HELENSBURGH Tennis Club’s men’s first team had a tough time of it in their latest league match away to Hillhead.

On the Glasgow club’s new artificial clay courts, Helensburgh knew they faced a difficult tie against a table-topping Hillhead side, but first couple Fraser Fulton and Stephen Lewis got off to a flier, taking the first set 6-3.

They lost the second 6-4, but the Helensburgh pair soon moved up a gear and won the third 6-3 to take the match.

Second couple Phil Hamilton and David McCowan were outclassed in straight sets, while third couple Bill Ram and Bobby Kerr struggled in their opening set, losing it 6-3.

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The Burgh pair were serving for the second set at 5-3 up, but just couldn’t find the winning shots to close out the set and eventually lost it 5-7, before losing the final set 2-6 to leave Hillhead 7-2 overall winners.

Away to Nuffield Milngavie, the Helensburgh second team also lost by seven sets to two.

Bill Ram and Philip Charman narrowly lost all three sets, 6-7, 3-6, 5-7, and while second couple Stephen Humphreys and Iain MacLaren lost their opening set 1-6 and were beaten in the second in a tie-break, they were determined to take something from the match and won the third set 6-1.

Third couple Keith Love and Paul Clifford made too many mistakes in their opening two sets, but came back to win the last 6-4.

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Helensburgh’s ladies’ second team fell to a narrow 5-4 loss away to Giffnock, where first couple Carol Bews and Morag Cawley won their first two sets 6-2, 6-4, but lost the third 4-6.

Joanna Crumless and Sue Macrae eased to a 6-1 win in their first set, but lost the next two 3-6, 4-6, while third couple Jackie Hunter and Janette Howieson recovered from losing the first set to love by winning the second 6-4.

The last set was neck-and-neck, but the Helensburgh pair eventually lost after seeing their serve broken.

The club’s ladies’ 60+ team had an easy win against Hillhead 2 in their last match of the season; Jackie Hunter and Gay Black playing at 1st couple won 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 and Janette Howieson and Fiona MacLaren won 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 as the team finished an impressive third in their division.

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Helensburgh Tennis Club are holding a summer camp for juniors from Monday, July 1 to Friday, July 5.

Full details will be issued shortly and anyone interested in booking a place at the camp should email bobby.kerr@tennishelensburgh.org.uk.