In a tie played in true Cup spirit –
It was a chilly overcast Sunday morning on 23 April when the first round of matches got underway at 10am in the Millennium Cup tie hosted by Telford Park against Wigmore.
The boys were the first on court and Zac Lavender and Bertie Beer played a very competitive first set, which Zac eventually won 7-5 before going on to to win the second 6-0 putting Telford 1-0 up.
The women’s singles and men’s singles carried on side by side and both were close matches.
Arsenio Dominguez, a Telford Millennium Cup debutant, won 6-1 6-1 against Matt Kililtan in a very good quality match from both guys, who battled well with long rallies and close games but Arsenio proved just too consistent.
With Telford 2-0 up, Lisa Rebora overcame Lisa Bretherkk in another closely fought high quality match and won 6-1 6-4 to give Telford a 3-0 lead.
In the meantime, the Women’s 40 & Over Singles and the Girls 16 & Under had started.
Telford’s Patricia Warrick and Sarah O’Dwyer were evenly matched and it was Sarah who eventually won on the match tiebreak after having won the first set 6-4 and losing the second 6-2, giving Wigmore their first rubber.
The girls match was played in the best spirit between Helouise Reboul and Lorena Valle, who opted for a unique between sets extra knock up. Both played well and Helouise won the 6-2 7-5 to make it 4-1 to Telford.
Mark Rothwell stood in for an injured Rod Peason in the Men’s 45 & Over against Wigmore’s Keith Beer.
Keith served hard and passed well but Mark won the close exchanges at the net and eventually took the match on match tiebreak, 7-5 3-6 [10-8], taking Telford into an unassailable 5-1 lead in the tie.
Wigmore didn’t take the defeat lying down and their experienced ladies doubles pair of Alex McAdam and Heather Raynor won convincingly against Julia Bellis and Clea Assersohn 6-1 6-0.
The Wigmore men’s doubles pair, Simon Jones and Sulphuro Burrel, played some hard hitting tennis and beat Tom Fellows and Rod Pearson 6-1 6-0.
The final rubber was the mixed doubles in which Sally O’Dwyer played in her second rubber of the day alongside Nick Eastwood. They eventually lost to Telford’s Sally and James Binny who both played well, 6-1 6-4.
The final score was 6-3 to Telford. All matches were played in the proper spirit of the Millennium Cup and the players enjoyed some refreshments and delicious food afterwards.
Report by Mark Rothwell, Telford Park
Results
Telford Park d Wigmore 6-3
(Telford Park names first)
Women’s Singles: Lisa Rebora d Lisa Bretherick 6-1 6-4; Men’s Singles: Arsenio Dominguez d Matt Kizil Tan 6-1 6-1; Women’s Over 40 Singles: Patricia Warrick lost to Sarah O’Dyer 6-4 2-6 [10-8]; Men’s Over 45 Singles: Mark Rothwell d Keith Beer 6-4 3-6 [10-8]; Girls Under 16 Singles: Heloise Reboul d Lorena Valle 6-2 7-5; Boys Under 16 Singles: Zak Lavender d Bertie Beer 7-5 6-0; Women’s Doubles: Julia Bellis & Clea Assersohn lost to Alex McAdam & Heather Rayner 6-1 6-0; Men’s Doubles: Rod Pearson & Tom Fellows lost to Simon Jones & Sulphuro Burrell 6-1 6-0; Mixed Doubles: James Binny & Sally Binny d Nick Eastwood & Sarah O’Dwyer 6-1 6-4.