HARROGATE and District Tennis League players have been defying torrential rain in a bid to complete matches.
The league season should have been completed a fortnight ago, but the weather has meant that there are still 35 matches outstanding, 10 per cent of the total fixtures.
Ben Rhydding still have four matches to play because their only surface is gras
s.
long-serving league secretary Ian Hargreaves has now extended the season in a bid to clear the backlog.
He said: "I am very pleased by the reaction of team organisers. They have not complained but have just got on with things under very difficult circumstances, even playing in the rain."
Meanwhile, Bedale and Ripon are both within touching distance of promotion to Division One.
Bedale beat Ripon's second team 9-0 to stay top of Division Two with 20 points, while Ripon are just a point behind them.
Ripon's first team defeated Northallerton 9-0, a loss which could spell relegation for their opponents.
Ben Rhydding could still clinch promotion to the top flight, but it would be a major surprise if they did so.
Match details – Bedale 9 Ripon B 0 (Bedale names first): Mark Scarlett and Helen Broadwith beat Simon Sterne and Judith Thompson 6-2 6-5; beat Ben Knox and Tanyia Deacon 6-2; beat Alec Graham and Sarah Knox 6-1.
Paul Swain and Julia Todd beat Sterne and Thompson 6-4; beat Sarah Knox and Deacon 6-4 6-1; beat Graham Knox and Deacon 6-3.
John Hart and Sarah Liddle beat Sterne and Thompson 6-4; beat Knox and Deacon 6-3; beat Graham and Knox 6-2 6-4.
Ripon 9 Northallerton 0 (Ripon names first): Conor Bagnall and Hannah Rogers beat Graham Iveson and Jackie Wonders 8-2; beat James Gledhill and Helen Coulthard 8-5; beat Paul Collier and Sue Pratt 8-2.
James Rowbottom and Helen Worthington beat Iveson and Wonders 8-4; beat Gledhill and Coulthart 8-5; beat Collier and Pratt 8-7.
Steve Grandison and Amanda Mainey beat Iveson and Wonders 8-3; beat Gledhill and Coulthard 8-3; beat Collier and Pratt 8-1.
Other Harrogate and District Tennis results
Division One: Academy A 4 Harrogate Racquets A 5, Boroughbridge 5.5 Thirsk 3.5, Harlow 5 Boroughbridge A 4, Harrogate Racquets 8 Academy 1.
Division Two: Starbeck 3.5 Harlow A 5.5.
Division Three: Knaresborough 1.5 West Tanfield 1.5, West Tanfield 5 Northallerton A 4, Dacre 4.5 Harlow B 4.5, Harlow C 1.5 Knaresborough 7.5.
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