HAVING gained promotion to Division 6 by finishing third last year, Okehampton Men`s B tennis team faced a tough start to the season with fixtures against the teams who had finished first and second.

Nick Luxton made an impressive B team debut to partner Chris Searle to a straight sets victory against the Tiverton second pairing. Stuart Jarvis partnered his father to a similar result but the Tiverton number one pairing were to strong for Okehampton leading to a 4-4 draw.

In the second match of the season against Teignmouth Mark Gibbs returned to partner John Jarvis and Stuart Jarvis teamed up with Julian Mesling. Once again there were comfortable wins over the oppositions second pairing but heavy defeats to their number ones and another 4-4 draw.

This was followed by an excellent 8-1 win against Exmouth B with John Jarvis and Mark Gibbs winning both matches easily and Chris and Stuart just dropping one set.

More recently away to Tunnels B Stuart Jarvis and Chris Searle won their first set 6-0 and were 3-0 up in the second before suffering a mini collapse to lose it 6-4. However they recovered their form to win the championship tie-break and the take the second match 6-3, 6-4. John Jarvis and Mark Gibbs also got off to a flying start to take their first set 6-3 but had to dig deep in the second to come back from 2-5 to win it in the tie break. They romped to a 6-1, 6-1 victory in their second match.

This 8-1 victory leaves Okehampton well placed towards the top of the League and looking forward to their match at Victoria Park on Friday.