Hexter's heroics wins a thrilling encounter

DESPITE the gusty wind and misty conditions, the match between Pat Hexter and Liz Gill and Julie Lees and Claire Walker was hard fought with the result decided on the very last shot of the third set tie-break.

- DAVE, SUE GALE

At 6-5 in the tie-break, Pat belied her 86 years of age to reach a good drop shot and not only got there but did a winning passing backhand down the line shot to take the tiebreak and win overall 4-6, 6-3, 6-5.

With nearly every game going to deuce, it was quite a battle between Angela Wright and Caroline Abernethy when they met Val Knight and Caroline Hambly.

The first set went to a tie-break, which Caroline and Angela won, after a real tussle. The second set again was close with Caroline and Angela managing to win by holding serve and the third set was tight at 3-3 and a 20-minute deuce game. Caroline and Val fought hard but were unable to break, leaving Angela and Caroline to win 6-5, 6-4, 6-3 after nearly two and a half hours on court.

The all-Saltash clash between Jill Cansfield and Elizabeth Nodder and Val Knight and Caroline Hambly could have gone either way, but Jill and Elizabeth were pleased to take the points, winning 6-3, 5-6, 6-4.

Katherine Rowe and Roanna George had a tough first set against Linda Trebilcock and Hilary Picton in Ladies A and it was Katherine's serve that was a deciding factor to win the first set on a tie-break.

Buoyed by taking the first set, Katherine and Roanna then went 5-0 up in second set with more excellent serving from Katherine and clinical volleying from Roanna.

The third set was much closer than the scoreline suggests with lots of deuces but Katherine and Roanna hit lots of winners to take it and win 6-5, 6-3, 6-0.