Both Largs Gents sides are in the battle for play-off places as the Ayrshire Doubles League reaches its final weeks.

For the first time this season, relegation/promotion play-off encounters have been introduced for the end of the season for teams which finish in second bottom and second top of each league.

In the second division, Largs 1 had only managed to record one win this season against Prestwick 3 at Douglas Park, but they lost the reverse fixture at Prestwick last Thursday. However, they got a crucial second win away at Carrick on Thursday evening to improve their hopes of survival.

In the fourth division, Largs Gents 2 suffered their first defeat after their decimated team lost at Kilmaurs last Tuesday. They were only able to field four players out of a possible six. Calum Corral and Alex McAulay lost 4-6, 7-6, 6-7 (5-7), while Crawford Boyd and Andy McDowall won by two sets to one 7-6 4-6 6-2. The tie-break defeat in the first game by the narrow margin of two points meant that Largs just missed out on a draw.

At home on Thursday, Largs 2 did manage a draw against Troon in a long battle. Calum Corral (Captain) and Alex McAulay lost 6-7, 6-4, 5-7, Alan McEwing and Andy Jones lost 4-6 2-6 6-2, and Crawford Boyd and Ryan Bunyan continued their unbeaten run with a straight sets victory 6-0 6-4 6-1.