Issue 155

Mixed results for tennis

08th May 2007

Swansea Womens 6 - Cardiff Womens 4

Swansea Womens 3 - Cardiff Mens 7

On the back of a season without a win, a Varsity match in Cardiff University's heartland of Talybont is probably not something most teams would relish. However this is exactly what the women's tennis team did, and with aplomb as well as their stunning array of shots bamboozled Cardiff and their teamwork ensured a win in both doubles matches.

Things did not bode well for Swansea when their number one player was narrowly beaten in an intense match. Anna Cutler battled through to narrowly lose the opening match, despite some excellent play which ensured a high quality game of tennis. Her effort and commitment was typical of Swansea's efforts throughout the afternoon as they battled against a Cardiff team who were vastly superior on paper, winning 2 of the four singles encounters to leave the result down to the doubles.

The pairing of Anna Cutler and Elin Rowland breezed through their match with some superb tennis and to extract revenge for the loss earlier in the day. Communication was key as they played shots through the spaces between and around the opposition. So the match came down to the second doubles match with the combination of captain Joanna Harvey and Alison Strain left to close out the match.

This despite Strain, Swansea's best player that day, only getting off the court a few minutes earlier after a gruelling 2 hour match which she narrowly lost to reverse the result in the doubles and play some excellent tennis and help the pair on to a doubles victory 8-2. Captain Harvey said afterwards "It was pretty hard and we were worried about coming here after not having won a match all season, but it was a good result for us and we can go on to improve next season".

The men's team were not so successful, as they slipped to defeat at the hands of a powerful Cardiff team. Swansea fought hard throughout but when captain Oliver Barker and Andreus Sakas lost their doubles match the game pivoted beyond the reach of Swansea. Swansea's determination was significant but ultimately fruitless as Ben Newton battled his way to an impressive victory in his singles match. Barker said after the match "It was a really good effort - it's just a shame about the result. We could have beaten them but they put out a few people stronger than us."

Stuart Phillips