Queen’s

Queens were the visitors on Saturday for 6 singles rubbers.

Tony Branfield took to the court for the hosts against Tony Penny while distracted by a World Cup semi final being played out on the television in the club room. Not wishing to waste time Branfield fell speedily in two sets 2-6, 3-6. 1-0 to the visitors. 

With the rugby now over Alan Moug played Tim Drayson to a now occupied Dedans and took the first set 6-3 before falling 4-6 in the second and losing out 5-6 in a tense final set. Queen’s 2-0 up.

Next was the turn of Astrid Drayson taking on home player David Prophet. Astrid took a close first set 4-6 before racing away with the second 1-6.

The fourth match was another close match with Rob Stewart playing Chris Kroeger. Rob won a tight first set 6-5 before the smell of pork chops wafted through the club room and led to the dedans decanting to the dining room. An enjoyable lunch was had and we are told that the 5-6, 3-6 final sets provided some excellent tennis making this match the highlight of the day and not England beating the All Blacks or the pork chops. The visitors were 4-0 up.

With the match now lost David Phillips took to the court charged with restoring some Moreton pride and started his task well taking the first set 6-1. However opponent Michael Llewelyn-Jones had different ideas and took the next two sets 3-6, 4-6 making it 5-0 to Queen’s. On a positive note at least a Moreton member had now won a match albeit playing for Queen’s. Could this be the springboard the home side needed going into the final rubber.

The job fell to John Franklin who having seen the way the two previous matches had progressed adopted a new tactic for Moreton and went down quickly 2-6 to Peter Lovell in the first set. Now to avoid the whitewash Franklin’s plan required mastering the comeback Queen’s had been so good at. He fought his way to a 6-3 second set win, the plan was working. A tight final set went 6-4 to Franklin giving Moreton its first win of the day. But the honours belonged to Queen’s for their 5-1 victory. 

Thanks to our guests for making the day an enjoyable one.