Busy week for the strath’s teams in Galbraith Highland Tennis League
Rothiemurchus and Aviemore Tennis Club ladies lie in second place in the top division but their chances of overtaking league leaders Elgin are slim.
The Moray side is five points ahead with only two matches remaining.
The Aviemore team’s latest outing helped, however, with three points gained at home to Inverness A.
The visitors’ first string was too good for both home pairs.
Eve Wilkinson & LJ Fishpool lost 3-6, 0-6 while Caroline Bashford & Jo Evans. won the first set (6-2), lost the second (5-7) before going down 10-6 in the match tie-break.
The 1v2 and 2v2 rubbers were won by R&A (6-0, 6-1; and 6-0, 6-3).
It was that first set win by Bashford and Evans in the 2v1 contest that won the day for the hosts.
The B team also had a successful evening, coming away from Elgin with the three points and an 8-0 whitewash of the Moravians.
The quartet lie in fifth place but are seven points clear of bottom dogs Elgin C who cannot overtake the Rothiemurchus side.
The club’s third string, while not managing to emulate the other two teams, came away with a draw from their trip to Aberlour. The match was a game of two halves.
The two pairs found it very difficult against the Aberlour top seeds: Jenny Sime & Wendy McKay losing 0-6, 3-6; and Jean Hamilton & Anne-Marie Phimister losing 1-6, 1-6.
They fared much better in the 1v2 and 2v2 contests, taking them 6-3, 6-1; and 7-5, 6-2.
Kingussie A dropped further down the first division table when they lost 7-3 at Nairn.
However, depending on upcoming results the Badenoch outfit could still finish in second place.
In Division 4, Kingussie B were held to a 4-4 draw by Gordonstoun. A win would have put the team joint top with Bellfield Park but the draw is not the end of the world.
The two points mean they are still challenging for that promotion place, one point behind the Invernessians.
Grantown ladies were held to a draw (3-3) by division leaders Bellfield Park.
The match was not completed because the time limit of 9.15pm was reached.
Lindsay Tinney & Mandy Davidson won the first set 6-3 and were closing in on victory (5-2 up) when they had to stop.
On the other hand, Pauline Mitchell & Sarah Williamson were one set down (3-6), and 2-5 down in the second.
So, the match would very probably have still been drawn. Unfinished sets do not count in the final analysis.
Meanwhile, in Division 3, the B team, who are in a three way fight to stave off relegation, did their case no end of good by overcoming the challenge from Tain.
The Ross-shire team are another of the teams battling to stay in Division 3.
Galbraith men’s league
Grantown’s A team had to put out an under-strength foursome for their trip to Rothes, and the result was an 8-0 drubbing.
The Grantown side is facing relegation from the top-flight. Their only hope is to win and win well.
But, they have also to hope that Rothes lose, and lose badly in their remaining matches.
Kingussie also find themselves in a relegation dogfight in division two.
They are level with Inverness B and two behind Tain. It really is coming down to the wire.
The Badenoch side has to meet leaders Nairn and second place, Bellfield B in the run in so staying in the division is going to be a tough ask.
The two Rothiemurchus sides met in what turned out to be a one sided affair, the ‘A’s running out 8-0 winners.
The A side then beat Forres B away 8-0 in their latest match to put them ahead of the Bellfield C, juniors on set percentages at the top of the league.
It has set the promotion race up neatly with a winner takes all final week encounter this Thursday when R&A are at home.
Galbraith Mixed League
Fresh from the draw with Tain, Newtonmore went one better last week, resoundingly beating Gordonstoun 8-1.
The result sees them move off bottom place, and, if results go their way, they could end up finishing in the top half of the table.
Michael Ritchie & Lisa Carlisle won 6-4, 6-2; won 6-2, 6-2. Chris Mackay & Irene England won 6-4, 5-7, 10-5; won 6-0, 6-3
In Division 1 Rothiemurchus A had a home fixture against neighbours Grantown A winning 8-0.
The former could finish in the runner-up position - Elgin A have the trophy all tied up - while the latter could be relegated.
Grantown are level on points with Rothes, who did themselves no end of good, on Monday, by being the first team to defeat Elgin A mixed this season.
The R&A second string were not so lucky, losing out to Forres A (7-4). In this fixture there were three of the four rubbers were decided on match tie-breaks. Crucially two went to Forres in what was a close encounter.
LJ Fishpool & Colin Ramsay lost 4-6, 7-5, 7-10; lost 3-6, 6-0, 1-10. Kim Beattie & Gavin Musgrove lost 4-6, 3-6; won 4-6, 6-4, 16-14.
Grantown B played hosts to Rothes, trouncing their Speyside rivals 8-0.
16s
Rothes managed a bit of revenge for their whitewash, by winning the match between the two clubs in the 16 & Under league, Division 2.
Alexander Cassells won 6-1, 6-3; Charlie Trench lost 5-7, 0-6. Alexander & Charlie lost 0-6, 5-7. The result puts Rothes in pole position.
14s
Grantown stayed top with Gordonstoun unable to field a team. The Grantown boys need only turn up for their last match, at Rothes – to win the title.