NICK SEARLES held onto his singles title at the Isle of Wight tennis championships in Ryde.

Last year, doubles team-mates Searles and Lee Matthews faced each other in the final, which Searles captured 6-1, 6-4.

This year, the old adversaries met up again, and it was Searles, manager at Ryde Sports Centre, who again came out on top.

Matthews holds the head of sport role at the Isle of Wight Council and, as a junior, played tennis in the United States after winning a scholarship deal.

The first set was close with Searles finishing the stronger 6-3.

The second set was a dramatic marathon each game producing long rallies.

It was nip and tuck, but neither player was able to break down their opponent's serve.

Searles retained the title when he won the second set tie break 7-2 after Matthews was unable to maintain the momentum needed to topple last years champion.

The decision to move the event from June to September attracted a larger number of entrants in what proved to be an exciting competition.

The men's singles contained a good mix of juniors and seniors.

One of the best matches was a first round encounter between Elliot Bennett and Patrick Ryan, who fought out a three set thriller.

Bennett, despite losing the first set, eventually finished the victor 6-7, 6-3, 7-6.

Keith Johnson and Bryan Willis took the men's veteran doubles title in the three-entrant round robin competition.

They needed a strong performance over Richard Harris and Gordon Steele to finally win 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.

Despite dominating the singles, Searles and Matthews couldn't stamp their authority on the doubles event which they won last year.

They saw off youngsters Stuart Peak and Nathan Steel in the first round.

But then came unstuck when facing the experienced pair of David Fothergill and Richard Hutchins who overturned them 6-3, 6-4.

Fothergill, who is head coach at the Ryde club, and Hutchins, deputy head of Lake Middle School, then faced youngsters John Stevens and Luke Watling in a teacher versus pupil showdown.

A match, which was enjoyed by a very appreciative crowd, saw experience triumph as Fothergill and Hutchins won with a 6-4, 6-1 scoreline.

Stevens and Watling both 16 are two of the club's brightest prospects.

The teenagers have blossomed under the guidance of Fothergill, a coach with 20 years' experience under his belt.