Interschool Singles 2015
Dec 06, 2015 Radley M Dean
Interschools Real Tennis 2015-6 Singles at Radley
With a slightly disappointing turn-out this year after the withdrawal of two 30+ handicap players from Tonbridge (Ed Hyde - University interview) and Bristol (Henry Lidington - injury), this became something of a Radley championship.
Georgie Willis (Highgate) did her best to intrude but after three close games, especially an epic 5-6 loss to Charlie Seddon, failed to qualify.
Henry Batstone and Charlie Seddon both looked impressive at times, though Henry won their encounter comfortably. Benedict Yorston played well to defeat Georgie Willis, but failed to impact consistently on the two older players.
Felix White won the other group easily, with an easy win even over Leo Boddington. The main battle was for 3rd place, won by Wolmar Boris-Moller by a nerve wracking 6-5 over a valiant Ed Gordon.
Injury struck again in the final stages as Charlie Seddon was forced to withdraw with a calf strain, clearly stretched too far by his contest with Georgie Willis.
However, the remaining semi-final made up for the gap; Leo Boddington just pipped Henry Batstone 6/5 in a truly monumental match, finely balanced until 5-5 40-40. Both players reached heights as never before; Henry’s movement and strokeplay was a delight though Leo’s sheer doggedness and ability to return the extra ball eventually just proved enough.
An almost equally magnificent final was won, just, by Felix White. He had, though, to come from 0-3 down to a rampant Boddington. However, his superior strokeplay and the experience of keeping cool under pressure (from winning the National U18s last August at Queens) proved just enough. It was a great finish to the day, and one which Felix, Leo and Henry should be justly proud.
Leo Boddington, Felix White and Henry Batstone