HARTFORD Tennis Club fielded its youngest ever team on Saturday, when the four players on court had a combined age of 27.

The quartet – Freddie White, Callum Waring, Jack Hill and Ben Cordingly – were competing in the Aegon National Junior League against older opponents from Widnes Tennis Academy.

"The most important thing for these kids is that they enjoy tennis while getting a first taste of match-play," said club coach John Walsh.

"This week was their second match and, despite losing the first game, they were back on court with their opponents and arranging to meet up as friends afterwards."

Meanwhile, in the South and Mid Cheshire League there was another win for the men’s A who whitewashed their rivals from Alsager.

The first team of Jarrod Wood, Andrew Moores, John Walsh and James Barlow have not dropped a set during their first three matches of the campaign.

There was a tight battle between Hartford C and Congleton B, with the men from Chester Road out narrow 4½-3½ victors after captain Andrew Hudson and debutant Andy Yearsley came from 5-2 to snatch a tie at 6-6 in the final rubber.

Hartford D won a big match against Congleton C in Division Two, while in Division Five the G team lost only four games in eight sets to inflict a crushing 8-0 defeat on Congleton E. 

Cuddington B won a derby with Hartford B in Mixed Division on Sunday, when a few crucial games made the difference.

In the ladies’ top flight, Hartford A defeated Holmes Chapel A; a satisfying result following defeats in both meetings with the same opponents last year.

There was a significant 7-1 win for the Hartford D, against Nantwich C, while E team registered a first win of the season by the same score against Holmes Chapel C.

Mother and daughter combination Mary and Sammy Followell put in a strong performance.

“We have more teams than ever this year, but the players are responding and the results have been impressive so far,” said chairman Duncan Appelbe.