Helensburgh men’s kick off summer season

HELENSBURGH Tennis Club’s men’s teams have had a busy start to the new summer season with a series of matches over the past week.

The men’s third and second teams saw success as they won four out of six matches across Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19.

The men’s third team played host to Broomhill, and first couple Paul Clifford and Adam McLean had a marathon twoand-a-half-hour battle.

The Burgh pair were a break ahead in each of the opening sets, but their opponents fought back with the first set going to a tie break which Helensburgh lost 8-10.

The second set was also close but again the visitors had a bit more fire power and took it 6-3, though Paul and Adam regrouped for the final set and won it 6-3.

Stephen Humphreys and Nick Goodings won their tie in three sets, with a combination of deep ground strokes from Nick and sharp volleys from Stephen.

There were no problems for

Graham Court and Matt Mackie as they saw off the visitors 60, 63, 62, completing an overall win for the Helensburgh team by six sets to three.

The men’s second team had a tougher time the following night away to Fort Matilda, with Stephen Humphreys and

Ralph Ward having to step in at the last minute from the third and fourth teams respectively.

At first couple, David McCowan and Bobby Kerr lost no time in securing the opening two sets winning 62, 62 - and after falling 3-1 behind in the final set came back in style to win it 7-5.

At second couple, Harry Gould and Keith Love lost their opening set 2-6, but came back to win the second 6-4, though the decider went the way of the host club’s couple by a 6-4 margin.

Helensburgh’s ladies start their campaign this week, with both the first and second teams swinging into action.

The men’s first team will also start their season this week with a home match against Broomhill on Friday, April 26.