This year’s Field Trophy final was held at Moreton Morrell. The Jesmond team cunningly travelled the night before and managed to get a couple of hours of practice on the Moreton court in the morning, but this didn’t help them in the first match of the day, which went to CURTC’s second string doubles pair of Jules Camp and Ed Kay 6/1 6/0. Ed played some incredible volleys at the net and Jules mopped up everything that sprayed around behind him.

The first string singles followed, and Alex Evans had the longest, closest and most tense match of the day. In the first set there was nothing to separate him and his opponent and the opening game lasted ten minutes. Jesmond’s Charlie Harries-Jones eventually took the set 6/5, but Alex dominated from the service end in the second set, serving railroads long and tight against the wall to stop Charlie chipping galleries and taking the set 6/0. The third set, however, mirrored the first, with both players now covering the court very well and picking up everything out of the corners, forcing their opponent to play that extra shot. Charlie managed to get in front as Alex missed targets at the vital moments and, at 5 all, the match had the finish it deserved. Alex then broke a string (definitely not what you need at such a crucial time!) and had to use an unfamiliar racket; he saved two match points, but couldn’t save the third as Charlie took the last set 6/5 and claimed the match for Jesmond.

The second string singles went our way, as Ed Pearson, a former student at Cambridge, always looked to be in control, cutting the ball off and putting away his volleys. This aggressive style worked very well as he got CURTC back in front with a 6/0 6/2 win. The last singles of the day saw Jimmy Campbell, making his debut in this competition, take on Michael Raven with virtually no handicap difference on paper. Michael started strongly, going 3/0 up very quickly, and while Jimmy started to play his cut shots to better effect, Michael showed his strength in the corners and closed the set 6/2. Jimmy started the second well and looked like he might force the match into a third set at 4/4, but Michael won a long 9th game and took the last, 6/4. With the match score at 2/2, it was the grandstand finish the gathering crowd wanted and the trophy would go to the victors in the first string doubles.

On paper, CURTC’s Duncan Colquhoun and Andrew Petrie looked the stronger, and they started out well, but the pair from Jesmond were not prepared to give anything away. Duncan and Andrew’s aggressive style had mixed success, working well when they kept the ball low, but they were punished if they peppered the penthouse. The set eventually went Cambridge’s way 6/4. Duncan and Andrew then rushed into a 5/1 lead in the second set, but Jesmond hit back, point by point, claiming the next 4 games to take the match to 5 all. Cambridge’s captain, Jules Camp, was said to be looking very tense and pale at this point, driven by his side’s inability to wrap it up, but thankfully Duncan’s experience shone through as his best returns of the match came at the right time and put pressure on the Jesmond pair; after gaining the serve, Cambridge closed out a tight set 6/5 to win the title.

Many thanks to all who participated, Moreton for their excellent hospitality, the pros Tom and Mark for marking, Pol Roger for their continued support of the tournament and all those in the crowd who made the atmosphere reflect the quality of the match.

Field Trophy Winners 2013