Cambridgeshire Over 70's Continue Successful Summer With Promotion

A successful summer saw both the Cambridgeshire men's and ladies' teams promoted in the County Cup – and now the over-70s veterans team followed suit after a terrific campaign in the Inter-County Championship.

The team won promotion from Division Three last season so faced a tough battle going into championship.

But the squad of Bob Harrower, Mike Moore, Brian Brown, David Sabberton and Steve Goswell exceeded expectations with some impressive performances.

Their first match was against Avon, with Harrower and Moore playing as first pair, and Brown and Sabberton as second.

A close match saw three of the four rubbers decided by championship tie-breaks, with Avon coming out on top 3-1 overall.

The same quartet took on Devon and were convincing 8-1 winners.

Cambs' next match was at home to Hertfordshire, a team that had been relegated from Division One in 2015 and so were favourites to win the division and go back up.

The first round of matches were closely fought, with Harrower and Moore winning the first set but losing the second and then losing the championship tie-break.

Goswell and Sabberton's match followed the same pattern except this time the Cambs pair won the tie-break to level the match.

Harrower and Moore again lost a championship tie-break in their rubber, while Goswell and Sabberton lost in straight sets, resulting in a 3-1 overall defeat.

The defeat meant Cambs' would have to win their final game at home to Dorset to have any chance of finishing as runners-up and securing promotion to Division One.

Harrower and Moore remained as first pair, with Brown again teaming up with Sabberton.

A determined start saw Harrower and Moore get the team off to a great start, winning their rubber 6-4, 6-3.

Brown and Sabberton beat Dorset's second pair 6-1, 6-1 to put Cambs firmly in control.

Harrower and Moore followed up their earlier victory with a 6-0, 6-3 win, while Goswell teamed up with Sabberton for the final rubber, winning 7-5, 6-0 to clinch an overall victory.

The Cambs team will now look forward to playing in Division One next year.

Read more at http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cambridgeshireover-70s-tennis-team-continue-successful-summer-with-promotion/story-29652537-detail/story.html#FX28TKcfsgsBVUYM.99