The Varsity Match 2015
The Varsity Match 2015, played at Lord’s, 27th/28th Feb
Ladies' Match - Cambridge won 4-2
Match Reports
Singles:
4th String match – Evelyn Fleming vs Emily Brady (4-6, 1-6 to Cambridge)
We kicked off with Evie and Emily, Handicaps 60 and 53, respectively. Evie was new to real tennis this year, but she plays beautifully, has great potential and her handicap has dropped quickly. The girls were neck and neck up to 4-4 in the first set, playing a great standard of tennis, with low balls, corner to corner shots and long rallies. Emily was too good a server and retriever however - it was a real challenge to get the ball past her, and she took the first set 6-4. In terms of technique and style, the girls were pretty even, however in the end, Emily’s experience showed through. She took control of the game in the second set with her winning serves, and won 6-1.
3rd String match – Clare Bucknell vs Karen Pearce (3-6, 6-5, 1-6 to Cambridge)
Clare looked a little nervous to start and went down in the first set 6-3, with Karen hitting some winning shots in the nick at the back and simply getting everything back. Clare was 4-2 down in the second set, however, with some encouragement from the dedans, she finally got into her stride, hitting some tight serves and finding the tambour. With a phenomenal comeback she won the second set 6-5. In the third, despite Clare returning a high proportion of her tambour attempts, Karen drove ahead, hitting all the right spots, with the most effective amount of pace. She has improved immensely since last year, and took the third 6-1.
2nd String match – Isabel Hunt vs Venetia D’Arcy (6-3, 6-1 to Oxford)
Venetia and Izzy looked pretty even to start at 2-2, and their handicaps were the most level of the matches. Then Izzy managed to slip ahead with some tight serving and carefully placed tambour balls, going up 4-3. Getting a good run at the service end and mixing up some strategic serves led to Izzy taking the first set 6-3. She also looked rock solid in the second set and hit the tambour and grille with high efficiency. Venetia hit some tactical gallery chases, but she could not do enough at the service end to prevent Izzy getting some short chases, which led to her serving to victory in the second set 6-1.
1st String match – Maggie Henderson-Tew vs Sophie Morrill (4-6, 2-6 to Cambridge)
Maggie and Sophie got off to a flying start, with superb rallies and excellent ball placing on both sides. Sophie was the ringer of last year’s Varsity match, but we knew Maggie was up to the challenge. At 3-3, there was everything to play for, but Sophie made some first-rate serves and took the first set 6-4. In the second set, Sophie got into her stride, hitting the ball strongly and with great precision. Maggie fought incredibly well and never gave up, getting some unbelievable returns, however Sophie was just too accurate, and won the second set 6-2.
Doubles:
Second string match - Clare Bucknell & Isabel Hunt vs Venetia D’Arcy & Karen Pearce (6-2, 6-1 to Oxford)
Izzy and Clare played their hearts out in this match, with Clare volleying strongly into the back right corner, and Izzy running left and right at the back picking up the well-placed Cambridge balls. They dominated the game throughout and were a very solid pair – Cambridge were not given a chance to get started. The final score was 6-2, 6-1, setting up the possibility of levelling the match 3-3 and taking it to a rarely-played deciding doubles.
First string match - Evelyn Fleming & Maggie Henderson-Tew vs Emily Brady & Sophie Morrill (3-6, 0-6 to Cambridge)
Maggie and Evie gave everything in this match, hoping to win this last rubber to equalize with Cambridge. They started off well, with tight serves from Evie and short, low balls struck with perfect technique from Maggie. The Cambridge pair was strong however, and Sophie Morrill in particular hit the ball very hard and cleanly, putting Oxford under continuous pressure. Despite Oxford’s best efforts, Cambridge took the first set 6-3. In the second set, Cambridge forged ahead and took the game out of Oxford’s hands. It was a real nail-biter, with every point fought for until the end. But the winning score of 3-6, 0-6 secured the Varsity Match for Cambridge, after an Oxford run of the past four years.
Congratulations to Cambridge on winning a highly competitive match, played in the best Varsity spirit of friendly rivalry and great intensity.
Isabel Hunt
Oxford Captain
4th String match – Evelyn Fleming vs Emily Brady (4-6, 1-6 to Cambridge)
We kicked off with Evie and Emily, Handicaps 60 and 53, respectively. Evie was new to real tennis this year, but she plays beautifully, has great potential and her handicap has dropped quickly. The girls were neck and neck up to 4-4 in the first set, playing a great standard of tennis, with low balls, corner to corner shots and long rallies. Emily was too good a server and retriever however - it was a real challenge to get the ball past her, and she took the first set 6-4. In terms of technique and style, the girls were pretty even, however in the end, Emily’s experience showed through. She took control of the game in the second set with her winning serves, and won 6-1.
3rd String match – Clare Bucknell vs Karen Pearce (3-6, 6-5, 1-6 to Cambridge)
Clare looked a little nervous to start and went down in the first set 6-3, with Karen hitting some winning shots in the nick at the back and simply getting everything back. Clare was 4-2 down in the second set, however, with some encouragement from the dedans, she finally got into her stride, hitting some tight serves and finding the tambour. With a phenomenal comeback she won the second set 6-5. In the third, despite Clare returning a high proportion of her tambour attempts, Karen drove ahead, hitting all the right spots, with the most effective amount of pace. She has improved immensely since last year, and took the third 6-1.
2nd String match – Isabel Hunt vs Venetia D’Arcy (6-3, 6-1 to Oxford)
Venetia and Izzy looked pretty even to start at 2-2, and their handicaps were the most level of the matches. Then Izzy managed to slip ahead with some tight serving and carefully placed tambour balls, going up 4-3. Getting a good run at the service end and mixing up some strategic serves led to Izzy taking the first set 6-3. She also looked rock solid in the second set and hit the tambour and grille with high efficiency. Venetia hit some tactical gallery chases, but she could not do enough at the service end to prevent Izzy getting some short chases, which led to her serving to victory in the second set 6-1.
1st String match – Maggie Henderson-Tew vs Sophie Morrill (4-6, 2-6 to Cambridge)
Maggie and Sophie got off to a flying start, with superb rallies and excellent ball placing on both sides. Sophie was the ringer of last year’s Varsity match, but we knew Maggie was up to the challenge. At 3-3, there was everything to play for, but Sophie made some first-rate serves and took the first set 6-4. In the second set, Sophie got into her stride, hitting the ball strongly and with great precision. Maggie fought incredibly well and never gave up, getting some unbelievable returns, however Sophie was just too accurate, and won the second set 6-2.
Doubles:
Second string match - Clare Bucknell & Isabel Hunt vs Venetia D’Arcy & Karen Pearce (6-2, 6-1 to Oxford)
Izzy and Clare played their hearts out in this match, with Clare volleying strongly into the back right corner, and Izzy running left and right at the back picking up the well-placed Cambridge balls. They dominated the game throughout and were a very solid pair – Cambridge were not given a chance to get started. The final score was 6-2, 6-1, setting up the possibility of levelling the match 3-3 and taking it to a rarely-played deciding doubles.
First string match - Evelyn Fleming & Maggie Henderson-Tew vs Emily Brady & Sophie Morrill (3-6, 0-6 to Cambridge)
Maggie and Evie gave everything in this match, hoping to win this last rubber to equalize with Cambridge. They started off well, with tight serves from Evie and short, low balls struck with perfect technique from Maggie. The Cambridge pair was strong however, and Sophie Morrill in particular hit the ball very hard and cleanly, putting Oxford under continuous pressure. Despite Oxford’s best efforts, Cambridge took the first set 6-3. In the second set, Cambridge forged ahead and took the game out of Oxford’s hands. It was a real nail-biter, with every point fought for until the end. But the winning score of 3-6, 0-6 secured the Varsity Match for Cambridge, after an Oxford run of the past four years.
Congratulations to Cambridge on winning a highly competitive match, played in the best Varsity spirit of friendly rivalry and great intensity.
Isabel Hunt
Oxford Captain