Tennis men downed after relegation showdown
Saturday 23rd July 2011, 11:29AM BST.
Shropshire’s men found themselves back in the tennis basement after losing their crunch relegation showdown to the Channel Islands in Felixstowe.
Needing to win on the last day to stay in division six, the county succumbed 6-3 to slip back to division seven next season.
Skipper Ian Gillespie was left to reflect on not having his strongest line-up available during the week, and having no cover for Pete Gillespie who was forced out of action yesterday after suffering a hamstring injury.
It meant that the injured player and his partner Dave MacKenzie-James had to concede their three rubbers to hand the Channel Islands a crucial win.
Earlier, the first pairing of Mike Barton and Ian Gillespie lost their first match 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 before winning their next two rubbers 6-4, 6-4 and 6-4, 6-4.
Dominic Clewes and Ben Disley lost 6-1, 7-6, then won 7-5, 6-4 but lost their third rubber 6-4, 6-4.
Despite the defeat and relegation, Gillespie said their were positives from the efforts put in by the players, in particular the form of Alan Bevan who produced some top class tennis during the week.
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