HARTFORD’S top men’s team is locked in a three-way fight for to win the South and Mid Cheshire League title.

The Chester Road quartet defeated long-time rivals Congleton A 5-3 on the road in a fixture played in wind, rain and occasional sunshine.

That sent them to the Division One summit for 48 hours until Nantwich A saw off Hartford B, by 7½-½, to wrestle back the lead.

The rivals for first place are separated by only three points at the campaign’s halfway stage.

Hartford B sit fourth, while the club’s third team prop up the table after seven rounds.

Mark Gleave, Hartford A’s captain, said his team had shown great resolve during their latest success after trailing 2½-1½ at the turnaround. “We knew by keeping it close that we had put ourselves in with a shout,” he said.

“We possess a great team spirit; we really play for one another, and that’s what won the day for us.”

Gleave, James Barlow, James Barber and Andrew Moores face a derby against Hartford B on Thursday.

On the women’s side, Hartford A are sit third in Division One.

The second team are fifth, while the thirds are back-markers without a victory.

Results

South and Mid Cheshire Tennis League

Week Seven

Men

Division One: Congleton A 3-5 Hartford A; Hartford C 2½-5½ Nantwich Farmers; Nantwich A 7½-½ Hartford B; Nantwich B 8-0 Winsford A

Division Two: Hartford D 3½-4½ Congleton B; Hartford E 6-2 Wistaston A; Nantwich C 0-8 Alsager

Division Three: Acton Bridge A 2-6 Audlem; Cuddington B 2½-5½ Hartford F; Goostrey A 2-6 Holmes Chapel A; Winsford B 5½-2½ Hartford G

Division Four: Congleton C 6-2 Nantwich E; Congleton D 5½-2½ Holmes Chapel B; Winsford C 5-3 Cuddington C; Wistaston B 4-4 Nantwich D

Division Five: Congleton E 8-0 Goostrey B; Congleton F 4½-3½ Wisford D; Holmes Chapel C 4-4 Cuddington D; Wistaston C 8-0 Acton Bridge B

 

Ladies

Division One: Congleton B 1½-6½ Holmes Chapel A; Hartford C 3-5 Congleton A; Nantwich A 8-0 Hartford B; Nantwich B 7½-½ Hartford A

Division Two: Alsager A 3-5 Nantwich C; Alsager B 3-5 Hartford E; Hartford D 2½-5½ Congleton C

Division Three: Cuddington C 4-4 Cuddington B; Holmes Chapel B 7-1 Goostrey B; Holmes Chapel C ½-7½ Nantwich D