Dartmouth’s Phil Clift crowned a first appearance at the Torquay Lawn Tennis Club Championships by winning the men’s Over 55 singles writes Tony Atkins.

He claimed victory over Anthony Lyons 0-6, 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 retired, an injury forcing Lyons to pull up short of the finishing line.

‘I felt my hamstring go and when I stretch­ed to serve it was a bit tricky,’ Lyons, said. ‘I enjoyed the match up to that point and it’s remarkable that this was the first time I have played Phil at singles, given that we have both played at Dartmouth Regatta Week for the last 20 years or more.’

For his part, former Hampshire resident Clift must have thought he was going to sink without trace in the opening set where he failed to win a single game. He said: ‘I am a slow starter but I couldn’t get into a single game in that opening set, but once I got going I gained some momentum.’