On what was, this winter, a rare dry and wind free day, the Ross Ladies A team travelled to Stourbridge for a match against the top of the table team, Stourbridge A. The result was a very creditable 3-1 loss with many of the games being close and the tennis consisting of many long and exciting rallies.

Ellie Vicary and Brenda Saunders pushed a very strong first pair in a close game, just losing out 4-6, 3-6 but they beat the second pair 7-6, 6-1. In both games Ellie and Brenda worked well as a pair using a combination of Ellie's stunning hard ground shots and superb court coverage and Brenda's touch shots to win their points.

The second pair of Jane Pepperell and Gaynor Raine were very unlucky to lose both their matches. However they played exceptionally well, with Jane pulling off some fantastic interceptions at net and both hitting some amazing ground shots, with a couple of passing shots down the line from Gaynor being the undoubted highlights. Although the Ross team lost the match, it had been a very enjoyable afternoon's tennis followed by some tasty sandwiches, a lovely cake and good conversation with the opposition.

For more stories in full please see this week's Ross Gazette.