THREE of Huntingdon Tennis Club s star players helped Cambridgeshire s U18 girls team win promotion to the top flight league for the first time in the county s history. The team has won promotion to the group one league after winning the Junior County C

THREE of Huntingdon Tennis Club's star players helped Cambridgeshire's U18 girls' team win promotion to the top flight league for the first time in the county's history.

The team has won promotion to the group one league after winning the Junior County Cup.

Lisa Whybourn, Emily Crack and Naomi Jackson helped the county to promotion with victories over Durham and Cleveland, by six rubbers to three, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight by the same score.

However, the key match was against Surrey which saw Cambridgeshire win by seven rubbers to two.

Sue Rich, Cambridgeshire team captain, said: "The AEGON Junior County Cup is the highlight of the junior tennis calendar.

"The girls played really well, battling hard in some very close fought matches. The promotion to the top division is a wonderful achievement for Cambridgeshire tennis".

Over the weekend of February 20, Crack managed two wins from her five rubbers. Whybourn, who is ranked 35th in the adult national rankings, was unavailable on Friday.

She made up for her absence by winning all four of her rubbers over Saturday and Sunday.

Fourteen-year-old Jackson, playing at the higher age group, put in some stunning performances winning three from four, only losing the fourth match over three strength sapping sets.

Crack and Jackson were partners for the all important match winning doubles result that secured the win on Saturday.