Wrekin Ladies after back-to-back titles

The team won the women's doubles competition last season, just edging out Shifnal at the summit by three points.

Their victory came in their first season in the competition, and Pritchard said the team will be determined to retain their title when the new campaign gets under way next month.

She said: "We will definitely be hungry to win it again. It was very good to taste success last season and we will be entering again to try to defend our title."

The league used to run on weekday afternoons which prevented Wrekin from entering a ladies team because of work commitments.

But the league format was altered for last season with matches being played on Monday nights.

And they took to the competition in style winning six of their seven matches to top the division.

The crunch meeting came against runners-up Shifnal in their penultimate match of the season, which runs from September to April.

A 4-0 triumph for Wrekin proved decisive in the title race and Pritchard told of how the squad are keen to savour that winning feeling again this time around.

She said: "Everyone was delighted to win the league and especially to beat Shifnal to the title because they are an established club and they have some really good players.

"Even though we won the match against them 4-0, winning every rubber, every game was very close so it was a big relief."

Wrekin should be able to field the same squad for the competition this year.

Becky Loxley, Sarah O'Donnell, Brenda Amphlett, Alison Perry, Wendy Mckinnon, Jay Chung, Karen Heath, Kay Palin, Francene Porter, Isobel Bradley and Jean Whitham are all expected to be back in action.

Pritchard said: "We play tennis all throughout the year on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and, once everybody has had their holidays, we will be practicing most club nights in preparation for the new season."

She added that new members are always welcome. The club is based at Oakengates Leisure Centre.

For further information please contact club chairman Alan Pritchard on 01952 242892, e-mail alanp52 @yahoo.co.uk or visit the website at www.wrekintennisclub.co.uk.

Pritchard added that the club will also be determined to win back its mixed doubles title in the new season, having finished second in April to Boughey Gardens of Newport.