to take their toll on the Helensburgh pair and they eventually went down five points to seven.

At third couple Alistair Morison and Keith Love lost their opening set in under 20 minutes 2–6. After a quick team talk they changed tactics to take the next set 6–1. They thought they were cruising in the final set as they led 4–1 but their opponents came back hard and soon levelled the match at 5–5.

Thorn Park, sensing that the Helensburgh pair were under pressure, began attacking every shot and had a break point on Alistair’s service but a great interception by Keith saved the point and they went on to hold serve.

The Thorn Park pair were now under pressure and Alistair and Keith threw everything at them and eventually overwhelmed them to take the set and the rubber.

Final score was a 6–3 win for Helensburgh which puts them at the top of the division by four points with all their matches played — but second place Rutherglen have one more match to play and just need five sets out of nine to leap frog Helensburgh.

Team captain Iain MacLaren said he was delighted with his team’s performance this season in a very competitive division.

The ladies third team played host to Uplawmoor last week in the team’s last match of the season, winning 6-3.

Janette Howieson and Jane Chambers playing at first couple won all three sets 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 in a convincing win. At second couple Joyce Buchanan and Cath Gemmel also won all three sets although not quite as easy.

Alison Fotheringham and Maggie Sheen at third couple couldn’t adjust to the hard courts and never found their rhythm as they went down 0–3. Final score a 6–3 win for Helensburgh. This win leaves the team in second place in the division. East Kilbride have two matches left to play and could push them into third place.