The weather forecast was so dismal on Sunday 31 May, we were not at all sure that the Millennium Cup fixture between Telford and Grafton would go ahead, but the skies cleared right on cue and the matches began right on time on Telford’s courts.
Telford Park
As is often the case the scores look as if some of the matches were ill-matched, but in reality the matches were long and hard-fought and none of the wins came easily!
First up were the junior girls – whose match went on for ages, not helped by being interrupted by the rain.
Hattie Binney [TP] eventually wore Katie Diamond [G] down in their long, long rallies to bring in a win for Telford.
The ladies’ doubles pairs were well matched, but Telford’s experienced Rebecca Ruff and Juliet Griffiths played a canny game and won over the youth and power of Nicky Babbage and Rosie Merriman to take Telford to a 2-0 lead.
Meanwhile, the ladies 40+ were battling it out – Hilary Lyle narrowly taking the first set, but then crumbling to Grafton’s Julie Wilson in the second and third.
Both Telford’s Robin Winch and Keith Lavender were on top form, the former in the Mens’ singles against Mike Bright and the latter in the Men’s Vets (Over 40s) against Paul Fatters, but all had very enjoyable games.
Caroline de St Quentin proved to be too much for Grafton’s aptly named Lucy Puddle on such a rainy day, and it was starting to look as if Telford would completely dominate the fixture, but then long time adversaries Ivan Barker [G] and Finn Higgins [TP] faced each other again. Both played well, but Ivan edged it for Grafton.
The Mens’ doubles went to 3 sets with Grafton finally taking the decider.
The final match was relatively short, as Grafton’s Mark Gunner and Rachel Codd proved too strong for the Binnys and then we all retired into the clubhouse for sausage and bacon sarnies and lots of cake.
Thank you Grafton – it was great fun!
Report by Juliet Griffiths, Millennium Cup Captain
Results
Telford Park defeated Grafton 5-4
Women’s Singles: Caroline De St Quentin d Lucy Puddle 6-2 6-0; Men’s Singles: Robin Winch d Mike Bright 6-0 6-2; Women’s Over 45 Singles: Hilary Lyle lost to Julie Wilson 5-7 6-2 6-1; Men’s Over 40 Singles: Keith Lavender d Paul Fatters 6-1 6-3; Girls Under 16 Singles: Hattie Binny d Katie Diamond 6-2 6-3; Boys Under 16 Singles: Finn Higgins lost to Ivan Barker 6-4 6-6; Women’s Doubles: Rebecca Ruff & Juliet Griffiths d Nicky Babbage & Rosie Merriman 6-2 6-2; Men’s Doubles: Steve Graham & Richard Povey lost to Will Ellison & John Dauing 6-1 7-6 6-3; Mixed Doubles: Sally Binny & James Binny lost to Mark Gunner & Rachel Codd 6-2 6-1