Rain at the start threatened to end the match before it had even began but after what turned out to be just a passing shower, on went the teams, treading very carefully on the treacherous Westhill tarmac.

First on court were Banchory's first couple Alan Ross and Scott Craig, playing against Westhill's Johnny Lints and newcomer Bart Kosnoski.

Ross and Craig immediately found themselves up against two quality players, with Kosnoski in particular playing extremely well. After a rather academic two sets, the Westhill pairing proved too good and ran out 6-0, 6-1 winners.

Next on for Banchory were Gareth Rennie and Graeme Cowie taking on the solid Westhill pair of Mark Lints and Chris Hodsden.

In the first set, the Westhill pairing showed their dominance and took the set comfortably 6-2.

However, the Banchory boys refused to let their heads go down and started to play some fine tennis themselves. Their good play continued for the duration of the second set, with them deservedly taking the set 6-4.

Banchory were clearly now 'on a roll' and much to their delight, and Westhill's frustration, Rennie and Cowie's fine play continued into the third set.

Lints and Hodsden could not make any headway against the Banchory pairing and as the Westhill couple's patience began to wane, Rennie and Cowie managed to calmly see out the set 6-4 and record a great victory for Banchory.

Rennie and Cowie's fine efforts ensured Westhill only had a tight 3-2 lead going into the singles.

Alan Ross took to the court first for Banchory to play Johnny Lints, facing probably the toughest singles match of his league season.

Despite some fantastic rallies, Ross succumbed to a 6-0 defeat, giving Westhill another point to lead 4-2.

Up next, Banchory's Graeme Cowie took on the crafty Mark Lints. A similar pattern emerged in this match as in the previous, with some good rallies but with Westhill proving just too strong.

The match ended, as in the first, with a 6-0 victory for Westhill.

The third singles saw Scott Craig of Banchory having the unenviable task of trying to salvage a point from Westhill's Bart Kosnoski.

Craig put up a valiant effort against the impressive Westhill newcomer but like his team-mates, fell to a 6-0 defeat.

Injury meant that Westhill's Chris Hodsden had to pull out of his encounter with Banchory's Gareth Rennie, handing Banchory another point meaning the final score ended 6-3 in favour to favourites Westhill.

Despite the defeat, Banchory can take heart from their fighting play against the likely league winners.