Bryant Cup
The midsummer doubles weekend saw a small field take to the court to contest the Bryant Cup which is a plate. But a lack of doubles pairs playing for the trophy did not mean a lack of quality on court with some of the Club’s finest players bandying with representatives from the higher handicap orders. With no pressure on court time matches were able to be contested over 8-game sets.
In Group I, Julian Rawstorne and Chris Creighton-Thomas kept Keith Beechener and Tony Branfield on their toes but perished in the end 5/8. Philip Shaw-Hamilton and recently appeared from the woodwork Ben Irwin, also struggled against Beechener and Branfield succumbing 6/8. In a tense affair Shaw-Hamilton and Irwin took a good lead against Rawstorne and Creighton-Thomas but let the leash slip to 7/7 when Shaw-Hamilton was able to serve to C-T who struggled to return but it was an excellent game of close and entertaining handicap tennis.
In Group II, Alan Moug and Vaughan Hamilton made short work of Hobson Cup winners Mat Fattorini and Andrew Hamilton cruising to a well deserved 8/1 victory. Great supporters from Jesmond Dene, Tony and Fiona Harrison struggled against Hamilton and Fattorini’s cut shots into the corner going down 3/8 but performed well against Moug and Hamilton, achieving a creditable 5 games. At least they could enjoy a fine lunch provided by Mat Fattorini and then play a post prandial doubles with Tony and Ben.
In the Sunday semis, despite handicap tweaking by Tom, Vaughan and Alan trounced Philip and Ben 8/0 both playing excellent tennis. Hamilton and Fattorini weren’t duly troubled by Beechener and Branfield cruising to an 8/4 win. The final matched this year’s Hobson Cup winners A. Hamilton and Fattorini against Ogilby Cup Winners V. Hamilton and Moug with Hamilton and Fattorini planning to win more games than they had the day before. They did perform better, inducing one or two high handicap volleys by Moug! Vaughan, however, was again in tremendous form – his game has come on in leaps and bounds of late and he was ably supported by Alan in their 8/5 victory!
