Bromley secure a spot at finals day and eye repeat of national glory

Halton brushed aside without losing a set in Buckinghamshire

To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.

Bromley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club brushed aside Halton TC in their play-off match on Sunday to move a step closer to defending their national AEGON Team Tennis title.

After mixed results in the group stage, captain Oliver Freelove and his team headed to Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire for a tricky knockout tie where only the winner would progress to finals day in Bournemouth.

Spearheading the charge for the defending champions at the Royal Air Force ground was former World number 84 Jean-Rene Lisnard.

Having reached the last round in the Wimbledon qualifying event a couple of weeks earlier, the Frenchman quickly despatched Halton's Peter Thorne in straight sets 
6-0, 6-1.

Team stalwart Tom Higgins was playing at number two for Bromley and the former British top 20 player didn't disappoint as he comfortably saw off Stuart Pugh 6-2, 6-3.

Andrew Richardson, Bromley's head coach and the former British number three, made light work of Halton's Owen Richards, beating his younger opponent 6-3, 6-1.

In the final singles match, Team Manager and former British number eight Oliver Freelove won their fourth game in a row, beating Halton's Tom Miller 6-2, 
6-1.

With a 4-0 lead and having not dropped a set all day, the two scheduled doubles matches became dead rubbers and Bromley booked their place at the national final.

"It has been a difficult season for us this year," said Freelove.

"Having lost two matches in the group stages we weren't certain of qualification for the finals and we took nothing for granted. Winning all four singles in emphatic style was tremendous and I couldn't have asked for any more from the team.

"We can now focus on defending our title in Bournemouth.

"This won't be an easy task though as we will be up against some of the best players in the country."

The finals take place at The West Hants Club in Bournemouth and run from Friday, July 15 to Sunday, July 17.