Orchard Lawn Tennis Club Finals Day 6th September 2025

The day started with players, spectators and umpires looking forward to another thrilling day of Orchard finals tennis! The matches began with the ladies singles, men’s doubles and men’s plate doubles. The early match of the day was kicked off with the men’s doubles Plate, as Danny Addison and Mark Nicolson both in their first finals of the day, taking on Matt Green and Matt Carter. The two Matt’s started off well and built up a good lead and looked likely in taking the first set. However, Danny and Mark’s finals day nerves settled just in time for them and brought about a resurgence in their game and partnership. Their confidence and form continued throughout the rest of the match as they went on to claim victory in a well thought contest, ending in 7-5 /6-2.

The ladies singles featured familiar face Danielle West and newcomer to the finals in Charlotte Cattle. This was a fantastic match between two very good friends. The points were entertaining and the crowd were certainly enjoying a good contest. The game was full of creative play with some excellent long and hard thought rallies. Not to mention great angles and accuracy from the Datchworth first team players. At the end it was Charlotte’s consistency and at crucial points throughout the match that ultimately gave her victory and her first ladies singles trophy with a 6-3 /6-2 scoreline.

With the men’s doubles it featured familiar faces when Adam Reid & Jamie Simmonds faced off against Stuart Leach & James West. There was nothing separating the pairs in the first set, as every game was held with some excellent serving and doubles tactics, bringing up a first set tie break. This was a very tight break, with Adam & Jamie just edging it at 7-5. Once again some excellent service games in the second set, but this time it was Jamie & Adam who brought about the first break of service against Stuart, James had set point to save at 5-3 down, but held firm to ask the question of Jamie. A rare lapse of serving from the current champions pushed the set again all the way to another tie break. This time it was more a formality as Jamie & Adam won comfortably to win the match and once again retained the doubles title 7-6 / 7-6.

The men’s singles once again pitted club captain James West against club chairman Jamie Simmonds. Jamie was close last year taking James to a third set, so could he do it this year. Well he got off to a good start with an early break. But James immediately broke back and some excellent early exchanges took place. It was more a question of who could break the end against the wind, rather than break service which was the theme of this match. James held firm in the middle stages of the first set to win. The theme continued in the second set, Jamie asking the questions of James which he answered. Mistakes started then to creep in which brought about an eventual win and another men’s singles title remained for James, with a final score of 6-3 / 6-2.

The ladies doubles this year was part of a new format where the players would select their own partners and not done at random. This brought about the making of a true family show down in the final. As sisters Ashleigh & Charlotte Cattle faced off against mother & daughter in Julia & Erin Howard. There were some excellent long rallies and plenty of friendly rivalry to keep the tennis lively on court. The exchanges at the net from all players was something that crowd really enjoyed and players recognised this as well. But in the end, the Cattle sisters edged it for the win and their first doubles title together. The match was a pleasure to watch with both the umpire and the crown, finishing 6-2 / 6-2.

The vets this year saw a very closely contested matchup with long term members Kate Cox and Martin Hogermeer taking on Fiona Hughes and Mark Nicholson. It must be said, the word “veterans” doesn’t at all accurately reflect the pace, agility and youthfulness shown by our finalists! Who fought out to the bitter end in the only third set match of finals day, much to their fans delight. After a very close match with many long points and games, it was Kate and Martin who were the eventual winers. Bringing about the final score which was an amazing 7-5 / 4-6 / 10-8.

The mixed doubles had defending champions of brother and sister in James & Danielle West against a new finalist pairing of Jamie Simmonds and Ashleigh Cattle. The windy conditions played their part on occasions, but James & Danielle started very strongly, holding all their service games and breaking their opponents. Initial doubles tactics from Jamie & Ashleigh seemed to need some tweaks in the first set, but could they prove valuable in the second? Early stages of that set seemed not to be the case, as James & Danielle again served very well. But at 5-2 down, Jamie & Ashleigh’s tactics started to come good, bringing about a 4-5 but 40-0 up on Jamie’s serve. Remarkably James & Danielle rallied strong and won that game and therefore the match 6-1 / 6-4.

The mixed doubles plate contest was a hard thought match between the ever returning finalist Clare Robinson with her part Jack Pottinger featuring in his first finals. Taking on familiar faces but a new partnership of Fiona Hayden and Danny Addison. Clare and Jack got off to a flyer and quickly took the opening set. However, Fiona and Danny weren’t going to let them have it all their own way in the second set, as both pairs exchanged excellent shots and points for the crowd. In the end, it was another finals win for Clare with Jack claiming his first in a 6-3 / 6-4 victory.

The men’s singles plate featured two new finalists in its second year showing. Two regulars in Steve Friend and Charlie Hogermeer took to the stage. It was a tightly thought battle that tested both players physically and mentally. There were some serious baseline exchanges, with Charlie using his great speed and agility to retrieve the very heavy topspin of Steve’s groundstrokes. Both served well throughout the match, making it hard for one another to get a foothold in the match. Ultimately, after some good returns from Charlie, he was able to gain the upper hand and win a thoroughly enjoyable match for the crowd. It topped off a great round of singles matches with Charlie winning the contest 6-3 / 7-5.