Smash hit in Shropshire's county victory
Shropshire men's over-45s tennis team enjoyed a winning start to the season as they target promotion to the first division of the Aegon County Championship after last year's near-miss.
Shropshire opened their second division campaign in style by securing an impressive 3-2 away win against a Gloucestershire side just relegated from Division One.
Pete Gillespie, Simon Bird, Robin Morris and Simon Jones teamed up to ensure Shropshire came out on top in a well-contested match at East Gloucestershire Tennis Club in Cheltenham.
Jones said: "After the disappointment of just missing out on promotion last season due to a countback that went down to games won, it was a great start to the season.
"Gloucestershire are one of the favourites to go straight back up into division one."
The first singles game saw Gillespie beat Neil Howitt 7-6, 6-2, but Bird was then beaten 6-1, 6-3 by Guy Sellek to leave honours even.
A tight, pivotal opening doubles rubber eventually went Shropshire's way.
Morris and Jones finally overcame home pairing Charlie Barber and Rob Elvidge 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 in the championship tie break.
The second round of doubles matches saw Morris and Jones beaten 6-1, 6-0 by Howitt and Sellek.
With the pressure on it was left to Gillespie and Bird to seal overall victory for the county as they notched an emphatic 6-1, 6-0 win over Barber and Elvidge in the decider.
Shropshire's next match is at home against Dorset at the Shrewsbury Club on July 23.
They will then face Berkshire away on August 20 before two more home fixtures, against South Wales on September 3 and Avon on September 11.
