England’s women got their European Championships campaign off to a positive start in Luxembourg today, but there was double disappointment for the men.

Tin-Tin Ho won both her singles matches against Greece and Kelly Sibley saved a match point on her way to defeating Aikaterini Toliou as England recorded a 3-1 victory in Group G of the Women’s Challenge Division. Maria Tsaptsinos was the other player on duty.

England have two group matches tomorrow, against Slovenia – who they beat twice in the qualifying campaign – and Israel.

The men’s squad started with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Netherlands in Group E of the Challenge Division, with 3-1 individual defeats for Sam Walker, David McBeath and Tom Jarvis.

It got a bit better against Denmark, as Walker put the Leopards 1-0 in front with a victory over Anders Lind. But two wins for Jonathan Groth against Jarvis and Walker – the latter 12-10 in the fifth – and Tobias Rasmussen’s victory over McBeath meant Denmark came back to win 3-1.

England’s final group match is against Ireland on Thursday.

As well as the England squads, four English umpires are on duty in Luxembourg over the five-day competition – Neil Curtis, Alan Thomas, Nico Caltabiano and Harry Jutle.

Men’s Group E
Netherlands 3 England 0
Ewout Oostwouder bt Sam Walker 3-1 (11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7)
Laurens Tromer bt David McBeath 3-1 (12-10, 12-10, 10-12, 13-11)
Rajko Gommers bt Tom Jarvis 3-1 (11-4, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5)

Denmark 3 England 1
Walker bt Anders Lind 3-1 (11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7)
Jonathan Groth bt Jarvis 3-0 (11-3, 11-6, 11-7)
Tobias Rasmussen bt McBeath 3-0 (11-6, 14-12, 11-6)
Groth bt Walker 3-2 (9-11, 11-7, 11-1, 5-11, 12-10)

Women’s Group G
England 3 Greece 1
Tin-Tin Ho bt Maria Christoforaki 3-1 (6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8)
Kelly Sibley bt Aikaterini Toliou 3-2 (11-13, 4-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-9)
Georgia Zavitsanou bt Maria Tsaptsinos 3-1 (11-8, 15-17, 13-11, 11-6)
Ho bt Toliou 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-5)