TENNIS: Stourport Tennis Club Men's B opened their Herefordshire and Worcestershire League Division Two campaign with a narrow 4-3 win at home against Ross.

Although the match score was level, under new league rules Stourport won by virtue of winning more sets.

Third pair Martin Bradley and Steve Newbury were the stars of the night with two comprehensive victories.

Second pair Derek Tarpey and newcomer Fraser Wilson won one match and lost one, while first pair Chris Nuttall and Carl Rogers finished on the wrong side of two three-setters.

The men's C team continued their triumphant start to the season with a 7-0 thrashing of Inkberrow.

None of the pairings - Gareth Williams and Newbury, Graham Ashmore and Nick Mantle, Andy Southall and Nick Lathe - dropped a set.

The ladies have had a difficult start, having lost a number of quality players in recent years, including the outstanding Jane Bishop who has retired from match play after knee surgery.

Hilary Hatt has returned for a third season as captain as a rebuilding programme takes shape.

Hatt and Carole Lewis won all their games against Worcester and Bewdley but to no avail as under the new ruling both matches were lost 4-3 - on games against Worcester and on sets with Bewdley.

Rhian Robinson won once in each match, firstly with Zena Steer and then with Helen Bradley but the third pairings were unsuccessful in both matches.

The ladies B team were beaten 5-1 by Evesham with only Hilary Kilby and Di Ferris winning a match.

In the Kidderminster League Mixed Division One, Stourport's Rob Taropey, Rhian Robinson, Paul Richards and Carole Lewis, beat Wollaston 4-0.

But in Mixed Division Two, Stourport were beaten 4-0 by Blakedown.