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Match Reports

Bristol take the day at Moreton

Five singles, one five-all, 40-all thriller and a home-grown visitor in the final rubber.

· 1 min read

A Moreton player in white plays a forehand near the net on the orange court floor, his opponent waiting at the far end

Bristol Real Tennis Club visited Moreton Morrell Tennis Court Club on Saturday 14 November for a day of singles tennis, and went home 4-1 winners.

How the day unfolded

James Holden opened for Moreton against Nigel Harradine. The first set went all the way to 5-6 before Nigel took it, and he then pulled away 6-2 in the second.

Norman Hyde and Julian Hemming played the closest match of the day. Julian won the first set 6-1, Norman levelled at 6-4, and the decider went to five-all, 40-all before Julian took the last point to win it 6-5.

Peter Lewis was playing with his wrong hand, on his wrong-hand handicap, against Tim Meunier, who won 6-4, 6-1. That gave Bristol an unbeatable 3-0 lead.

Moreton got on the board in the fourth rubber. Tony Branfield lost the first set 3-6 to Jonathan Brown, then turned it round to win 6-2, 6-3.

A familiar face in the final rubber

The last match had a local connection. Guy Rawstorne, now living near Bristol, grew up in Moreton Morrell and is the son of veteran Moreton member Julian, who was in the dedans to support his son. Guy beat Jonny Miller 6-3, 6-4.

A player in white holds two balls and a racket, ready to serve, with his opponent at the far end of the court Guy Rawstorne getting ready to serve

Congratulations to Bristol on taking the day 4-1.

Results

Moreton player first, in the order played:

  • James Holden lost to Nigel Harradine 5-6, 2-6
  • Norman Hyde lost to Julian Hemming 1-6, 6-4, 5-6
  • Peter Lewis lost to Tim Meunier 4-6, 1-6
  • Tony Branfield beat Jonathan Brown 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
  • Jonny Miller lost to Guy Rawstorne 3-6, 4-6

A purple real tennis racket with a natural wood head, marked with the Bristol Real Tennis Club crest and name A Bristol Real Tennis Club racket