Andover Lawn Tennis Club’s Ladies team registered their first win of the season with a victory over Portswood at their leafy garden courts in Southampton in Division 3B of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight League.

Andover had lost their first match at home against Winchester B.

The match against Portswood was evenly balanced, with games closer than scores would suggest. Many Deuce games were played.

First pair Flavia Zamfir and Jennie Pope beat the opposition first pair 6-1, 6-2 and the second pair 6-0, 6-0. Flavia, a Hampshire junior whose game gets better all the time, has a strong and accurate volley skill which was a major factor in their wins.

Second pair Louise and Jenny worked hard, with Louise making several down the line winners. The deuce games went Portswood’s way. However they lost 0-6, 2-6 against the first pair and 3-6, 2-6 against the seconds.

The value of those hard-earned games was shown when, with rounds and sets equal, Andover gained the win on games won.

Captain Jennie also runs the club’s Sarum League team.

They made a start against Wellow B. Michael Valenzia and Jennie Pope halved their mixed 6-3, 1-6 and Jonathan Calder Smith and Ros Hursell won theirs 7-5, 6-3.

In the men’s match, Michael and Jonathan came second, 0-6, 3-6 and the Ladies saved the points for Andover with a 6-2, 7-6 win. Overall a 5-3 win for Andover.

The second match was at the club’s Balksbury home against Pythouse from Salisbury. Anthony Brown and Claire Reid won 6-2, 6-0. Jennie Pope and Graeme Ellis won 6-4, 6-0. In the Men’s match Ant and Graeme won 6-1, 6-0 and the Ladies won 6-1, 6-2 to give Andover an 8-0 win.