Mark Williams reports
Ten pairs entered this tournament, which was held at Eton for the first time. Pairs were made up of one current schoolboy player and one older player who attended the same School. There were two pools of five, one weaker one stronger to ensure matches at roughly the same standard, and each pair played two games against every other pair in the pool. Two pairs qualified from each pool for the semi-finals, and each pair was given a handicap. The semi-finals and final were just one game played up to 15, with a different handicap.
There were several entertaining and well matched contests in the pools, and both players and organiser seemed happy enough with the handicaps judging by the number of close results. The four pairs who eventually qualified for the semi-finals were Harrovians Tom Dunbar and Jamie Fleming, Berkhamstedians James and Peter Rodwell, Olavians James Toop and Matthew Wiseman, and Sunningdalians Rupert Oldridge and Tom Dawson.
The draw for the semi-finals presented the organiser with a challenge, since it paired the Harrovians against the Berkhamstedians, and the Olavians against the Sunningdalians. Playing up to 15, Berkhamsted started 13-0 up, and the Rodwells fought valiantly against the talented and experienced Harrow pair. The score reached 14-14 before Harrow triumphed. The outstanding Olavian pair, who reached the Kinnaird Final later in the season, were given a more challenging handicap against Sunningdale. The latter started at +13, and the former at -6! Sadly this went disastrously wrong, as 12 year old Rupert Oldridge cut both Olavians down, and Sunningdale promptly went up and won two rally points. The Olavians took this in good heart, and a tantalising final beckoned.
Both Harrovians had won this tournament previously, and so for the final Sunningdale started at +13, and Harrow at -10!! To the organiser's relief, this produced a classic. Harrow played brilliantly to reduce the deficit, and in mounting tension, established a 14-13 lead. Tom Dawson and Rupert Oldridge refused to bow to the inevitable however, levelled the score at 14-14 winning a rally point, and then Tom Dunbar hit the game ball cut out of court! Congratulations therefore to Sunningdale for their first victory in this tournament, and we hope that an even larger entry will line up at the starting gate at Harrow next year.
Semi-finals
Harrow (T Dunbar & J Fleming) (0) beat Berkhamsted (J Rodwell & P Rodwell) (+13) 15-14
Sunningdale (R Oldridge & T Dawson) (+13) beat St Olave's (J Toop & M Wiseman) (-6) 15-(-6)
Final
Sunningdale (+13) beat Harrow (-10) 15-14