Mark Williams reports:
The early rounds were distinguished by the performance of the Old Ipswichians in beating first the Old Etonians and then the Old Cholmeleians to reach the semi-finals.
They came up against a much weakened Old Harrovian team (neither Dunbar was available) who conceded the third pair, but were still strong enough to win the two pairs played. Meanwhile the Old Olavians beat the Old Salopians very comfortably in the other semi-final.
In the final, Tom Dunbar was still injured, which significantly weakened the Harrovian side, and Peter Cohen and David Mew duly won the third pair very easily. The first pair match started evenly, with Peter Dunbar and Jamie Fleming putting the Olavians under some early pressure, but Howard Wiseman and James Toop upped their game to take the crucial first game 12-8, and thereafter remained entirely in control to win comfortably in straight games. In the second pair, Peter White and Pauli Markannen narrowly won a close first game against Nick Shaw and Ross Bryan and the game was evenly poised at 10-9 to the Harrovians when a hand injury to Markannen forced a retirement. Thus the Olavians won the trophy for the fifth year in succession, and ninth time overall.
Results
First Round
Old Emanuels lost to Old Millhillians 1-2 at Emanuel
R Malacrida & A Theodossi lost to V Bhimjiyani & M Halstead 1-3 (12-8, 5-12, 8-12, 11-13)
J Viventi & R Prashar lost to C Vincent & J Hutcheson 0-3 (6-12, 2-12, 2-12)
Old Emanuels conceded third pair
Old Ipswichians beat Old Etonians 3-0 at Ipswich
G Hoskins & W Gibbons beat S Randall & C Caroe 3-0 (12-9, 12-9, 12-8)
T R Fletcher & T S Fletcher beat A Knight & A Sibia 3-0 (12-2, 12-4, 12-1)
Old Etonians conceded third pair
Old Edwardians beat Old Aldenhamians 2-1 at Eton
S Purkis & R Tyler lost to G Pulsford & J Rose 1-3 (5-12, 12-5, 4-12, 7-12)
C Mellor & P Scholey beat C Cernuschi & R Malik 3-1 (12-4, 15-10, 7-12, 15-13)
D Hassell & J Seelig beat P Kendall & P Lyndon 3-2 (10-12, 12-6, 12-8, 9-12, 12-6)
Old Stoics lost to Lancing Old Boys 0-3 at Highgate
Old Stoics conceded all three pairs
Second Round
Old Salopians beat Old Edwardians 2-1 at Eton
E Taylor & A Walters lost to P Scholey & R Tyler 1-3 (7-12, 9-12, 12-9, 11-13)
R Nichols & F Nicholson beat C Mellor & S Purkis 3-0 (12-6, 12-2, 12-3)
Old Edwardians conceded third pair
Old Millhillians lost to Old Olavians 1-2 at Mill Hill
J Hutcheson & M Halstead lost to D Hawkins & P White 0-3 (2-12, 0-12, 1-12)
F Mir & W Hughes beat E Sanderson & J Acton 3-1 (14-15, 12-8, 12-6, 12-5)
Old Millhillians conceded the third pair
Old Ipswichians beat Old Cholmeleians 2-1 at Ipswich
M Graves & G Hoskins lost to N Addy & J O'Callaghan 0-3 (6-12, 10-12, 10-12)
P V Boughton & T L Fletcher beat G Chapman & E Davis 3-0 (12-6, 12-9, 12-4)
Old Cholmeleians conceded third pair
Old Harrovians beat Lancing Old Boys 3-0 at Harrow
T Dunbar & P Dunbar beat N Cox & W Betts 3-0 (12-2, 12-2, 12-3)
R Bryan & J Fleming beat R Black & J Nelmes 3-0 (12-1, 12-0, 12-0)
Lancing conceded third pair
Semi-finals, Eton
Old Harrovians beat Old Ipswichians 3-0
G Hoskins & T S Fletcher lost to R Bryan & N Shaw 0-3 (3-12, 6-12, 5-12)
M Graves & T L Fletcher lost to J Fleming & J Frederick 0-3 (9-12, 5-12, 5-12)
Old Harrovians conceded third pair
Old Olavians beat Old Salopians 3-0
J Toop & H Wiseman beat P Nichols & A Walters 3-0 (12-1, 12-4, 12-1)
P Markkanen & P White beat R Nichols & A Sentance 3-0 (12-7, 12-4, 12-3)
D Mew & P Cohen beat A Mitchell & A Walters 3-0 (12-1, 12-2, 12-1)
Final, Eton
Old Olavians beat Old Harrovians 2-1
J Toop & H Wiseman beat P Dunbar & J Fleming 3-0 (12-8, 12-3, 12-2)
P White & P Markannen lost to R Bryan & N Shaw 1-3 (12-6, 9-10 ret)
P Cohen & D Mew beat J Willis & J Frederick 3-0 (12-0, 12-0, 12-2)