Moreton Morrell v Brigands
A perfect day for our final match of the season against the Brigands, a peripatetic team originally formed at Petworth- the court was bathed in sunlight, there was a brand new set of tennis balls to play with, excellent marking by Tom and to top it all Clare’s excellent lunch was much enjoyed...
In the first match Brigand Candida Nicholls, un pirate-like, declined the offer of a handicap and duly paid the price against a rampant Bruce Paxton whose 6/2, 6/1 victory was aided by a string of nick serves but the score was a tad flattering as there were reckoned to be 10 or 11 deuces.
Mark Maclure was keen to avenge a defeat at the hands of Julian Stafford at Cambridge recently and succeeded after plenty of mentoring by the great and the good, winning comfortably 6/3, 6/1 thanks to good serving and decisive shot making although there is photographic evidence to prove that the evil influence of squash is never far away!
Andrew Hamilton and Simon Constantine fought an hour and a half long battle in increasing heat from the midday sun. The Chairman eschewed a handicap in the first set and was also swept aside 6/3. In the second set armed with the proper handicap, he went in to a 4/0 lead which was reduced to 4/4 but held on to win 6/4. The final set was played off half the handicap difference but Simon, whose volleying and backhand had been strong throughout won an entertaining match with a 6/4 final set win.
While the teams enjoyed lunch Martin Harris and Jonathan Lambdon got off to a disappointing start handing the visitors, Malcolm Thorpe and Jonathan Bliss an easy first set 6/2 win. However, they fought their way back successfully, Jonathan in particular being severe on loose serving, brawn triumphing over brain allegedly (the correspondent was at lunch!) A satisfactory 6/3, 6/4 final two sets sealed a Moreton Morrell victory.
An excellent deciding match saw Mark Leefe getting off to a slow start against Leamington’s James Levy whose strong play was responsible for a close 6/5 first set win. It was Mark’s turn to sneak through by the same score line in the second set by which time he was in control, retrieving and serving well to take the match with a 6/3 win.