Ross ladies A team were missing several of their top three players on Sunday, June 9th but were determined to continue their winning streak against Barnt Green.

Val Davies and Heather Peachy played their best against the strong first pair. They took a while to adapt to the clay surface and lost the first set 0:6 but managed to get a couple of games in the second set, losing the rubber 0:6,2:6. Ross’s second pair, Hayley Jackson and Sandy Foulkes got off to a good start and won their first set fairly easily. The Barnt Green pair fought hard in the second set, but Hayley and Sandy played really well together and with some good smashes from Hayley and unconventional play from Sandy, they won the rubber 6:3, 7:5. Meanwhile Gaynor Raine and Jackie Pelly, who was playing in her first A team match, were struggling against the Barnt Green second pair. They were just too good and Gaynor and Jackie lost 0:6,1:6.

The second half of the match started fairly promptly and it was all to play for, the Ross team now being down 2:1. Heather and Val started well against the second pair and won the first set fairly easily, but despite Val’s interceptions and Heather’s strong crosscourt forehands, they lost the rubber 6:2,2:6,6:1. Hayley and Sandy then played the top Barnt Green pair and got off to a really good start. Despite being 3:2 up in the first set, they then lost the next ten games, having to contend with one of the strongest serves they’d come across. Jackie Pelly showed no sign of nerves against the third couple and played a blinder of a first set, winning 6:1 in a short time. The Brant Green pair fought back in the second set but Jackie and Gaynor kept their cool and won 6:4.

The Ross team lost 2:4 overall, but they are still top of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire league. Half way through the season and they still have everything to play for.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.