Victorious Dunford gets the better of old adversary Harries

THE past week has seen the Michael Spiers Plymouth & District Championships hosted by Mannamead Lawn Tennis Club

- DAVE AND SUE GALE

Entries were slightly down on last year but enough to make a good tournament.

The Men’s Singles Final was between Rhys Dunford and Rory Harries, repeating last year’s final. It was a final of quality tennis with lots of good rallies.

Rhys and Rory had played each other many times before and knew each other’s game well, so Rory changed tactics and played more at the back instead of coming into the net. However Rhys won 6-4, 6-2 and it is possibly his eighth title in a row.

The Ladies Singles was played as a round robin in the Fast 4 format. Katherine Rowe was the strongest player but all credit to Clem Brown, playing in her first week of competition, sometimes switching racket hands, and to Louise Simpson, who gained confidence in her serve as the match progressed.

There were lots of ‘sudden death’ deuces, including one to win the first set between Katherine and Clem, with good rallying and serving from Katherine and low slices and variety of shots from Clem.