Review of the Season
Back in September competition started with the Ogilby Cup handicap doubles which saw a strong field take to the court following a 6 week closure for court maintenance. After some entertaining tennis and in a sign of things to come the pairing of Alan Moug and Vaughan Hamilton proved too strong for Mark Maclure and Andrew Jeffery.
November saw the first of the singles competitions with the Moreton Shield. A notable first round match pitched Will Todd against an improving Tony Branfield with a handicap difference of 25, 30 - owe40, Will was concerned to see Branfield take the first point and set up a quick ‘game point’. However Todd was equal to the challenge saving the 6 game points of the first game and taking every other point in the match on his way to a 5-0 win. His steady form saw Todd work his way to the final where he met David Prophet who had taken an unsteady route only making it into the knock out stages as a late injury replacement. Prophet’s good fortune found its match in Todd’s good form with the final falling 6-3 to the younger player.
In December Alan Moug and Mark Maclure made their second appearance in a final this season this time on the same side in the coveted Christmas Triples alongside Hugh Antrobus. Harry W took the Under 21s title for the second year beating the under 18s world ranked no 2 Vaughan H in the semi-finals prompting a further handicap review by Tom. The Lady Hamilton Trophy final went to three sets in a well fought match between Philippa Twohig-Howell and Mollie Thomas with the honours going to Philippa regaining the title she last won in 2011.
The New Year began with the Garland Cup which saw James Richardson and new member John Franklin contest the final. Richardson raced to a 2-0 lead before Franklin got going and dragged himself back into the match. Richardson twice fought back from owe30-40 but at 4-4 the match slipped away from him with Franklin making use of all of his racket to find the winning shots. In the end the the dedans had to inform a surprised Franklin that he had won the club’s oldest competition.
February’s Ponsonby and Parsons Cup weekend had a feel of deja vu about it. Defending Champions Vaughan Hamilton and Martin Trees retained the Ponsonby Cup while defending champion Andrew Jeffrey held on to the Parsons Cup.
The club championship, the Owen George Cup, again went to Tom Bomford who faced a tough challenge in the final from Patrick Sutton who played well above his handicap. A packed dedans witnessed some excellent rests and fine retrieving from both players with Tom taking the first set 6-4. Patrick fought hard in the second set taking it into a deciding game which Tom was able to clinch thanks to some outstanding shot accuracy.
The Hobson Cup filled the gaps in play between the Owen George matches and saw eleven pairs competing for the title. The final saw Jon Lambdon and Tony Branfield take on the Chairman and Mat Fattorini in a repeat of a group match that had gone to the Lambdon Branfield partnership. On this occasion Hamilton and Fattorini had the upper hand winning 6-3.
June saw Alan Moug feature again in the finals of the year’s remaining doubles completions alongside some familiar faces. Moug and early season partner Vaughan Hamilton took to the court for the Bryant Cup final where they faced Hamilton and Fattorini who were starting their own end of season run of form. As with the Hobson cup the final was a repeat of an earlier group match which Hamilton and a Fattorini had lost 8-1. The pair worked hard to improve and did but only enough to partially close the gap going down 8-5 to Moug and Hamilton.
Hamilton and Fattorini continued their run of form making it to their third final of the year providing Moug’s opposition in the final of the Prince’s Cup. This time Moug was back alongside triples partner Mark Maclure. The first round saw the pair win a group that included John Cook and Jon Farmanfarmai who was playing his first competition games at Moreton in the tournament that honours his father. The final saw Hamilton and Fattorini race to a 6-1 lead before Moug and Maclure clawed their way back to 6-6 and then 7-7. The set went into a decider which was won by Maclure returning the Hamilton serve with a boast under the winning gallery that flew past a disgruntled chairman into a delighted dedans.