CULTC v IC, Fenners, Cambridge, 13th June 2009

CULTC v IC, Fenners, Cambridge, 13th June 2009

Mens Singles and Doubles - grass

CULTC won 8-4

Rob Blythe bt Paddy May 6-7 6-2 6-4

James Ashton bt Simon Bramwell 6-4 3-6 6-3

John Western bt Richard Ground 6-2 7-5

Rutger-Jan Lange lost to Paul Riley 4-6 4-6

Pavel Chichkanov bt Andrew Creighton 3-6 7-5 7-5

Kirill Zavodov lost to Bill Gowans 4-6 6-3 2-6

Lange/Zadodov lost to Riley/May 3-6 3-6

                                lost to Creighton/Gowans 3-6 5-7 (5-10 in champions breaker)

Blythe/Western bt Ground/Bramwell 6-0 6-2

                                bt Creighton/Gowans 6-3 6-2

Ashton/Chichkanov bt Riley/May 6-2 6-2

                                bt Ground/ Bramwell 3-6 7-5 (17-15 in champions breaker)

We had a very enjoyable match against a strong Cambridge team. 4 out of the 6 singles went to 3 sets but sadly other than our GB veteran international Bill Gowans who showed superior fitness, the combination of the opponent and hot weather got the better of us.

The IC were confident that generally their superiority in doubles would pull them through, but Cambridge, only a fortnight before the Varsity Match against Oxford are a far more adept doubles team thanks I suspect to their head coach (and IC member) Nick Brown. CULTC won 4 out of 6 of the doubles although Ground and Bramwell were very unlucky not to win the deciding breaker in their second doubles.

All in all, the match was considerably closer than the final result would suggest. It was a very enjoyable day on the grass with lovely weather and Cambridge’s hospitality was greatly appreciated by the International Club. I have made a note to self that after defeats in the last two years we need strengthen the team and introduce a greater youth policy to ensure a better outcome after the singles round.