All to play for – the magnificent Millennium Cup trophy
On a lovely late summer’s day with good numbers of spectators making for a fitting climax to this year’s Competition, Wigmore win the 2014 edition of the Millennium Cup.
Although the occasion, maybe, lacked the match-by-match tension of previous finals, there was plenty of excellent tennis to enjoy.
Wigmore win in Final
Venue: Wigmore Lawn Tennis Club. Held on: Sunday 14th September, 2014 Result: Wigmore LTC 7 Norbury Park LTC 2The Men’s events were perfectly matched but Wigmore’s phalanx of 3rd team women proved a little too steady for their Norbury counterparts.
A big ‘thank you’ to Sharon, David and Penny for their customary hospitality and to Murray Sutton for presenting the trophy to the Wigmore team. It was nice to see Alex there too.
Ok, to the Match Report…
The first group of matches saw Gill Mezey [W] and Kate Hazelwood [NP] resume their longstanding Millennium Cup dialogue in the Ladies’ Vets and, remarkably in light of their previous marathons, both ladies decided on a full third set if necessary!!
Action in the Millennium Cup Final 2014
Gill spared them this act of masochism by finding extra momentum to see out the second set 6-2 after a desperately close first set, which she had clinched, 7-5.
As ever, it was a very sporting affair, with generous line calling and mutual praise a-plenty.
Concurrently, the Boy’s singles saw Chad Nguyen [NP] turn the tables emphatically on Max Hamill [W] – a clear victor when the boys played each other just three months ago.
Rather like their first encounter, so many games turned on just who took the big points. 6-1 6-1 to Norbury this time.
Sadly , there was an empty court alongside as Norbury could not find an Under 16 girl. Wigmore’s Christo Oglethorpe helpfully made a quiet suggestion to me, so inappropriate (but very funny) that I cannot bring myself to divulge it!!
So, Wigmore entered the second stage with a 2-1 lead and Carys Alder [W] promptly set about extending it in the Ladies Open Singles, shrewdly hitting to alternate flanks to gradually erode the challenge of a slightly subdued Siobhan Thompson [NP], who had won all four previous matches this year. The 6-2 6-1 scoreline did scant justice to Siobhan’s sheer mileage though… 🙂
Briefly, the whole tie flickered into life as Norbury’s Tom Brown edged ahead of David Chamberlain [W] in a rather bizarre Men’s Open Singles and Marek Strzelichowski [NP] battled back against Wigmore’s John McLean in a gruelling Mens’ Vets encounter.
This latter match was some contest – John outpointing Marek in the first stanza with his greater variety, but Marek inching ahead in the second, his almost superhuman fitness threatening to turn the tide when…disaster of the deja vu kind… Marek’s hamstring went, just as it had on the same courts a year back.
A real shame as these two were drawing quite a crowd.
The Men’s Open Singles see-sawed wildly back and forth with Tom breezing through the first set 6-0, falling way behind in the second before rallying back to 5-5, only for David to take a grip and see out that set 7-5.
It was David, then, who lost the initiative as Tom served at 3-, only for to falter and let his opponent reel off 5 games in a row. A great contest , the only pity perhaps that neither quite played their best concurrently.
The Millennium Cup Finalists 2014 with the trophy
This result also ensured that Wigmore would regain the Vase trophy, although the ensuing Doubles matches were equally well supported.
Sharon Goulds and Sue Jeffries [W] were on top form, both individually and as a unit, as they saw off Lisa Patient and Carole Watson [NP], who couldn’t quite take the chances when they came.
The 6-0 6-1 score was typical of Tennis’s rather callous ledger….shame they don’t count the actual points too… 🙂
The Mens Doubles was, by common consent, the match of the day – happily all 4 players seemingly at, or very near, their best – and played in a great spirit.
Further action in the Millennium Cup Final 2014
Joel Johnson [NP] and Emiliano Zelada [W] were both stylish and effective in equal measure, whilst Yuri Meneghelli’s [W] serving at time defied even the concept of returning it, and Terry McGranaghan [NP] produced a strong contender for shot-of-the-day with a pulverising back-hand down the line.
Oh, and Wigmore prevailed 6-4 7-5.
The Mixed was also highly entertaining with Peter Keely and Anne Boucnik [W] never quite getting to grips with Helen Mountain’s [NP] forehand, which appeared to gather pace as it skimmed off the clay.
Clad from head to toe in black, Helen cut an athletic ‘Emma Peel’ figure, whilst partner Duy Nguyen’s deft but deadly interventions generally took their toll.
The Wigmore pair were scarcely recumbent though, both firing outright winners on a regular basis. Another really well contested rubber, with Norbury sneaking this one 6-4 6-3.
Match report submitted by Nigel Flay (Norbury Park)