Winchester'S brave - and unexpected - effort to reach tomorrow's Southampton final of the ladies tennis National Club League ended last night.

Winchester had continued their Premier Division campaign in style over the weekend with two wins and a narrow tie-break defeat.

But it meant they needed to beat group title rivals Harpenden by at least 42 in Hertfordshire last night to reach the final, at the Hampshire Tennis & Health Club.

They did win - but only on tie-breaks after finishing 33 after the singles and doubles. And that means Harpenden go through to play Edgbaston Priory (West Midlands), with Connought (Chingford, Essex) playing Frinton (Essex) in the men's final.

But Winchester's brave effort delighted club manager Conrad Young.

"We started the season afraid we would be relagated but the team have played exceptionally well - particularly last night against a very good team, he said. "I think it may say something about the opposition we faced overall. I don't think it was as good as expected."

Young praised non-playing captain Karen Cayley for her motivation of the team.

Winchester had started the weekend with a resounding win against Rawdon from Leeds, then travelled to Gosling to lose by the narrowest of margins before a surprise home win over Holcombe Brook of Yorkshire.

Winchester, reinforced by the addition of Barbara Jaspers from Holland, were in top form against Rawdon.

Julie Dawson and Jaspers made short work of opponents Trinder and Gregg and Russian ace Marfina brought in another win.

Rawdon captain Jane Donald beat Sally Turner but Julie Salmon and club coach Joan Caplen stepped in for the doubles and helped complete a 5-1 rout. Gosling's Karen Cross beat Winchester's Dawson but wins by Jaspers and Marfina kept Winchester in it against Gosling before tie breaks settled it.

Against Holbombe Brook Winchester came from 2-0 down with Marfina and 17yearold Carly Homewood winning singles and Winchester romping home 4-2 after the doubles.

At Harpenden, Winchester looked in with a chance as Dawson and Jaspers both won. Young Homewood also took the first set against Clare Carter but could not force home the advantage.

Tomorrow's final at the Hampshire club starts at 10.30am, with spectators welcome. The winners will receive £5,500 and a mixture of top British and overseas players will be in action.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.