The annual championship final at Castle Hill Tennis Club produced an enthralling contest to match the excitement of the competition as a whole.

It was the culmination of more than 100 matches played over the course of the summer, which kicked off at the start of the grass court season in May.

Each of the 13 players who entered had to play each other once in a league before the top four advanced to the semi-finals.

The remaining nine now go into the Philippa Francis Plate.

The final was between Keith Nuttal and Mick Lench and it provided a hard-to-call contest.

Both players chased down shots throughout, some they had no right to get back.

In the end Lench came out the eventual winner 6-3 6-4, coming back from 2-0 down in the second set.

The court was hard and had a few surprise bounces but overall it played well.

For more information about the club, call Pete Smith on 01799 520454 or go to the website at www.castlehilltennisclub.co.uk