Harry Foster won his first Peel Hunt Invitation Singles, coming out on top in a field that contained, amongst others, Alister Robinson, Guy Smith-Bingham and Mark Hubbard. In beating the best of his peer group Foster has put down a marker for the rest of this season.

The final, in which he beat Ali Robinson 15/12, 16/13, 15/8 proved to be an interesting affair. Robinson went into a big lead in both the first two games, 10/0 in the first and 10/4 in the second on both occasions helped by some smart serving, indeed 8 out of Robinson’s first ten points came from service aces.

Foster ,who never admits that he is beaten, gradually worked his way back into the match, perhaps helped by Robinson who, although striking the ball well, was failing to straighten it enough and was putting too much onto the back wall. Harry for his part started to put away any loose shots from his opponent with low hard kills straight down the side walls.

This was ,perhaps, what made the difference throughout the match. Harry given a chance took it, whereas Ali too often failed to kill the ball. The best rally, came at 13 all in the second game,which contained quite twenty strokes, before Foster won it and, having won serve took the game with two aces and a fine cross court kill.

Group Matches
 

Sunday 16th November

3.00 p.m. H Foster vs A Titchener-Barrett Foster wins 3/2

4.30 p.m. J Prenn vs T Cockroft Cockroft wins 3/1 15/16,15/4,15/4,15/3

Monday 17th November

5.00 p.m. M Hubbard vs N Smith Hubbard wins . 3/2 15/10,2/15,15/10,13/16,15/8.

Tuesday 18th November

4.00 p.m. A Robinson vs A Titchener-Barrett Robinson wins 3/0 15/8,15/815/3. 15/10,2/15,15/10,13/16,15/8.

5.15 p.m. T Cockroft vs N Smith Cockroft wins 3/2 15/11,15/3,8/15,9/15,15/12.

6.30 p.m. J Prenn vs M Hubbard Hubbard. wins 3/1. 7/15,15/12,15/9,15/4.

7.45 p.m. G Smith-Bingham vs H Foster Foster. wins 3/0 15/9,15/4,15/6.

Wednesday 19th November

4.00 p.m. Smith w/o Prenn A Robinson vs H Foster Robinson wins 3/0 15/9,14/4 14/6

6.30 p.m. T Cockroft vs M Hubbard Hubbard wins 3/2 15/3,6/15,7/15,15/5,15/1

7.45pm A Titchener-Barrett vs G Smith-Bingham Smith-Bingham wins 3/1 15/10,15/5,3/15,17/15

Thursday 20th November

6.30 p.m. G smith-Bingham vs A Robinson Smith-Bingham wins 13/15,15/10,14/15, 17/14 retd

Semi Finals

Robinson bt Cockroft 15/6,15/1,15/13

Foster bt Hubbard 15/612/15,5/15, 16/13, 15/9

Final