POCKLINGTON’S first and second teams won their opening matches in the Fulford Ladies Invitation Tennis League.

The first team had a narrow 57-51 victory against Wheldrake. Helen Whilesmith – standing in as captain as regular captain Liz Jones recovers from a broken arm – teamed up with the talented Fiona Lambert to win all their three rubbers.

Second team captain Jenny Wood, with her partner Roseanne Dane, got their team off to a flying start winning 10-2 in the opening round.

Number one string Jean Hunter and Angela Bush were in strong early season form winning 9-3, 11-1, 10-2 and Knaresborough found them too hot to handle in a 69-39 defeat.

Dunnington’s 4ths, who did not win a single match last season, triumphed 55-53 in their opener at Bishopthorpe 3rds. Jenny Rossington and the experienced Ann Murray were unbeaten collecting 28 games.

Rufforth found Sheena Jackson and Liz Taylor in top form as they lost 64-44 to David Lloyd 2nds.

There was a sound win in division five for Fulford 3rds, who accounted for Sheriff Hutton with a good all round team performance. Sue Watson and young Jane Wallace totalled 28 games and captain Carolyn Taylor and Katie Harrison 27.

Appleton Roebuck 2nds, led by Chris Hanby and Ruth Jackson, beat Cawood 69-39.

Poppleton third team beat Bishopthorpe second team 65-43, Fiona Smith and Tracey Brooks doing the damage after winning 26 games.

In division four, Starbeck were too powerful for visitors Cliffe with Christine Noddings and Becci Jones in unstoppable form. They only yielded five games as they helped their team to a 77-31 victory.

Division three duty saw Poppleton seconds beat Rowntree Park.

Hilary Spencer and Judith Evans kept a clean sheet collecting 25 games to help their team to victory 63-45.

Appleton Roebuck, newly-pronmoted to division two, had a close match at Copmanthorpe.

After four rubbers had been won by each side, Copmanthorpe revelled in an emphatic 11-1 win by Rhian Scott and team captain Fiona Robinson in the deciding round.