YELVERTON Tennis Club League teams have had mixed fortunes in the first half of the P and D league season.
The Ladies? A team in Division 1 have done exceptionally well and are in second place behind Ivybridge A.
Helen Smith and Tizzy Shobrook, surviving first team pairing from last year, have been given a merit award for 100% wins in the first four matches, but the club has taken time to find a regular second pair.
Karen Gasche, Fiona Spreadbury, Shirley Every, Julia Whetton and Ann Short have all played their part in A team matches and for the majority of them it was their first taste of Division 1 tennis.
Ann Short replaced Tizzy, who was doing exams, against Ivybridge A and with Helen Smith gained the only two points for Yelverton.
The ladies? B team in Division 3 are at present fifth in the league, but have one game in hand.
A long term injury to regular B team player Wendy Sharland and the promotion of players to the A team have meant many different pairings.
Julie Whetton and Fiona Spreadbury battled hard and long in failing light to take a point from the Devonshire pairing of Marguerite Butt and Denise Nixon ? a former Yelverton A team player.
Di Mayne, Jenny Kay, Lyn Jones, Janet Strelling and Joy Tynan have all played up from the C team with regular B team player Ann Short.
The ladies? C team have been the hardest hit because of problems of availability in the other two teams and it has been impossible to keep a regular four players. Consequently they have not managed to win many points and are sixth in the league.
After four weeks in the P and D league the men?s A team are bottom of Division 2 and the B team are second in Division 5.
The arrival of Tony Bayagbonia has strengthened the A team and he has formed a good partnership with the club coach Roger Froud.
The B team have had some good results so far and with two teams going up this season will be hoping for promotion.
Yelverton were successful in the first round of the P and D knock-out cup, beating Hill Lane 7-1. In the next round after an excellent afternoon of tennis, lost to Tavistock 5-3.
Unfortunately the LTA sponsored Play Tennis Day was a bit of a wash out. Although some juniors came along to the morning session in the rain, the afternoon session for adults was abandoned because of the weather.
The club?s inter club summer tournament has been well supported and is now well under way. There have been some close matches in all sections. The finals will take place in early July.