In the best traditions of English tennis, the Law Society’s team came away with the wooden spoon at the biennial European Lawyers Tennis Tournament in Rome.

The team, captained by retired solicitor Russell Miller, comprised Peter Morton, partner at London firm K&L Gates, Clive Borthwick, partner at Luton firm Taylor Walton, Peter Hawkyard from Hamlins in London, Paul Chevalier of London firm Chevalier & Co, Adrian Martin from Kidd Rapinet in Farnham and retired solicitors Barry Skelding and Ian Beresford-Muddle.

Teams competed in four singles and two doubles matches. After a promising 3-3 draw against the Irish on the first day, our boys suf­fered a chastening 6-0 defeat at the hands of the ultimately victorious Hungarians and a 4-2 loss to the Italians.

At least the English team was able to console itself by drinking wine in the glorious Italian sunshine. The next tournament is scheduled for Germany in 2011, when no doubt the consolation glass of wine will be swapped for a commiserating stein of beer.

Anyone who wants to join the team, or perhaps sponsor Andy Murray through some qualifying exams (we’ll skirt over the small matter of his Scottishness) should email peter.morton@klgates.com.