The ladies’ team, seeded fourth, started well on Friday at Les Ormes, gaining an unexpected 6-3 win against Avon, the second seeds, in this Division 5b encounter which lasted over ten hours.
However, their hopes of a second consecutive promotion were hampered after a 4-2 lead slipped away to become a 5-4 reverse on Saturday to third seeds Cornwall.
With only the top placed team gaining promotion, it came down to the final day’s play as CI, North Wales and Cornwall were all in with a chance of finishing first.
However, despite a great team performance top seeds North Wales ousted CI 5-4 to gain promotion and with Cornwall defeating Avon 5-4, CI took third with Avon were relegated.
Excellent performances from youngsters Sarah Jones and Kirsten McArthur enabled them to win all three of their singles matches with McArthur also successful in her doubles matches – paired with Guernsey’s Jolien Robinson for two and gaining a walkover with Eva Moynihan in the final match.
Ladies’ captain Rebecca Edwards gave her all playing at No 1, despite being hampered with cramp throughout, and Francesca Dubras also impressed with some powerful play.
The men, playing in Division 6a, suffered a 6-3 defeat by Leicestershire on Friday and with a 9-0 loss to an impressive East of Scotland side, they became locked in a final-day play-off with Isle of Man to avoid finishing last.
CI took the win 5-4, and Isle of Man will undoubtedly leave disappointed as their final doubles match, with the score at one set all, had to be conceded as they needed to leave to catch a plane.
Jersey’s Gareth Roberts, playing at No 2, won two of his three matches as did Guernsey’s Patrick Ogier, playing at No 1.
Ogier also won two of his doubles matches – one paired with Roberts and another with Sarnian Jimmy Woods.
East of Scotland claimed promotion, Leicestershire were second, CI finished third and Isle of Man came fourth.
CILTA officer Hugh Raymond said: ‘The standard of tennis was something I hadn’t seen before.
There wasn’t a weak team and I thought we did excellently.
It was certainly a learning curve for the men but they were saying afterwards they all played well, upped their game, and so none of them are disheartened – it’s great to play against better players.
‘The ladies’ team came close with a couple of the scores going 5-4 against them so they will have learnt a lot by next year and it will be an exciting situation then – I think they could go up next year.’
Ladies: Rebecca Edwards, Jolien Robinson (Gsy), Francesca Dubras, Katie Gouyette, Claire Randell (Gsy), Sarah Jones, Kirsten McArthur, Eva Moynihan.
Men: Patrick Ogier (Gsy), Gareth Roberts, Chris Hickling (Gsy), Jimmy Wood (Gsy), Stefan Cloete (Gsy), Jordan Roberts, Mike Steigenberger, James Faudemer, Matt Harris.
