Cardiff Ladies ……………………..6
Swansea Ladies …………………..0
 
Cardiff Men ………………………….4
Swansea Men ……………………….2
The Cardiff ladies’ tennis team outclassed their Welsh Varsity opponents from beginning to end as they stormed to a crushing victory at the Cardiff Lawn Tennis Club.
Cardiff did not drop a set all afternoon as the number-one seeded pairing of Sophie Brazell and Becky Squire quickly ran out 6-2 6-3 winners over Chloe Alpine and Becky Hudson.
The second pairing of Eloise Lloyd and Steph Steyn followed that up with an equally comfortable 6-0 6-2 victory over Georgie Collins and Rachel Beary.
Elspeth Griffiths overcame a frustrated Alpine in the first singles rubber, before Brazell, Squire and Lloyd wrapped up their singles matches in quick fashion for a well deserved 6-0 whitewash.
The men’s team were engaged in a more competitive tie on the neighbouring courts. Like the ladies, Cardiff were 2-0 up after the opening doubles rubbers ├▒ a lead that would ultimately prove decisive. Rob Knight and Jamie McKinnon saw off Julian Page and Oli Jackson 6-2 7-6 (7-5), while Danny Hawker and Gary Hawke survived a disastrous second set against Swansea’s Mike Thomas and Jamie Davies to clinch the second rubber on a final set tie-breaker 6-4 1-6 7-6 (7-5).
The first singles rubber between McKinnon and Page was the most hotly contested of the afternoon. McKinnon fought bravely throughout and kept the second set extremely close, before eventually falling 6-2 7-5 and allowing Swansea to halve the deficit.
In the second singles rubber, Greg Leigh-Jones looked comfortable throughout to run out a 6-3 6-4 winner over Davies and ensure that Cardiff had at least guaranteed themselves a draw.
Looking to clinch the match for the home team, Gary Hawke came up short 6-3 6-4 in one of the more entertaining matches of the day against Jackson in the singles. This left it up to Danny Hawker to seal the victory for Cardiff, which he did with consummate ease in a 6-0 6-0 victory over Thomas.
The Varsity victory tops off a fantastic season for the Cardiff men after their triumph in the Western Conference Cup two weeks ago. The ladies, meanwhile can take solace in an excellent performance following a disappointing exit at the Last 16 stage of the BUCS Trophy.
Dave Riley
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