Cambridge Men emerged victorious at this year’s Varsity real tennis match, which was fought out at Lord’s over two days last weekend. The Ladies team could not repeat the Men’s success, but fought hard all the way and put down a marker for 2015.

Cambridge Men Varsity Winners
Ed Kay, Jules Camp, Freddie Kalfayan, Jamie Giddins

The Cambridge men were favourites this year, and Captain Ed Kay, Jules Camp, Freddie Kalfayan and newcomer Jamie Giddins gave an imperious display, winning all their matches, singles and doubles, in straight sets. The Oxford players did their best, but the handicap differences in Cambridge’s favour showed as our players rarely lost more than two games in a set.

The handicap difference was reversed for the Ladies team of Emily Brady, Emma Lord, Sophie Morrill and Venetia D’Arcy, with the Oxford players having a significant advantage in every game. But Cambridge team newcomer Sophie, who only played her first competitive matches a couple of weeks before Varsity, stunned Oxford by winning her tie in straight sets. Sophie is clearly a star for the future, and the experts watching noted how she not only improved with every point, but also stepped up a gear as soon as her Oxford opponent started to get a hold in the second set. Cambridge number one seed Emily Brady took a set off the Oxford top seed, but, despite keeping up a relentless pace in the longest match of the weekend, eventually went down 4-6 in the final set.

Cambridge Ladies Varsity Players
Emily Brady, Emma Lord, Sophie Morrill, Venetia D’Arcy
and an interloper

The final results were 6-0 to the Men, and 1-5 to the Ladies.

Bring on 2015!