Historic Fenner’s was the venue for an equally historic clash between iPubs and the Cambridge Blues. The fixture was best of 9 matches, 3 doubles and then 6 singles. Despite the prospect of singles matches being a relatively alien affair in the iPubs calendar, the team of Arran Trainor, Oliver Nunn, Ross Martin, George Naunton, Charles Hill, and Jerry Ganedra, were looking forward to the day’s tennis in the scorching Cambridge sun.

The match started with doubles - a tactical decision from the iPubs team to get their eye in against a well-grooved and Varsity-prepping Cambridge side. The iPubs first pair of Ross and Oliver set the tone and powered through to a strong win against the Cambridge first pair (a particularly sweet victory for two Old Oxonians on enemy turf). Cambridge’s doubles depth proved too good for the other iPubs pairs and after some close matches it was 2-1 Cambridge going into the singles.

The iPubs team regrouped, and fueled by the Cambridge provided lunch (Tesco Meal Deals) produced some very strong singles performances.

Arran fought hard at first singles but lost in a tight battle against the Cambridge number 1. George and Charles, determined to bring iPubs back into contention played brilliantly and found their way into third sets, but both sadly fell over the final hurdle and lost. The blame can (and should be) put on home advantage. Jerry had to vacate Fenner’s briefly, delaying the start of his singles. He then proceeded to grind his opponent down in a long war of attrition. So long in fact that his opponent had to leave for a tutorial, giving Jerry the walkover win, a shrewd tactical masterclass!

In the end it was Cambridge 7, iPubs 2. The iPubs team left Fenner’s thinking what could have been if they had converted some of the tight matches.

Thank you to the Cambridge Blues for hosting the iPubs team in what always is a fantastic and sporting match. We look forward to it again next year!

Ross Martin
Captain