MCC Silver Racquet 2025

Many people reading this report will know what the MCC Silver Racquet involves. It confers on the Winner the right to challenge for the MCC Gold Racquet. This year, that will be played on 1^st November at 11am between the current Gold Racquet holder Robert Shenkman and the confirmed Silver Racquet holder Bertie Vallat in a repeat of last year’s match. However, there was no ‘repeat’ about this match, as many in the Dedans were lucky enough to witness, with Benedict Yorston contributing to a quite excellent match; taking his opponent to five sets in a level match despite technically giving away 5.8 points of handicap.

There were enough of us in the Dedans at Lord’s on Sunday 26^th October to appreciate these two students of Oxford University going head to head for this historic and considerable trophy, contributing to an excellent atmosphere, which both players commented upon. We even had two MCC tour parties come through and witness this exceptionally high standard of Real Tennis. Chris Bray was marking and commented afterwards regarding how hard fought and stimulating the whole match had been. Indeed, the two players due on court next had to wait as the match overran the allotted time of three hours. The quality of returns from both players gave rise to numerous exceptionally long rests.

Bertie won the toss and served, winning the first game from the receive end before establishing a 3-0 lead following a series of chases and interchanges. An expletive following the only double fault of the match indicated fallibility however and suddenly we had a real match on our hands. Ben started to display some of the best quality, clean returning that many of us have ever witnessed. Despite this, he went 6-3, 3-1 down and something had to change as Bertie was forcing the tempo.

That something was Ben turning to his backhand drag serve. Suddenly, he went from 40-love down in the fifth game to winning the second set 4-6! However, it also became apparent that Bertie had not had his ‘athlete’s breakfast’. He was looking a bit pale and complaining quietly about double vision. Fortunately, Henry Stuttaford still had his running gear on so, following a request for some sustenance from Bertie, he set off for the shops outside the North gate for ‘some bananas or something’ as requested.

He was back surprisingly quickly but Ben had already taken advantage of Bertie wilting somewhat and proceeded to take the third set too, 3-6. I recall that at Wimbledon, players typically have a mouthful of one banana when they change ends. However, this would simply not suffice. Before the fourth set, Bertie had consumed three of the bunch of four bananas and so you may not be surprised to read that the reaction was instantaneous. Indeed, he won the next set 6-0! This was in spite of continuing long rallies. Indeed, there were two chases of better than 2 being saved on 40-15 with drives into the dedans. We had everything, with the TV eye being hit as well as the grill and winning gallery on numerous occasions.

So, at 2-2, we had a final set on our hands with both players playing well at the same time. Ben seemed to have not wanted to expend too much energy once behind in the fourth set but was not about to cede his opportunity in the fifth without a real fight. Indeed, he got ahead 2-0 before Bertie reeled him in. It was then Bertie who got himself in front and from 4-3 and 5-3 it was difficult for Ben to find a way back ahead for a last time. What a match! At least it took 0.5 off Ben’s handicap running Bertie so close who had to add 0.5 to his, now 1.8!