TENNIS: NANTWICH Ladies served up a fourth consecutive county title on Sunday.
The Dabbers quartet of Caroline Harrison, Nicola Herbert, Ann Johnson and Sue Winters lifted the Cheshire Shield once again after defeating Bramhall Lane Tennis Club by three sets to one at Neston Tennis Club.
Nicola Herbert said: 'This year's win was all the more satisfying as we didn't think we would retain the shield this time. Caroline and I had lost to Bramhall's top pair, Katie Sweeting and Gemma Gibson, in a recent county doubles tournament and we felt it was going to be tough.'
But Harrison and Herbert saw off the Bramhall duo in straight sets 6-2, 6-2, and when Johnson and Winters edged past their opponents 6-4, 7-6, the Dabbers had one hand on the shield.
Herbert and Harrison saw off Bramhall's second pair 6-4, 6-1, to clinch the victory and although Sweeting and Gibson saw off Johnson and Winters 6-0, 6-1, in the final match, their victory was academic.
Nantwich will now be looking to add to their summer silverware when the ladies' veterans team of Alma A'Court, Val Hutton, Alison Spicer and Sue Winters take on Heswall Tennis Club in the final of the Veterans' Cheshire Shield at Hooton Tennis Club this Sunday (2pm).
Herbert added: 'It has been a good few weeks for Nantwich Tennis Club. Caroline, Ann and myself have been selected to represent Cheshire in a county fixture at Worthing in the week beginning July 26 and then Ann, Sue and myself will represent Cheshire in the County Veterans tournament at Eastbourne on the weekend of July 31 and August 1.
'Each team has six players so for Nantwich to be making up half the Cheshire team at each event is something special.'
