As the Six Nations rugby drew to a close with an exciting finale last weekend, Ross had its own local ladies tennis derby. With Ross Ladies B team and Goodrich B team at the top of division 4 in the Herefordshire and Worcester LTA  league it was an important game to determine which teams would be likely to move up next season.

So it was all to play for as the two teams started the match on a blustery Sunday morning at Ross Tennis Centre. Sandy Foulkes and Gaynor Raine got off to a good start  playing Goodrich’s first pair Jill Brown and Kirsten Ainsworth. Despite some superb rallys from for the left handed Goodrich pair, Sandy and Gaynor managed to cope a bit better with the windy conditions and won the rubber 6:2, 6:3.

Ross’s second pair Hayley Jackson and Millie Wiggins, both standing in and playing together for the first time had a really tough match against the Goodrich seconds, Wendy Jenkins and Kirsten Mathews. The Ross pair lost the first set 5:7, but then picked up their game and with some super tennis and exceptionally long rallys the Ross pair won the rubber.

The final two rubbers were very close but Ross pair Sandy and Gaynor managed to clinch the first rubber, 7:5,6:4 but it really was a close match, with most games being very close.

The final rubber was one to watch and again went to three sets. Hayley and Millie won the first set 6:2, then the experienced Goodrich pair took the second set 6:4. It was a fight to the bitter end and some superb cross court play and volleys from both sides, but Ross managed to win the last set with an exciting tie break, with some great banter from both teams watching in the clubhouse.

So it was a 4:0 win for the Ross home team, but it was a hard fought match with some superb tennis played in a friendly sporting manner.

It looks like Ross B team will be difficult to beat this season and the next match will be an important match for Goodrich as they could also go up to the next division with Ross Bs next season.