Roundhill Tennis Club ended a thirty year wait to pull off the most dramatic of wins in this year's final of The Leicester Mercury Cup.
The Evington club was packed to the rafters to witness the final go down to the last match on court. Five hours of play in energy sapping heat saw the result rest on a thrilling third set tie break between defending champions Carisbrooke second pair, Liz Mansell and Mark Jeffreys, against Roundhill captain Alison Ison and Chris Rogers. The tie break swung both ways before Roundhill edged home 9-7 only minutes before Carisbrooke's top pairing of Bobby Brooke and Helen Shaw, who won all three of their rubbers, had edged an equally dramatic 10-8 final set tie break against Chris and Kerry Pollard.
The match was played out in a midsummer carnival atmosphere on the eve of Wimbledon and to the Strains of the Kasabian concert drifting across from Victoria park. It was standing room only as supporters of both clubs , together with many neutrals, were treated to fine quality tennis in Leicestershire's century old tennis cup competition.
Victorious captain, Alison Ison, who had played in Roundhill's last triumph in 1984, commented: We're absolutely delighted to bring the Leicester Mercury Cup back to the club. After many years of reaching finals, but not winning, we've retained the nucleus of our team who have gone so close in the past. It was fitting to lift the trophy in front of so many of our club members who have turned out in force to cheer us on.
By Neil Phillips