Photo by Daniel Gilks

York’s men’s 1sts continued where the women’s tennis team had left off this afternoon, with a comfortable win over St. John’s, winning by 10 points to nil.

On a day where the rain had already caused the abandonment of both football and rugby, the universities were reluctant for the weather to dampen any chance of play in the tennis.

The double pairings representing York, consisting of Pete Thompson and Brad Hudson, and Chris McDonald and Sam Francis, got the first glimpse of the men’s action under way. Under the Varsity doubles rules that teams were to play a first to eight games set, it was to be the former pairing of Hudson and Thompson who sent the storm rolling in York’s favour with an eight games to five victory. It wasn’t long after that York had their second double’s victory, after a highly convincing eight games to one demolition by McDonald and Francis, giving York their first two men’s firsts’ points, and leaving St. John’s with a grey afternoon ahead of them.

The four singles matches followed immediately after, and although the downpour continued, York failed to off any respite to their rivals. With each match worth two points, it was game on in the tennis. Chris McDonald made easy work, not dropping a single game as he raced to a 6-0, 6-0 victory. Then the second singles victory for York men’s followed as Sam Francis inflicted a 6-1, 6-2 defeat.

Brad Hudson enjoyed similar fortunes as his teammates in his match, also winning in straight sets, wrapping up a 6-3 first set victory with a 6-0 score in the second. And to end an almost perfect day for the tennis, Pete Thompson managed to serve out a somewhat tighter affair, 6-3, 6-4, netting a clear victory for York, without losing a single set. It was very much advantage York in their hope to retain the Varsity title.

Photo by Daniel Gilks

By Josh Mangham

York’s women eased to victory in this morning’s 1sts tennis match against St Johns, winning all six of their matches in effortless fashion.

Play started late as both teams took time to warm up in the bitter Sunday morning cold. St Johns seemed to be still warming up however as York took the early initiative, with first pairing Catherine Hanrahan and Maria Hunt capitalising on St Johns’ poor serving. Although play was of a high and fairly equal quality from both sides, St Johns failed to take advantage of their service games, at times making as many as three consecutive double faults. This proved to be the difference between the sides, with Hanrahan and Hunt eventually breaking away to win 8-3. Caroline Brown and Ellie Arkle, the second pairing, made light work of their opponents in an 8-1 thrashing.

If anything the four singles matches highlighted York’s superiority over St Johns even further, with the visiting university managing a mere seven games between them in four three-set matches. Although they displayed quality in their play, and at times challenged York with impressive shot making, the St Johns players failed to match the home team in consistency or mental strength, failing all too often at the crucial points. Catherine Hanrahan and Maria Hunt both romped to 6-1, 6-0 victories, whilst Caroline Brown won 6-1, 6-1 and Ellie Arkle 6-0, 6-3.

1sts captain Maria Hunt enthusiastically praised her players for what she called “a really good season and a great performance today”, and declared that the next priority was a Roses campaign to match last year’s stellar victory, in which none of the team lost a set. Before that though, and of immediate concern, was to “go out and celebrate a great Varsity weekend”.

York’s tennis hopefuls started the season in brilliant style by comfortably beating a strong Durham side last Wednesday. York’s normally formidable Northern rival’s were humbled by a stellar display from York that included three impressive singles victories out of four and a superb doubles display.

The key to York’s victory was a gritty display from Deff Leff Halstein who came out on top in a tightly contested match, winning 6-4 in the deciding set. Doubles’ star Neil Moroz showed similar resilience by overcoming his opponent with a tight tie break victory.

Having gone into the singles match level pegging, after one doubles win a piece, two further comfortable singles wins proved enough. Under University Tennis’ scoring system this equated to a 7-3 triumph for the white Rose.

The circumstances that the match took place in mean that this victory was particularly pleasing. The team coped superbly with dire conditions, that the newly resurfaced tennis courts failed to cope with. And with trials still to come there is every chance that the side will only get stronger.