NOT even a bye for No 5 player Frances Heneghan could help Evesham's bid for cup success in the Worcestershire League when they faced Horny Hold in the first round.

Their opponents had inflicted a couple of defeats on their visitors and they were again on the wrong side of a 3-2 reverse despite Mary Boyle landing a 3-1 win at No 4.

Lorna Robinson, who battled bravely to save seven match points, and Sarah Bent both succumbed without winning a game so it was left to Louise Nuttall to overcome Lorraine Wilde in the top match.

The latter had memories of 3-0 and 3-1 wins firmly in mind but Nuttall pulled out all the stops to keep herself - and her side - in the match.

She was serving for the match in the fourth game but Wilde fought back to take the game into a decider

Scores: Nuttall lost to Wilde 3-9, 9-5, 10-8, 8-10, 3-9; Robinson lost to Andy Wright 7-9, 4-9, 6-9; Bent lost to Sue Oliffe 4-9, 5-9, 5-9; Boyle beat Hilary Soms 8-10, 9-2, 9-5, 9-5; Heneghan - bye.