DORCHESTER Tennis & Squash Club's junior tennis players have been competing in the National Club League.

These are leagues played throughout the country, usually county-based, but with some sides playing in a national premier division.

Dorchester entered age groups from ten and under to 16 and under, and the results have been encouraging for a comparatively small club.

The ten and under boys' squad of George Morrissey, Alex Fairman, Cameron Dabbs, James McKendry and Finn Gayton, have played five matches since the beginning of April.

Considering that most of them have never played a match before, they have done incredibly well in coming third in their league of six teams, only losing narrowly to high performance clubs from Bournemouth.

The 12 and under boys' squad of Levi Gale, Ben Skidmore, Isaac Verkaik, Max Easterbrooke, Robin Hollis and James Dudgeon performed superbly, winning all matches in their league, but narrowly missing out 4-2 in the county play-offs, to a strong Southbourne team.

The 14 and under boys' squad of Justin Smith, Sam McIntyre, Keiron Morrissey, Daniel Way, Ben Powell and Will Peach had some very tough matches, and narrowly lost each match on a shoot-out.

The 16 and under girls' squad came out of retirement to play.

All the girls have given up competing individually, but thoroughly enjoy playing as a team.

They had some very tough matches against girls who are playing at national and county level, and who train seven days a week.

The Dorchester girls did not disgrace themselves and contested some very intense and closely fought matches and are playing regularly in Dorchester's ladies' teams.

Lorna Morrissey has managed the 10 and 14 and under teams, and Sarah Skidmore the 12s and 16s, and they have been extremely impressed by the level of play of the juniors, and their team spirit.

The parents of the children have been supportive in their transportation and supportive roles.