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Harry Foster and Mark Hue Williams beat Neil Smith and Mark Hubbard by four games to one, 15/17,15/6,15/6,15/12,15/2, to win their second Lacoste Open Doubles title, reversing last season's result. This victory should send them to New York, for the first Leg of the World Doubles Challenge, in good heart.

Neither of the finalists lost a game on the way to the final and the only surprise result in the early rounds was the defeat, in the semi finals, of no 3 seeds Willie Boone and Alaister Orchard by Tonbridge professional David Makey and Joe Bone, Foster Cup Winner in 2004. Harry and Mark won the spin and Harry elected to serve first. Put out straight away Hubbard opened with three aces and went quickly to 7/0 and after he was put out Neil scored one point. Neither Foster and Hue Williams were able to score on either of their next two turns in the box and the professionals went to to 12/0 before on their 4th foray into the box, the amateurs won three points. Smith and Hubbard had started off much the stronger of the two pairs, serving to a better length and making the most of any opportunities that came their way. They reached 13/3 before being put out after the first properly competitive rally of the match, all four players involved in a fast paced to and fro. Up till now the Amateur Champions had looked out of sorts, Hue Williams' usually penetrating serves coming off the back wall and Foster not killing the ball with his usual relish. This long rally seemed to energise Harry and Mark and they took the next 9 points, Hue Williams serving 4 aces, to reach 12/13. Having got back in the box, Hubbard was put straight out and Smith could only reach game point, with an ace, before Mark and Harry served an ace each to level the scores at 14 all. The initiative now moved back to the other pair who back serving, took the next two points to be game point up again and although Foster, back in served an ace, it was not enough. Hubbard put out Foster, Smith then hit a great forehand to regain service and Hubbard was able to take the game 17/15 on his next serve.

The second seeds were in charge all through the second game winning 15/6, in four hands the game taking 12 minutes, a marked contrast to the first game, which lasted 30 minutes. Although they won the third game by the same score, the game itself was radically different. Harry and Mark were pointless in their first two turns in the box, while Neil and Mark went to 3/0 and when Hue Williams was put out without scoring it looked as if the same thing might happen again. Foster however had other ideas and won the next 14 points serving 7 aces and winning other points by sheer pace. He had the chance to take the game in one hand, but made a mess of a straightforward kill from mid court hitting the ball smartly into the tin. Smith and Hubbard were only able to take three more points before Hue Williams, having got back into the box served an ace to win the game 15/6.

Photo Dowling

All four players by now were seeing the ball well, and in the fourth game there were some great rallies cross court with all four players involved and Hubbard and Smith had the chance to level the scores. At 5/6 down Hue Williams had a run of 4 aces and then Foster 2 aces to take an 11/6 lead but Hubbard and Smith in turn won 6 points serving 5 aces and went to 12/11 at this point Neil failed to put away a high slow ball on the right hand side of the court and having got back in Hue Williams served out for the game 15/12. Foster and Hue Williams served twice as many aces as Smith and Hubbard Harry 27, Mark15, Neil 10 and Mark 11.

In the final game Harry had a run of 10 points going from 5/2 to winning the match, dominating from the front and splendidly backed up by Mark,they allowed a slightly demoralised opposition no more chances .

Foster has played in eight competitions this season and won them all.

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