There are a number of elements which comprise women’s tennis at it’s best, with short skirts, grunting and a gloriously sunny day all up there on the list.
All these, and more, were present in the LMH vs Hilda’s women’s Cuppers tennis final and they combined to make an exhilirating match.
St Hilda’s, captained by Emily Johnson, took an early lead when she and her parter Nicola Ullathorne defeated LMH’s captain Louise Pugh and Holly Bower in straight sets 6-3 6-4.
The match was every bit as close as the scoreline suggested, but eventually the superior net skills of the Hilda’s pair proved decisive. In the alternate tie the LMH second pairing of Nicole Carlson and Jusleen Karve manstruck back against opponents Sarah Trueman and Nadia Goldbach 7-5 6-0.
A tense first set went with serve and was only just secured 7-5. LMH dominated the second set however, with Carlson and Karve finding the length on their strokes to show their superior class.
The power of the LMH pairing from the back of the court simply overwhelmed their opponents, allowing them to take the set 6-0.
With the scores now even, both teams knew they would need to up their game if they were to break the deadlock and secure victory.
The next match proved to be a nail-biting affair with both teams determined not be outdone.
The outstanding standard of tennis played by Carlson and Karve was obvious to anyone watching, but it was not enough to overcome the Hilda’s girls who eventually proved stronger, Trueman and Goldbach taking the win 6-3, 7-6.
Advantage now lay with Hilda’s and LMH went into their last tie bearing the hope of the College on their shoulders; they had to win to tie the game and give them any hope of victory.
Despite the pressure, Pugh and Bower rose to the challenge, going for every opportunity in a tenacious performance which saw them win the first set 6-4.
However, they could not maintain the consistency in their strokes in their second set which fell 6-4 after a single break of serve.
Hilda’s carried the confidence of this into the decisive set, Johnson and Ulathorne’s aggressive net play allowing them to take the set 6-3.
Now left with an unassailable 5-4 set advantage Hilda’s Cuppers triumph was complete, though it had come right down to the wire.
After the match Johnson gave praise to the LMH team for such a hardfought match.
She described the "elation" of her side’s victory and hoped their form would continue in the league.
