Day 1: Sunday 11 December
This was a very entertaining game of racquets between two evenly matched players. The first two games saw multiple changes of serve as neither player was able to dominate. In the first it looked like Max would win as he had two hands at 12 - 10 but was unable to advance the score which let the Marlboroughian off the hook. In the second Max then had to fight very hard as he initially trailed 0 - 8 and then did extremely well to win in the set. The final game saw the Marlborough player immediately take a commanding 8 - 0 lead from which Max never recovered.
In this match there was some very impressive racquets from two relatively inexperienced players. James stormed through the first game by serving a very good length which never gave the Harrovian a chance. The second game was the best of the match which saw some very good service returns from both players and a number of multi-shot rallies. In the final game James regained his dominance in the serve and was more consistent returning serve in the back-hand court to secure victory. Roger Smeeton (Teacher of Music) and the Taylor family all enjoyed James’ first outing at the Queen’s Club.
Day 2: Monday 12 December
As seen from the scoreline, this was a match of titanic proportions with some excellent rallies and neither player being able to dominate from the service box. Having led for much of the first game John won in the set (to 5) having saved a game point and being 1 - 4 down. John again led in the second game but could not advance the score beyond 12 to eventually concede that game to the competitive Cheltonian. The final game had John, once again in a commanding lead, but he kept everyone in the gallery interested by only taking match point at the fifth time of asking. All-in-all a most entertaining match of racquets.
John came up against the eight seed in the second round and despite some heroic rallies could not deny Beard from Rugby. The bustling, high-energy serve of the opposition player was too much on the day, though John could walk off the court with his head held high.
This was a tough first round match for Ben when he drew this talented Radlian. The extra pace the opposition player injected kept Ben on the backfoot in both the rallies and when serving and then when Ben got the chance he couldn’t find his normal effective length from the service box.
This match saw Alex at somewhere near his best when playing this boy from Radley, being confident in the rallies and consistently hitting an excellent length in the serve. A very pleasing win.
This match contained some good quality racquets from both players, but eventually the greater composure of the St Pauline proved decisive on the tricky Old Court. Alex couldn’t find the correct length when serving and then in the rallies the opposition player was very measured in his play consistently hitting telling shots down the side walls which despite Alex’s best efforts were very difficult to retrieve.
Day 4: Wednesday 14 December
Nils Raber (Renny Cup: Second string U18 Competition): Lost 0 - 2 15/17 9/15
This was a high-tempo entertaining game of racquets from to evenly matched players. Both bustled around the court in an energetic fashion and kept the gallery entertained with some good rallies. First the Cliftonian seemed to be in the ascendency as he served for the first game at 14 - 11 before Nils forced him out then taking the game to the set. The serve then exchanged hands twice before the Clifton boy finally won. In the second game Nils stormed back and looked well-placed when serving at 9 - 4, then despite working very hard he could not advance his score and finally lost having saved a match point.