Questions:
Any questions should be addressed to Kees or to the Graduate
Cup Organiser:
Adrian Grange, Tel: 01638 780275 e-mail:
In the unfortunate absence of David
Woodman through injury, Rod
McNaughtan played first string against Camden Riviere
who had just arrived from New York where he reached the semi
final of the US Open and won the doubles in partnership with
Tim Chisholm. Rod, faced with this formidable opposition,
played probably the best tennis of the season. Undeterred
by losing the first game, after holding four advantage points,
he gave as good as he got to reach 5-5 and then pulled out
something extra to take the set 6-5, finishing with an emphatic
grille .He led 4-1 in the second set, and Cambridge hopes
were high, but Camden, ever cool in a crisis, kept his head
and calmly took the next eleven games for the match.
Cambridge were represented in the second singles by Marc
Seigneur, the Leamington Professional, who faced Spike Willcocks.
Spike had just won the Tuxedo Gold Racquet, disposing of Nicolas
Victoir in the final, but he seemed to have left that form
in America as he produced a series of uncustomary errors from
the outset, so much so that, in no time at all, Marc had taken
the first set, unbelievably, 6-0. Spike took the first 3 games
of the second set but Marc, from 1-4 down fought extremely
well to reach 5-5 which again raised hopes for Cambridge.
However, Spike was in control of the vital deciding game and
having won it, took control of the match, winning the final
set 6-2. So near but yet so far for Cambridge in both matches.
The doubles, a dead rubber, went to RTC, the more experienced
pairing, 8-1. Although naturally disappointed by the outcome
Cambridge can take consolation from the fact that Rod McNaughtan
showed himself capable of filling a number 1 position in next
year's Premier League.
This was the final fixture of the season with Cambridge 1
already assured of a place in the final and
Cambridge 2 needing two points to reach the
play off.
Rod McNaughtan led
for Cambridge 2, determined to make up for his disappointing
loss to Tom Durack the previous Sunday when he had been ahead
5-2 in both sets. Rob Fahey helpfully remarked that perhaps
someone should teach him to count to six. This time he came
fast out of the blocks and quickly led 3-0 and 40-0, the last
point a neat backhand volley to the grille, before Neil
counterattacked, though in a game of 21 rests he needed three
grilles and a final force which clipped the net before finding
the dedans to win it. Neil was not having the best of games,
as the occasional Scottish curse (at himself) indicated, and,
although he reached deuce in two of the next three games he
could not prevent Rod taking them all to win the first set
6-1.
Neil won the first game of the second set and led in the
next before Rod took it on his third advantage point to level.
The writing was now on the wall as he raced to 4-1 and, after
conceding the next, he won the following game to love in four
rests for 5-2 and then, converting his first advantage point,
took the set 6-2. Probably a match that Neil would prefer
to forget but all credit to Rod for securing the vital 2 points
for Cambridge 2.
David Woodman, fresh
from his victory over Nick Wood, then took on Rob
Fahey. The match started spectacularly with David winning
the first four points, the last a winning gallery, to lead
1-0. Rob then quickly found the range with two consecutive
main wall dedans which David countered with a grille and a
straight force to the dedans. Rob reached his first advantage
point with a grille but David found a second winning gallery
to level and Rob needed two more advantage points before levelling
at 1-1. He won the next game to love before David, leading
40-15, volleyed Rob’s next serve into the dedans for
2-2. Perhaps stunned by this impertinence, the world champion
then exerted a certain measure of control and, although David
contested every point, took the next fours games for the set
6-2.
In his previous encounter with Rob, David had won a total
of four games and a similar result looked possible, but David
had other ideas. Playing a fine all court game at great speed
and with good shot selection he took the first game of the
second set to love, finished off the next with a grille at
advantage and the following one from the hazard end with a
main wall dedans, also at advantage. Rob, as was to be expected,
immediately fought back and, although the next two games went
to deuce he took them both and the following one to 15, to
level at 3-3. David, to his great credit, held his ground
and took the vital seventh game to 30 before Rob levelled
at 4-4, helped by a serve which hopped into the winning gallery
and finishing with a grille. Brought back to deuce by a winning
gallery in the next, David forced for the dedans for advantage
which he converted to take the lead once again, and then,
going for the set, he forced Rob to pull out of his locker
a grille, a winning gallery, a force to the dedans and two
main wall dedans in order to level at 5-5. Far from disconcerted,
David ran straight to 40-0 in the deciding game and, finding
himself at the hazard end and facing a chase of 1and 2 he
produced a thunderbolt of a force which Rob got a racket to
but could not control, giving David the set 6-5.
The deciding set was perhaps a slight anticlimax. David said
afterwards that he had expended so much energy, mental rather
than physical, in the previous set that his powers of concentration
were exhausted and he succumbed 6-0 though continuing to battle
hard, particularly in the last two games, both of which went
to deuce. It is interesting that both of David’s first
two encounters with Nick Wood followed a similar pattern in
the deciding set, whereas we all know what happened in the
third. David will almost certainly get another opportunity
to take on Rob in the quarterfinals of the US Open in New
York later this week. We wish him all the luck and await the
result with anticipation.
For the first time this season the doubles was not vital
to either side as the result could not affect their positions
in the league. Nevertheless, the players managed to produce
some entertaining tennis. McNaughtan began serving with Fahey
electing to receive but, with Roxburgh still not firing on
all cylinders, and the Cambridge 2 pair combining well in
what was the conclusion of a two year partnership in the league,
the latter went ahead to 5-2 and then 7-4. It looked all over
but then, for some inexplicable reason, they lost the plot.
Cambridge 1, without doing anything too spectacular, won the
next four games, only two of which went to deuce and without
even one advantage point to Cambridge 2. Fortunately, it did
not matter and we all wish them the best of luck when they
face R.T.C. at Queens on 15th March in the play off for a
place in the final.
Mens
results (55Kb MSWord)
Ladies results (55Kb MSword)
The Pol
Roger sponsored Real Tennis Varsity matches took place
over two days at Lord’s.
The Men’s Varsity match has traditionally been held
at MCC however this was the first year in its 15 year history
that the Ladies Varsity match was also played at Lord’s.
The Cambridge Men’s team was the strongest team to
have ever been fielded by a Cambridge or Oxford side and,
on paper, Oxford were facing a tough struggle. This is a tribute
to the professionals at Cambridge University Real Tennis Club
as 3 of the 4 students had not played Real Tennis before coming
up to Cambridge.
The first day of the contest witnessed the Mens’ doubles.
The first match on saw the number two strings of Neil Roxburgh
and Burak Salgin of Cambridge take on Ted Alexander and Alex
Holbourn of Oxford. The Oxford pair, battled well in this
contest, with Holbourn showing adroit skills at the net and
Alexander demonstrating a true Australian grit, attacking
every ball that he could. Such was the success of their approach,
that the Cambridge duo seemed to find it difficult to settle
into a rhythm. But the light-blue pairing dominated on the
whole with Salgin exploiting his skill as an accomplished
volleyer and Roxburgh, now an experienced campaigner, providing
a solid defense of the dedans. Their 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory
opened the score-card for Cambridge.
The number two strings were followed on court by Cambridge’s
Jamie Douglas and David Woodman, who took on Alistair Mitchell-Innes
and Branden Thornhill-Miller, of Oxford. Douglas was especially
impressive in this encounter demonstrating a cool approach
in his first ever Varsity match. Cambridge swiftly finished
the match, 6-3, 6-0, 6-0.
Saturday saw the Mens’ singles competition. Oxford
were still able to win at this point but, judging by the relative
handicaps, it seemed unlikely that they would pull off a victory.
In the first Oxford’s Holbourn fought for every ball
and did not concede any rally, defending the grille with some
impressive volleys. However, as in the doubles match, Douglas
again impressed massively. He came out victorious, 6-0, 6-1
and was deservedly made Man of the Match.
Salgin was on next in the third strings singles and, having
played his opponent, Thornhill-Miller, in last year’s
second team Varsity match, he knew what to expect. Thornhill-Miller
is renowned for his ‘never say die’ attitude,
a tactic which can work well on the Lord’s court, a
court which is surely more similar to the Oxford court than
the Cambridge one. However, Salgin was not deterred from his
job and rallied consistently and with good, penetrative shots
into the corners. This proved too much for Thornhill-Miller
and Salgin emerged the winner, 6-2, 6-1.
The second string singles match was between Neil Roxburgh
and Ted Alexander, who had played very well in the opening
doubles match. Roxburgh is renowned for his hitting ability
and put this to good effect in this match, forcing where appropriate
for the wining openings. Alexander was up to the task, though,
and tenaciously threw himself at every ball, exploiting any
loose shot on the forehand side by stroking it into the grille.
However, it was not to be for Oxford as Roxburgh proved just
too strong and canny a player and won convincingly, 6-1, 6-1.
Finally, with the match already won for the Cambridge side,
it was the turn of the number one players, David Woodman of
Cambridge, and Alistair Mitchell-Innes of Oxford. Mitchell-Innes
managed to impress in this match, especially with his defense
of the dedans, something which he had been particularly successful
at doing in the doubles match the day previously. Mitchell-Innes
also played for the corners well but Woodman eventually ran
out the victor, 6-0, 6-0. Cambridge Men winning the Varsity
match 6-0
In the Ladies Varsity match the singles were played on the
first day with the two doubles matches played on the final
day. Up first were the fourth string singles. Oxford’s
Louisa Jarvis started strongly with powerful forehands forcing
errors from Cambridge’s Charlotte Barker. However, in
the second set, Barker began to find her feet and began to
dominate with some excellent serving. Alas she was pipped
at the post as Jarvis fought back to win the match 3-6, 5-6.
The third string singles proved to be one-way traffic as
Cambridge’s Rachel Wheeler never looked in trouble,
breezing past Oxford’s Beatrix Emo-Capodilista to win
6-2, 6-2. The second string singles at first appeared to be
a much tighter affair. Both players appeared very much at
ease on the Lords court. However, the superior play by Marsali
Grant with beautiful shots very tight to the walls proved
too much for Oxford’s captain Zara Chadowitz. A very
well deserved win 6-1, 6-0.
To maintain the early Cambridge lead the Cambridge’s
Captain, Helen-Frances Pilkington had to pull off a big upset
– to overcome her opponent Clare Watson ranked in the
top 20 women players in the world. Predictably, the first
set was one-sided as Watson’s superior shots took their
toll. However, Pilkington fought back hard in the second with
some devastating serving and powerful volleys to level the
match at 1 set all. Unfortunately, she could not maintain
this standard and eventually succumbed in three sets 1-6,
6-4, 2-6.
The next day’s play was eagerly anticipated as, with
the match levelled at two all, it was all to play for. The
second string doubles of Cambridge’s Wheeler and Grant
squared up against Oxford’s Chadowitz and Emo-Capodilista.
Having won both of their respective singles, the Cambridge
pair were the favourites. Oxford did their best to upset things
but the superior shots of the Cambridge pair secured them
the first set. Things did not run quite so smoothly in the
second set as the Oxford pair upped their play with some punishing
shots into the corners. Not to be outdone, the Cambridge pair
consolidated their play to come out victorious 6-3, 6-5
Cambridge’s first string doubles Helen-Frances Pilkington
and Charlotte Barker faced the formidable pairing of Oxford’s
Claire Watson and Louisa Jarvis. Surprisingly, the first set
went very much to plan as the Cambridge pair dominated with
some beautiful serves and some excellent retrieving. However,
the second set was rather different as Oxford’s pair
started to return the serves much better and the Cambridge
pair started to make errors. At one set all the Cambridge
pair decided to swap the serving order. This change had the
desired effect as the Oxford rhythm was upset. The match point
was won by a low backhand from Pilkington who deservedly won
the Lady Player of the Match. The final score 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.
Cambridge Ladies winning the Varsity match 4-2; the first
victory for Cambridge Ladies in the 15 year history of the
match.
The 2006 Varsity match at Lord’s was a splendid occasion.
It was very much bolstered by the presence of the ladies’
event at the same time, which added an extra level of atmosphere.
The Cambridge teams would like to thank all those who contributed
to the success of this match; the markers at Lord’s,
the professionals at Cambridge for their unfailing support
and encouragement, Nigel and Fiona Brown, without whom tennis
would be impossible for students at Cambridge, Sam Leigh and
Brian Sharpe, who give so much to the game of tennis and who
always ensure that the event is a great success at Lord’s,
Richard Kimber, whose passion for the game is an inspiration
to all and, of course, to the generous sponsor, Pol
Roger. Long may this all continue.
Fixtures are coming thick and fast as we approach the end
of the season, and with three matches within a period of five
days it is a rush to keep up, so apologies for any oversights.
Firstly, on 22nd February Cambridge 1 travelled to Seacourt
where Neil Roxburgh
took on Adam Player whom he had defeated at Cambridge. However,
Adam had in the meantime won the Seacourt Silver Racquet and
Neil was playing for the first time on a court with a big
home advantage. Nevertheless, he had the benefit of advice
from Peter Paterson and a half-hour
hit with Rob before
the match. One or the other (or both) must have worked as
he went off like a train, dictating the play and quickly taking
the first set 6-2. He led 2-0 in the next but then Adam began
to find his game, and with Neil making a few errors, won the
next five games, although the last four were all hard fought
deuce games. In the seventh Neil hit three grilles but still
lost it on Adam’s second advantage point to trail 2-5,
and in spite of getting one back for 3-5 he could not prevent
Adam finding the galleries when playing off a hazard chase
and taking the set 6-3. This state of affairs prompted Rob
to give some advice from the galleries which was to serve
railroads and when returning “ take it high”.
The coaching worked as Neil hit some excellent shots deep
to the corner of the service end and on that court they tend
to stay there. He led 2-0 was caught at 2-2, led 4-2 and was
level at 4-4. He then played two excellent games, particularly
the second of them where he hit two grilles, one on the backhand,
before executing an impossible looking get at the hazard end
which gave him his second advantage point. This he converted
to win the match 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 giving him his third singles
win in the league.
Rob Fahey then played
his fellow Tasmanian Brad Dale who has a handicap of 1. Rob
started rather slowly by his standards and, although leading
4-2 allowed Brad his moment of glory, a love game of four
rests which included a neat winning gallery. By then, however,
Rob was starting to find the range with his main wall dedans,
hitting eight of them in the set to take it 6-4. The second
set was more one sided, Rob winning 6-1 and hitting 4 more
main wall dedans in the process.
The Cambridge pair have a good record in doubles having lost
only their first match, and that narrowly, but they found
stiff opposition at Seacourt, finding themselves quickly 1-3
down. They recovered to 4-4 but the match was level at 5-5
and again at 6-6 before Cambridge steadied the ship and took
the next two games fairly comfortably for and 8-6 victory
and the match 3-0.
The following day Cambridge 2, badly in need of points, received
RTC at Cambridge, The first match between Ben Ronaldson of
RTC and Rod Mcnaughtan
of Cambridge was level at 2-2 when in the fifth game Ben at
the service end ran forward for a short ball and acknowledged
that in the process that he had touched the net. Rod failed
to hear the call in time to prevent himself unleashing a force
to the dedans. Ben was unsettled by this incidence and in
spite of his partner’s encouragement didn’t recover
his composure for the rest of the match, finally losing 6-3,
6-1.
David Woodman then
faced Camden Riviere who had defeated him 2 sets to 1 at Hampton
Court, and there ensued the most exciting match seen at
Cambridge this season.
At 0-1 David neatly found the last gallery to win a chase
of worse than the last to level and then went ahead to 3-1
though he required three consecutive forces to finish the
fourth game. He led 4-2 and, in the process, demonstrated
some fine floor shots, particularly to the forehand corner
of the service end, thus giving the lie to the “ expert”
at the British Open who proclaimed that Woodman only had one
shot. Camden levelled at 4-4 but David immediately responded
by finding the hazard galleries, playing off a chase of worse
than the door to edge ahead 5-4 and then went quickly to 40-0
in the next before clinching it after a long rest to take
the set 6-4.
Camden swiftly counter attacked to win the first three games
of the second set. The pace was fast and furious as no one
is quicker than David about the court and Camden is not far
behind. However, it is worth noting that although a few years
younger than David, he has in fact, been playing the game
far longer, having first gone on court at Aiken at the age
of five. The impression in this set was that David had to
employ higher risk shots than Camden to stay in the rests,
so that errors were bound to occur. Camden led 5-2 and although
David got a game back, produced a good grille in the next
for the set 6-3.
The deciding set found a very determined David taking a 3-1
lead, but then Camden showed that he has an old head on young
shoulders. Of the next four games only one went to deuce,
and there were only four chases, but Camden edged them all
to lead 5-3. David fought back courageously to win the next
on his second advantage point and the following game to 30
for 5-5, but Camden held his nerve to take the final one to
30 for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-5 victory.
David was naturally disappointed but his coach was less so,
opining that with a little better shot selection there was
hope of great things to come – bit of a prophet our
coach, as will be seen shortly.
The deciding doubles produced some fine exchanges from two
experienced pairs. The match was level at 3-3 before RTC began
to dominate and took a 6-3 lead. The next game required two
of David’s best forces to finish it in Cambridge’s
favour and the same player produced a neat backhand flick
to the winning gallery to recover to 5-6. However, RTC took
the following game on their third advantage point to lead
7-5 and things were looking ominous for Cambridge, but the
fat lady had not sung. Rod produced a fine force on their
first advantage point to get a game back and, strangely enough,
the next two were also won on first advantage point to Cambridge
to give them victory by 8-7. A narrow squeak, but one that
could make all the difference in their efforts to reach the
play offs.
Rod McNaughtan started
for Cambridge against Tom Durack with Cambridge hoping to
pick up 2 points since Neil
Roxburgh had recently defeated Tom on the same court.
Unfortunately it was not to be as Rod, although leading 5-2
in both sets, inexplicably lost form at a vital moment and
succumbed 6-5, 6-5. Rod loyally maintains that the fact that
he attended Adam Phillip’s stag party the night before
had no effect on the result.
David Woodman, therefore
had a mountain to climb as he faced Nick Wood the world number
5. In the first set David began rather as he had against Camden
a few days before covering the court efficiently but with
a marked improvement in shot selection. His one comparative
weakness was perhaps a lack of tightness in serve which enabled
Nick to put him under pressure with his return of serve and
allowed Nick to take the first set 6-4. To David’s credit
he greatly improved his service in the second set particularly
by employing his excellent underarm twist which gave him the
upper hand at the service end. This coupled with David’s
determination to move Nick around the court by means of his
outstanding floor game won him the second set. This meant
that David for the third time against Nick Wood was playing
a deciding set, but whereas, on the previous two occasions
he had had fallen away this time was the complete opposite.
Showing great powers of concentration and determination he
ran Nick around the court a forced him finally into too many
errors and took the set convincingly 6-2. This was a career
best for David and he deserves much congratulations His reward
is to challenge Rob Fahey tonight, Thursday 2nd March, in
what promises to be an exciting match with probably a further
opportunity against the world champion in the quarter final
of the U.S Open.
The doubles which followed went very much in favour of Cambridge
from the outset. Although David will admit, in his state of
euphoria, to making one or two errors, Rod raised his game
and contributed some fine play so that Cambridge quickly ran
out the winners 8-2 and took the match 5 point to 2.
Stop press: Last night, Wednesday
1st March, Petworth 1 defeated RTC 1 at Manchester taking
6 points to 1. This means that tonight Cambridge 2 needs 2
points to qualify for the play offs whereas Cambridge 1 are
assured of a path direct to the final.
This was the return fixture, the first encounter having ended
2-1 at Petworth in favour of Cambridge.
Neil Roxburgh who had lost to Tom Durack there was looking
for revenge and was well prepared, having beaten a 7 handicap
player in the Field trophy at Queens the previous Sunday.
He always plays attacking tennis, taking risks particularly
on the volley, but on this occasion he succeeded in reducing
the error count and was impressive, particularly with his
low volleyed return of serve to the forehand corner. Although
he lost the first game to a grille at advantage point he won
the next to love and the third with a grille of his own at
advantage, having recovered from 0-40. He went quickly to
4-1 and then, serving at advantage and defending a chase of
5 yards he neatly found the hazard galleries to lead 5-1,
and although Tom clawed a game back on his second advantage
point, Neil was not to be denied and, reaching 40-0 with a
spectacular backhand volley to the grille, he then attacked
a chase of first gallery with a hard cross court boast which
fell chase 6 to give him the first set 6-2.
In the second set, leading 2-1 and 40-0, he appeared to press
slightly in his keenness to finish the match and made one
or two errors to allow Tom to level. However, he stuck to
his task and won the next two longish games in very determined
fashioned to lead 4-2. Tom fought back to 3-4 before Neil
produced a love game for 5-3 and another at 5-4 to win 6-2,
6-4. In the opinion of one of his fellow Varsity team members
he had fought a good scrap at Queens but had played much the
better tennis on this occasion. Peter Paterson had better
watch out for his number two spot in the club!
Rob Fahey who had arrived the previous day from Melbourne
and was due to fly the following day to Boston, then took
on Nick Wood whom he had defeated at Petworth and who was
still suffering from a persistent wrist injury. Rob, perhaps
a little out of condition, attacked from the start, accepting
the consequent errors, and with neither player appearing to
want to stay on court longer than absolutely necessarily they,
nevertheless, produced a most exciting exhibition of tennis
for the spectators.
After some furious opening exchanges Rob, leading 3-2 and
at advantage forced an error from Nick in defending a main
wall boast and from there he raced ahead to take the first
set 6-2, finishing it off with his second unreturnable serve
of the match.
Continuing in the same vein in the second set Rob ran into
some fine play from Nick who took the first two games and
then the third, though he required 3 advantage points as Rob
fought to stop the rot. Completely unphased, the World Champion
took the next four games in rapid time and Nick needed all
his artillery in the following one, hitting a force to the
dedans for advantage, a main wall dedans for his second advantage
and a final force to the dedans before levelling at 4-4. This,
however, appeared to exhaust his ammunition as Rob went quickly
to 5-4 and in the next game hit yet another grille to reach
advantage, followed by a force to the dedans for the set 6-4
and the match 6-2, 6-4. In the course of the encounter Rob
had hit 5 straight forces, 7 main wall dedans and 14 grilles,
not forgetting 1 winning gallery.
Petworth began the doubles with Tom serving so that Rob received
and thus Neil had the new and interesting experience of serving
to and receiving from Nick. Both Neil and Tom took a little
time to pick up the pace again after their break which resulted
in some errors, particularly on the volley. There were, nevertheless,
some entertaining exchanges including, in the sixth game,
a spectacular overhead smash to the dedans from Rob which
was countered by a fine winning gallery by Nick to bring the
sides level at 3-3. Cambridge led 4-3 and 40-0 in the next
when Rob produced a great volley to the dedans for 5-3. The
following game was well contested but went also to Cambridge
and then, in the next, unfortunately Nick’s injury proved
too much and Petworth were forced to retire. It was a sad
end to the evening and we wish him a full and speedy recovery.
