Lancaster were outplayed all round in Saturday’s tennis as York swept the board in all six events, easily winning the ten points available for today’s matches.
The men’s second team were on court at 10.00 to play first doubles then singles. In the doubles, played first to eight in just one set, York won the three matches 8-3, 8-0 and 8-6. The singles were won just as easily; Lancaster’s Graham Randall lost the closest match 6-3 6-4.
The men were followed on court by the women’s first team. In the doubles the first pair Amy Christie and Helena Jones were less affected by the wind than during Friday’s matches. Unlike previously rallies were often possible; however the York players were the stronger pair and won 8-3. York won the other doubles matches 8-0 and 8-2.
The singles followed, and Lancaster’s first player Helena Jones was up against York’s star player Lauren Cockbill.
Ms Jones started nervously, double-faulting twice on her way to dropping serve in the first game of the match. This was followed by an easy hold for Ms Cockbill to take the score to 2-0. After this the serve standard picked up a little with both players getting the majority of first serves in and the points lasting longer. However Ms Cockbill was the stronger player throughout the set, producing a fine forehand volley at the net to take it six games to love.
Once again Ms Jones served first in the second set, but although this game was more closely fought Ms Cockbill’s forehand won her yet another break of serve. As the set progressed the rallies grew more frequent, with both players producing some good shots, but finally Ms Cockbill sent a winner down the line to seal a 6-0 6-0 victory.
In the other singles matches, fifth player Alex Bramley played the closest match, eventually losing 7-5 6-4.
Although obviously disappointed by such a resounding loss, the girls agreed that they had thoroughly enjoyed their Roses experience. ‘It was great, we’d definitely do it again next year,’ said Jenny Tsang and Verena Kaufmann.
When asked why they thought the York teams had won so easily, they replied ‘They’re very good, they practise a lot – and they’re not suffering lack of sleep!’
The last events were the men’s first team doubles, which York won 8-0, 8-3, 8-3 and the men’s first singles, which York looked to be winning as easily as the previous events when play was postponed due to rain just after 4.00.
