Warsash blow Portsmouth Tennis League title race wide open after beating Lee

That was because Warsash pipped Lee by just a single game in their top of the table clash.

Their second pair, Nicki Eldridge and Cathie Russell, laid the foundations with a stunning first set against Lee’s top pair Andrea Jackson and Gemma Rogers, taking it 6-2.

Jackson and Rogers won the next two sets, but the four-game difference in the first set would prove crucial.

With the opening rubbers shared, Kate Russell and Tiff Dinsdale set off on a mission to keep Lee in the driving seat, beating Eldridge and Russell 6-1 6-1.

That meant Jackson and Rogers had to win their final rubber, or at least win a set and ensure their game difference was three or less.

They did won a set, but the game difference was four, leaving Warsash with the winning draw by just a single game.

Still in Division 1, Avenue defeated Chichester and Lee 2nds shared their rubbers with Ryde Lawn, taking the winning draw point by six games.

JEM Ladies kept the pressure on leaders Canoe Lake with a 4-0 win over Fishbourne in Division 3.

Chichester 2 pipped Division 5 leaders Ryde Lawn 3rds 5 sets to 4.

Mixed 1 saw Warsash march on with a 4-0 demolition of an Avenue team who won just nine games over the eight sets played.

Ryde Lawn 2nds won the inter-island match up in mixed 2, beating Ryde Lawn 3-1, while previously unbeaten Division 3 leaders Chichester went down to Seacourt.

Ryde Mead overcame Carlton Green to leave just five points between the promotion and relegation places.

Ryde Lawn 3rds and Rowlands Castle both scored 4-0 wins in Mixed 4 against Wickham and Alverstoke respectively.

The final Mixed 4 match, between Carlton Green 2nds and Active Academy, was a much closer affair with the rubbers shared 2-2.

But Elaine Philip and Gary Colmer managed a set in the rubber they lost

to Poppy Marston and Dom Iro, and that gave them the winning draw on countback of sets 5 to 4.

Warsash Men’s 2nds, badly hit by poor weather in the first part of the season, turned out two teams on the same day to help catch up.

They lost both matches - 3-1 to Ventnor and 4-0 to Fishbourne - but full marks for effort!

Ryde Mead have also been badly hit by postponements and were

delighted when JEM 2nds agreed to brave the inclement conditions to complete their match.

However, they were not delighted enough to concede points, winning 3-1.

Avenue’s hopes of winning the Midweek Ladies title were dealt a severe blow when they lost a close match with Ryde Lawn on sets countback.

Avenue took both the opening rubbers after match tie breaks and looked on course for victory, especially when Jackie Edney and Heather Halliday won the first set of their reverse rubber.

But the Ryde pairs fought back, Christine Harrison and Sue George winning their rubber after a tie break and Suree Russell and Anne Tapley taking theirs in straight sets. That gave Ryde the win by 6 sets to 5.

Other midweek winners were Fishbourne Ladies, 3-1 against Warsash, and Avenue Ladies 2nds, 4-0 against Ryde Lawn 2nds.

Wellow continued their strong start in Mixed 2, beating Ryde Lawn 2nds 3-1.