Undeterred by the "Beast from the East", the intrepid players in this match and their supporters, converged on Bristol from Dorset, Devon, Surrey and Gloucestershire to contest the annual fixture between the Old Etonians and BRTC. Match manager, Julian Hemming, has played on either side in previous fixtures, but this time he represented the OEs in a closely contested opener against James Dron. Julian used his 15 love advantage in every game to triumph 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Father and son combination, Nicholas and Jeremy Boustead then took to the court on either side of the net. Jeremy is now on a gap year following Clifton College and he joined James Dron to take on Julian and Nicholas in a "loosener" doubles, which Julian and Nicholas closed out at 9-5. This left time for father and son to play each other in a very tight singles set before the lunch interval; with the game going to 5-5, 40-40. Jeremy edged the final point for Bristol. Photos attached.
After a hearty lunch Dickie Boyle and James Hussey wisely elected to begin with a doubles match against Bristol tyros Hamish Dron and Lawrence Brook. The Raspberry roulade gave the Etonian pair the necessary centre of gravity from which they triumphed 9-7 to take the match beyond Bristol's reach.
Undeterred, Lawrence then made Dickie "I'd like to see you try it" Boyle sweat before Boyle triumphed 9-5. This left Hamish Dron to demonstrate his coolness and prowess to take the last match for Bristol, defeating the hard hitting Andrew Hussey 9-4.
Old Etonians 4 Bristol 2.
As always, many thanks to Kevin King for marking and encouraging.