DOUBLES partners Julien Lawes and Tom Legg both edged closer to a singles showdown after straight-sets wins in the quarter-finals. Bridport’s Alan Cash managed to scrape a couple of games in the first set but was soon overwhelmed by Lawes’ ferocious ground strokes.
Lawes now moves on to most likely play Clif Moreton in the semi-final.
Legg had a harder time dealing with Kieron Morrissey, who has belied his young age at the tournament with some great play.
However, Legg was just too experienced for him. After snatching the first set 6-4 that Morrissey needed to take to have a chance of winning the match, Legg went up a gear in the second.
Morrissey will now look to the men’s doubles where he has a great chance of making the final with Justin Smith.
Smith showed in his quarter-final that he could well cause Legg problems in an all-Dorchester semi-final, as he went through for the loss of four games against Adam Fraser.
The men’s doubles groups were completed as the Skidmore brothers – Ben and Alex – from Dorchester attempted to pull off two victories that could have seen them sneak into the semi-finals.
However, it was a task that was beyond them as they slipped to two defeats against Moreton and Clive Stow, and eventual qualifiers Fraser and Mark Henman. In the ladies’ doubles Zoë Acutt and Sarah Skidmore booked their place in the final with a straight-sets victory and will play Caroline Cash and Emma Gardiner in Saturday’s final.
Results Men’s Singles quarter-finals: Julien Lawes bt Alan Cash 6-2, 6-0, Tom Legg bt Kieron Morrissey 6-4, 6-2, Justin Smith bt Adam Fraser 6-1, 6-3.
Men’s Doubles: Adam Fraser & Mark Henman bt Alex Skidmore & Ben Skidmore 6-4, 6-1, Clif Moreton & Clive Stow bt Alex Skidmore & Ben Skidmore 6-1, 7-5.
Ladies’ Doubles: Zoë Acutt & Sarah Skidmore bt Glenda Fraser & Jennie Kennedy 6-2, 6-3.
TONIGHT’S ORDER OF PLAY 6pm: Tom Legg v Justin Smith, Julien Lawes v Clif Moreton/Matthew Brook.
7.30pm: Rhose Lawes & Clif Moreton v Joy Hennessy & Mark Henman, Kieron Morrissey & Justin Smith v Ed Evans & Jon Mason.
SATURDAY’S FINALS DAY 9.45am: Mixed Doubles Plate – Alan & Caroline Cash v Kevin Meacham & Matthew Brook 10.45am: Ladies’ Singles – Joy Hennessy v Amy Nicholson.
11.45am: Exhibition Match: Boys’ Singles Under-16 and Under-11 Finalist (one set only) 12.30pm: Men’s Singles.
1.30pm: Men’s Doubles.
2.30pm: Mixed Doubles.
3.30pm: Ladies’ Doubles – Zoë Acutt & Sarah Skidmore v Caroline Cash & Emma Gardiner 5pm: Trophies to be presented by Shaun Hennessy (Blondz) to junior winners and finalists and seniors by Weymouth and Portland Deputy Mayor Graham Winter.
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