In away opener…
A very enjoyable day was had by all in the sunshine at Wigmore on Sunday 22 April when Wigmore hosted Telford Park in the Millennium Cup.
Although there were very competitive and hard fought matches overall, some with close score-lines, the visitors romped with a comprehensive 8-1 win to open their 2018 campaign.
Wigmore’s sole victory came in the Junior Boys, which kicked off proceedings for the day.
Thomas McMullen (W) took a speedy lead over Zac Lavender (T) in the sunshine, winning the the first set before Zac came back fighting in the second to break in the first game, but Thomas held his own to eventually take the match in straight sets, 6-0 6-4.
It gave Wigmore their first and, as it turned out, much needed only win of the day!
Meanwhile Matt Kiziltan (W) and Jim Brook (T) were having a very hard fought match on the next court in the Men’s Singles.
Matt started with a strong first service game and both men appeared fairly even throughout the first set with some fantastic points being played.
Ultimately Jim proved victorious in the first set, winning it 6-4, and managed to repeat this scoreline in the second set to win the match and start Telford off on their winning streak.
The first ladies to take to the courts were Lynnette Boot (W) and Rebecca Ruff (T) in the Women’s Over 40s, with Lynnette making her Millennium Cup debut and serving to start the match.
Some long rallies ensued as each started to get the measure of the other – both ladies confessing afterwards that they were unused to playing against fellow left handers and had to work hard to adapt their style.
Telford took an early lead and proceeded to win the first set, and despite growing confidence from Lynnette, the second set also went the same way, 6-4 6-2.
The next ladies up were Heather Raynor (W) and Lisa Rebora (T) in the Women’s Singles, Heather having very gallantly stepped in as a last minute replacement.
The match began with some lovely rallies, with both ladies using a full repertoire of shots to keep the spectators entertained.
Some strong serving from Lisa though saw her confidently taking the first set and carrying this through to also take the second and the win, 6-2 6-1.
As the temperature continued to increase, the Men’s Over 45s began their match with Toby Young representing Wigmore and Paolo Rebora for Telford hoping to match his wife’s earlier success.
It was a very close and hard fought first set with Paolo narrowly taking it and avoiding a tiebreak.
Toby started well in the second to break in the first game and built on this momentum to take the set, forcing the first match tiebreak of the day, in which both men were so evenly matched that the spectators were struggling to work out which way it would go.
Eventually at 9-8 Paulo was serving for the match and managed to take it with a lovely forehand, 7-5 6-2 [10-5]
Disaster was averted in the Girls Under 16s when Betsy Brown (W) was eventually tracked down and Tilly Reed’s (T) patience in waiting paid off.
The girls may have appeared mis-matched in height and age but they were more than a match in terms of impressing the spectators with their lovely baseline rallies.
Despite the decisive scoreline in Tilly’s favour, 6-1 6-1, Betsy played very well throughout the match, including managing a couple of aces in her service games and always remained smiling.
The ladies kicked off the doubles matches in the last round with Lynnette stepping up again after a well earned rest to play her second match of the day with partner Doris Ko – a new pairing for Wigmore.
Their Telford opponents, Emma Tilson and Pru Hodgkinson came out confidently to take an early lead with the first set and some lovely net play from Pru also helped them to secure the second set and the match, 6-1 6-2.
After a slightly delayed start to the Men’s Doubles, which saw Sulphuro Burrell and Grant Freeman (W) take on Richard Povey and Richard Barber (T), Wigmore won the toss and elected to serve.
They took an early lead following some big serves from Sulphuro, but Telford were not to be deterred, though, and played well to take the first set.
Wigmore came back fighting in the second set and both sides held serve until Wigmore came to serve at 4-5.
Two match points were saved with big serves from Sulphuro again but ultimately Telford proved too strong and took the match, 6-3 6-4.
Anne Boucnik and Mark Jackson (W) took on the final match of the day, the Mixed Doubles, against Caroline De St Quinten and James Binney (T).
A lovely smash from Anne secured the first game for Wigmore and they built on this to take the first set.
Great net play from both sides with some fast volleys flying back and forth kept all of the spectators entertained.
Telford raced ahead in the second set though to win it confidently and prompting a second match tiebreak of the day, which produced some nail-biting play as the score remained level up to 8-8 when a final push from Telford though saw them victorious, 6-3 2-6 [10-8].
Match report by Clare Sanderson, Millennium Cup Captain, Wigmore LTC
Results
Wigmore lost to Telford Park 1-8
(Wigmore names first)
Women’s Singles: Heather Raynor lost to Lisa Redora, 6-2 6-1; Men’s Singles: Matt Kiziltan lost to Jim Brook, 6-4 6-4; Women’s Over 40 Singles: Lynnette Boot lost to Rebecca Ruff, 6-4 6-2; Men’s Over 45 Singles: Toby Young lost to Paolo Rebora, 7-5 2-6 [10-5]; Girls Under 16 Singles: Betsy Brown lost to Tilly Reed, 6-1 6-1; Boys Under 16 Singles: Thomas McMullen d Zac Lavender, 6-0 6-4; Women’s Doubles: Lynnette Boot & Doris Ko lost to Emma Tilson & Pru Hodgkinson, 6-1 6-2; Men’s Doubles: Sulphuro Burrell & Grant Freeman lost to Richard Povey & Richard Barber, 6-3 6-4; Mixed Doubles: Anne Boucnik & Mark Jackson lost to Caroline De St Quinten & James Binney, 3-6 6-2 [10-8].