tennis Fixture

Brodie Cup Final 2012

Brodie Results

MCC beat Prested in the final of the Brodie Cup 4:1 at the Hyde this afternoon winning the competition for the second time in five years. MCC captain, Simon Martin, said he was very satisfied with the result which had been a team effort.

The results were:

David Bugge & James Leeper beat Clive Turner & Bill Rudman 3:6, 6:5, 6:4

Dan Mead beat Simon Martin 6:3, 6:5

Francis Moore beat Chris Vigrass 6:3, 6:4

James Coley beat Hugh Vermont 6:3, 6:1

Roger Cotton & Giles Pemberton beat Tim Lodge & Richard Ramjane 6:5, 4:6, 6:3.

Thanks to Ben Ronaldson for splendid marking and to the Hyde club, particularly the Turners and Tony Rose masterminding the catering, to John Mackenzie for presenting the prizes, and for once again hosting this wonderful event.

45 Doubles - MCC win 3:6, 6:5, 6:4.

After a nervous start with server dominating which saw the MCC going 4:1 behind, they pulled back to 4:3 with some good serving and decisive volleying by David Bugge. Prested then took two games and the first set 6:3.

In the second set, some solid shot making by Prested saw them quickly take a two game lead in the second set. Both teams were now into their stride with far fewer unforced errors and MCC came back to a 3:2 lead. Prested then equalised to 3:3 and then took potentially decisive lead at 5:3. The MCC held the service to claw back one of the deficit games. The tenth game was hard fought with both teams hitting firmly but MCC won pulled it back to 5:5. Inevitably the last game went to 40:40 but the MCC with the advantage of the serve managed to take the set 6:5.

In the final set an initial game to the MCC was quickly overturned by Prested who took a 3:1 lead. MCC reclaimed half the deficit but Prested immediately restored it to 4:2. The seventh game once again proved crucial with MCC pulling back one and then two and then three and then four to win 6:4.

30 Singles - Prested win 6:3, 6:5

In the 30 singles MCC took a quick 3:0 lead which Prested equally rapidly pulled back to 3:3. In the crucial seventh game which went to deuce before Prested won it for 4:3. Both players were now playing well but taking advantage of a lengthy period of service Prested took a 5:3 lead and held it to win the set 6:3.

In the second set MCC won an early game but the second game became a game of deuces and exchanges of serve before Prested equalised and took a 2:1 lead. Dan Mead for Prested was refusing to let anything past him and was regularly hitting the grill and nick. Simon Martin was not to be left behind and equalised to 2:2. A weaker service game allowed his opponent a 3:2 advantage, which he extended to 4:2. MCC pulled one back, and then another to 4:4. Dan however found a series of excellent cut shots to which Simon had no real response to give himself a 5:4 lead and then two match points. Simon however saved both and then took the game to level the set: he had however given his best and Dan was able to serve out to win the rubber and level the match 1:1.

40 Singles - MCC win 6:3, 6:4

The 3rd match sees the MCC go 2 matches to 1 up.

The 40 singles started with MCC serving to 2-0 taking advantage of unforced errors. Prested then got going but MCC hitting a good length and dominating to 3-1.Prested rally to 3-2 with some firm hitting but MCC look to have more quality and move well about the court, and get up to 4-2. Aggression from Prested and some good serving sees them fight back to 4-3. MCC showing more quality and fine strokeplay against very powerful hitting from Prested take the set 6-3.

The second set opens with Prested trying to hit MCC off the court and the first game goes to many deuces. MCC eventually take the game to go 1 up and show elegant strokeplay in response to power hitting. MCC camp down at the server's end and play quality tennis to go 2-0 up. Prested rally through their power game and some canny serving. Great vollying at the server's end has MCC working hard in the third game. Concentration lapes allow Prested back in a long game but MCC cling on to go 3-0 up. Prested redouble their efforts through more aggressive hitting and serve well to get back to 3-1. MCC looking vulnerable but hanging on in there. Too many shots going up on the penthouse from both players. Key fifth game goes to a number of deuces and MCC come out on top to lead 4-1. MCC returning well and looking more positive. Prested stay at service end and hit the winning gallery at the end of a long game to get back to 4-2. MCC not able to kill this off and Prested come hard with good retrieving and come back to 4-3. MCC at last get to service end but Prested dig in and find a good length. MCC rattled but hang on in there. A long game to many deuces eventually sees MCC play enough good length to get to 5-3. MCC still struggling with Prested's hard hitting counter and they get back to 5-4. Good serving from Prested making MCC work hard to close this down. At last MCC get to the service end. Some good serves and great defensive volleying sees the MCC home via a force to the dedans! A good win in the end but MCC made hard work of it.

50 Singles - MCC win 6:3, 6:1

MCC open well and take a 2-1 lead with sold all round play. The fourth game is hard fought but MCC work hard to get to 3-1. MCC working hard to go 4-1 up with great retrieving. MCC go 5-1 up with good all round play. Prested not giving in and fight back to 5-3 by staying up at the service end. Gritty stuff from MCC sees MCC win the first set 6-3.

The second set starts with unforced errors from Prested. MCC digging deep to retrieve well and go 2-0 up. Fantastic all round play takes MCC to 3-0. Prested fighting hard claw back to 3-1. Hard fought stuff but MCC on top to go 4-1 up. Nail biting stuff sees each point hard fought. MCC move to 5-1 up and then take the final game to win 6-1!!

35 Doubles - MCC win 6:5, 4:6, 6:3

In the 35 doubles, MCC took a quick 2:0 lead, which they extended to 3:1. Prested then recovered to 3:3, before taking the seventh game for 4:3. Both teams were taking advantage of service and some decisive hitting from Giles Pemberton brought MCC back to 4:4. Holding service for most of the ninth game, MCC took a lead of 5:4 but then both teams played better from the receiving end in the tenth with Prested tying it up at 5:5. In the decider which went to the MCC, Pemberton showed some unusual talent returning a winning shot between his legs.

Not to be outdone by his partner, in the first game of the second, Cotton hit a winner with the back of his racquet while facing the rear wall, to the delight of the crowd. The lead see-sawed at the start of the second with all four players producing great shots during extended exchanges. The lead see-sawed between the two pairs with Prested being 4:2 up at one point before MCC pulled back to 4:4. However, Prested proved too strong and won the set 6:4.

Despite it being a dead rubber, neither pair wanted to give in and the opening games of the third were hard fought with neither team establishing an advantage in the first six games. Prested established an advantage at 40:15 In the seventh game, but MCC pulled it back to deuce, before winning the game to go 4:3. This proved decisive and the MCC pair ran out 6:3 winners.

Roger Pilgrim and David Bugge