point of learning on Saturday and Sunday for several youngsters.

Ashley Brooks, Crystal Lambert, Craig Bean, John Masters and Jovan Whitter each learned a valuable tennis lesson...the more matches you win, the tougher the competition gets.

It was a case of three up and two down, with Brooks, a Federation Cup prospect, defeating Elizabeth Osborne, who retired while up a set. Brooks won 6-7 (6-8), 4-4 (retired), as Osborne suffered a twisted ankle while leading 2-0 and after suffering through six more games decided to quit.

It was a contest of contrasting styles and one filled with inconsistency as both players were broken four times.

However, despite not playing up to the level expected of her, 12-year-old Brooks remained unperturbed.

"I felt that I was going to win even though she was a set up and had broken me twice in the second set,'' said Brooks. "I knew she was getting tired and I worked her from side to side, and though it was tight I felt confident up until she said she could not continue.'' Teenager Whitter, found himself pushed to the limit before coming away with a 6-4, 6-4 win over John Johnson 7-6 (7-4), 6-4. There was only one break in the match, that coming in the ninth game of the second set and in Whitter's favour.

Another youngster, Crystal Lambert, cut short the aspirations of upset minded Dominique Brassier, winning 6-2, 6-3. Brassier had earned the right to face Lambert through a stunning triumph over third seed Shelly Galvin the day before.

Being brought back to earth with resounding `thuds' were two other juniors, Craig Bean, taught a 6-1, 6-2 lesson by Chris Harris, and John Masters, shattered 6-1, 6-0 by Wilfred Gonsalves.

Men's top seed James Collieson, home after trying his hand on the satellite circuit, showed the value of his experience when he took less than an hour to dispose of Larry Samuels 6-0, 6-0.

BLTA president David Lambert again showed that he `runs things' both on and off the court with victories over Robert Keill 6-1, 6-1 and Lunoe 6-2, 6-3.

Brian Way, playing his first match in nearly two years, teamed with Vidar Lunoe to down Bob Stevenson and Coleridge Place 6-3, 6-3.

Other contests saw Julie Lunn and Shonette Wilson oust Wendy Lawrence and Charmine Smith 6-3, 6-0, while Wendy Gelhay and Jill Finnigan ended the run of Brooks and Lisa DeSilva 6-2, 6-3.

Earl leaders and Eldon Daniels opened their quests for the senior title with straight set victories over Howard Cross and Erwin Leader respectively.

LIGHTBOURNE NETS EQUALISER SOC Lightbourne nets equaliser Kyle Lightbourne ensured honours were even in the local derby between Port Vale and Stoke City at the weekend.

Vale had taken the lead in the Second Division clash after just 10 minutes through Mark Bridge-Wilkinson.

But Stoke were back on level terms five minutes later thanks to the Bermudian international.

Lightbourne saw a brilliant header acrobatically tipped around the post, but from the resulting corner he was on hand to fire home after Vale failed to clear a goalmouth melee.

In the second-half the striker could have ensured he was the toast of the Potteries if a header that struck the crossbar had been fraction of an inch lower.