DESPITE mixed fortunes in their last three matches, Okehampton Ladies A team find themselves at the top of Division Two of the Exeter and District Tennis League.
Chagford and Budleigh Salterton are hot on their heels which will give an exciting end to the season. Playing away against Chagford on July 6, points were shared four all. Julia Moysey and Angela Herrod- Taylor put in a solid performance to beat the Chagford second pair 6-0, 6-2 but were outplayed by Chagford's first couple, going down 2-6, 2-6.
Beth Carter and Hannah Packer had a close game against Chagford's second pair winning 7-6, 6-2 but in their second match, Chagford's first pair continued their fine form winning 6-0,6-1. Two days later Okehampton played away to Exeter Golf and Country club D on their astroturf. After an enjoyable evening's tennis the home side won 5-4.
Okehampton's next match was away to Sidford who had come down from Division One. Okehampton were hoping to gain a couple of points to keep them near the top of the table. Beth Carter and Jackie Jarvis started very well against Sidford's first pair and stormed away with the first set 6-2. Sidford came back in the second to win it 7-6 in a tie-break. The championship tie-break then came into operation which Beth and Jackie took 10-6. Against Sidford's second pair the Okehampton couple stormed away with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Against Sidford's second couple Angela and Julia played some of their best tennis to date and took the first set 6-0. Roles were reversed in the second set with Sidford taking it 6-0.
In the championship tie-break Angela and Julia were 7-9 down and staring defeat in the eye. Holding their nerve and with some very steady play they scraped back to 9-9 and then went on to win 11-9. Against the first couple Angela and Julia took control again winning the first set 6-1. At 2-5 down in the second they thought that a tie-break was going to be played again but they managed to claw their way back to 5-5 and then took the set 7-5. This gave Okehampton an 8-2 victory and cemented their place at the top of the table.