Mike Fenn reports:
Sadly this year the first and second rounds were marred by teams failing to produce sides. As a result the Old Salopians, seeded one, and the Old Cholmeleians, seeded two, had byes straight through to the semi-finals.
In the second round the Old Edwardians, seeded four, were beaten at home by a strong Old Harrovians side with all three matches going to four games. As expected the third seeded Old Olavians took advantage of the poor form shown by the Old Etonians this season, defeating them 3-0 at Eton.
A close encounter in the semi-finals saw the Old Salopians triumph 2-1 against the Old Harrovians, the Walters brothers winning yet another five game cliffhanger to ensure victory for their side. Third seeded Old Olavians comfortably defeated the Old Cholmeleians last year's losing finalists and seeded two.
And so the battle for the title was between the holders, the Old Salopians, and the third seeded Old Olavians. Both turned out full strength sides for the final and with the top two pairs both going to five games the title could have gone to either team. After an epic struggle M.Lascelles and I.Hutchinson lost the fifth game 11-15 to J.Toop and C.Cooley and E.Taylor and M.Hughes lost 9-12 to K.Rudman and S.Cooley. For once the Walters brothers failed to mastermind a Houdini escape going down in straight games to the Wiseman brothers, and so the Old Olavians deservedly once again became the proud holders of the Alan Barber Cup.
First Round
Lancing Old Boys w/o Old Ipswichians
Old Etonians w/o Old Carthusians
Old Aldenhamians beat Old Berkhamstedians 2-1
Second Round
Old Edwardians lost to Old Harrovians 0-3 at KES Birmingham
R Mason & C Friend lost to T Dunbar & P Dunbar 1-3 (7-12, 10-15, 15-14, 4-12)
P Scholey & R Tyler lost to J Fleming & R Bryan 1-3 (7-12, 9-12, 14-13, 12-15)
S Tinley & C Jones lost to N Shaw & J Willis 1-3 (12-3, 4-12, 9-12, 8-12)
Old Etonians lost to Old Olavians 0-3 at Eton
S Barber & T Dawson lost to J Toop & S Cooley 0-3 (0-12, 4-12, 0-12)
H McKenzie & R Horne lost to H Wiseman & C Cooley 1-3 (12-9, 4-12, 3-12, 4-12)
E Remnant & A Sibia lost to E Sanderson & D Mew 0-3 (4-12, 4-12, 2-12)
Old Salopians w/o Lancing Old Boys
Old Cholmeleians w/o Old Aldenhamians
Semi-finals, Eton
Old Salopians beat Old Harrovians 2-1
E Taylor & M Lascelles beat T Dunbar & R Bryan 3-1 (6-12, 12-1, 12-7, 12-7)
I Hutchinson & M Hughes lost to P Dunbar & J Fleming 1-3 (6-12, 8-12, 12-5, 5-12)
A Walters jr & J Walters beat A Titchener-Barrett & J Frederick 3-2 (12-10, 6-12, 12-4, 9-12, 12-9)
Old Olavians beat Old Cholmeleians 3-0
J Toop & C Cooley beat E Wass & A Varma 3-1 (12-4, 13-15, 12-7, 12-9)
K Rudman & S Cooley beat J Halstead & N Addy 3-1 (12-15, 12-9, 12-0, 6-1 ret)
H Wiseman & D Hawkins beat G Chapman & S Khan 3-0 (12-7, 12-8, 12-6)
Final, Eton
Old Olavians beat Old Salopians 3-0
J Toop & C Cooley beat M Lascelles & I Hutchinson 3-1 (12-14, 14-13, 12-1, 15-11)
K Rudman & S Cooley beat E Taylor & M Hughes 3-2 (7-12, 8-12, 12-2, 12-8, 12-9)
H Wiseman & M Wiseman beat J Walters & A Walters 3-0 (12-8, 12-8, 12-8)