TENNIS: Maskens upbeat over promotion bid (From The Oxford Times)

TENNIS: Maskens upbeat over promotion bid

9:58pm Wednesday 22nd July 2009 in

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Oxfordshire captain Jonathan Maskens says their destiny is in their own hands after they qualified for the super league stage in Group 7 yesterday.

Having to complete their match against Wiltshire, held over after Tuesday’s rain, Maskens’ team wrapped up a 5-4 victory.

And although they lost 5-4 to Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire qualified for the super league stage on rubbers won.

Maskens said: “I’m really proud of the way we played today. It was a really tough day because we had to play four rounds of matches due to the Wiltshire match continuing.

“It was a long day, but the boys worked hard.”

Oxfordshire will play South of Scotland on Thursday and Staffordshire on Friday, with promotion to Group 6 a real possibility.

Maskens added: “It’s in our own hands. We carry results through to the super league, and I think we’ve come out of the tougher group, so it could be quite interesting.”

Oxfordshire 5, Wiltshire 4 (Oxon scores, overnight 3-3): J Maskens & J Cartledge won 6-2, 6-1; C Peterson & J Rooney won 6-0, 6-0 (walkover); P Butcher & H Brown lost 4-6, 5-7.

Oxfordshire 4, Bedfordshire 5 (Oxon scores first): J Maskens & J Cartledge won 4-6, 6-3, 10-6 (championship tie-break); won 6-1, 7-5; won 6-7, 7-6, 11-9 (championship tie-break); C Peterson & J Rooney lost 6-7, 4-6; won 6-7, 6-4, 10-5 (championship tie-break); lost 4-6, 4-6; P Butcher & H Brown lost 7-6, 1-6, 5-10 (championship tie-break); lost 3-6, 2-6; lost 6-4, 4-6, 8-10 (championship tie-break).

• Oxfordshire’s women were beaten 8-1 by South of Scotland in Group 4, but put in a much-improved display.

Today they take on Avon.

Oxfordshire 1, South of Scotland 8 (Oxon scores first): V Valimaa & J Muddle lost 0-6, 0-6; lost 4-6, 1-6; lost 0-6, 2-6; L Ackland & K Hazelwood lost 2-6, 2-6; lost 2-6, 3-6; lost 5-7, 2-6; E Tolson & H Booth lost 2-6, 1-6; lost 1-6, 6-7; won 1-6; 6-2, 7-5.