A TITLE success for Hartford Tennis Club has demonstrated one of the club's biggest assets.

The Chester Road outfit recorded a 6-2 victory over closest-rivals Nantwich A to make sure they will occupy top spot in the South and Mid Cheshire League's Mixed Division One.

They followed that with a 7-1 success against Congleton B last weekend to add gloss to a summer campaign that saw them lose only one of their 14 matches to finish four points clear.

"It has been a major team effort this year with 15 different members competing," said captain Andrew Moores.

"We always say it, but we are a close-knit club where everyone is happy to mix in.

"And that’s great because it means so many people can say they have played a part in bringing back the trophy."

Hartford B finished as runners-up in the second mixed division.

Women at Hartford can reflect on another successful season that guarantees they will be the only club with three teams in the top-flight next year.

The first team were second to perennial champions Nantwich A but a huge six points clear of Nantwich D.

Hartford D step up to Division One as a reward for ranking second to Cuddington A at the level below and they take the place of Hartford C who drop down.

"It's been exciting for me to again see the drive and determination of our players to improve," said Kathryn Barnett, the ladies' teams' co-ordinator.

"They're already planning how often they can practice over the winter!

"The commitment from all players, and the support they show each other, is certainly a formula that works for us."

There was some frustration for Hartford A in the men's first division after they repeated a third-place finish from 2018.

Congleton A pipped Nantwich A for overall honours.

Hartford B ended a testing season on a high when they inflicted a defeat on the newly-crowned champions in their final fixture.

However an injury-disrupted term, which has seen them experiment with new combinations, ended in relegation.

Hartford C, for whom captain Duncan Applebe was ever present, will replace them after edging out Hartford D for second spot in Division Two.

Tied on points after 14 matches, they had to be separated on sets difference.

"Hartford D started slowly but rallied," said Mark Gleave, who does the same job as Barnett for the men.

"That included beating Cuddington, who finished above them."

Hartford E secured their position in the same section thanks to captain Chris Baker making the most of the club's strength in depth to call on unseeded players to fill in when his regulars deputised for absences in higher-ranked teams.

Meanwhile a six-match unbeaten sequence, including five wins, was enough to deliver promotion form the fifth tier for Hartford F.