Mark Williams reports:
The first round saw four of the five scheduled matches played, with comfortable wins for Edwardians and Cholmeleians; however Etonians dropped the first pair to Millhillians who conceded the third pair and therefore the match. The match of the round however was between the Salopians and Wulfrunians, making a welcome return to this competition after a long absence. Salopians were victorious 2-1, but it was a tussle, and the Wulfrunians were left to rue a difficult draw.
In the second round there were comfortable wins for the Olavians against Etonians, and for Salopians against Emanuels. Ipswichians hosted Edwardians and won the second pair 3-0, but both first and third were won by the same margin by Edwardians. Cholmeleians entertained Harrow, who conceded the third pair, splitting the Dunbar brothers between first and second pair. At second pair, Harrovians won a close match 3-1, Addy and Chapman won a crucial third game at first pair 15-14 to go 2-1 up, and lost the fourth 10-12, before holding their nerve in the fifth to notch an impressive victory for Cholmeleians.In the semi-finals, Olavians eventually triumphed 3-0 against Salopians, but Taylor and T Walters were 2-1 up against Toop and H Wiseman before running out of puff, and R Worth and M Hughes won a game at third pair. The other semi-final was a much closer affair: at first pair Addy and Ho beat Tyler and Purkis in three very close games; at second pair, Scholey and Friend took a game off Beenstock and M Little in another close contest; third pair was conceded by Cholmeleians at 2-2 since they had already won the first two pairs.
Thus the final was contested by the two clubs who have dominated this competition over the years. In all three pairs Olavians were too strong for Cholmeleians, and won in three games. This confirmed both their excellence and strength in depth as a club. Cholmeleians had a very impressive run to get to the final, and have some talented players coming through. It is pleasing to report that a higher proportion of matches were played this year, albeit some of them over just two pairs, and there are more clubs putting out something approaching their best sides. Long may that continue in what is after all our premier team competition.
Results
First Round
Old Salopians beat Old Wulfrunians 2-1
E Taylor & A Walters beat S Simmons & C Austin 3-0
M Hughes & Tom Cox beat M W Yates & M A Yates 3-1
T Gerrard & B Alderson lost to O Ross & G Hammond 2-3
Old Etonians beat Old Millhillians 2-1
W Sorrell & S Randall lost to V Bhimjiayani & O Sanders 0-3 (1-12, 5-12, 11-15)
T Dawson & F Colqhoun beat C Vincent & J Hutcheson 3-1 (12-8, 7-12, 5-12, 5-12)
Old Millhillians conceded third pair
Old Stoics lost to Old Edwardians 3-0
J Hutter & C Lloyd lost to R Tyler & S Purkis 0-3 (1-12, 5-12, 11-15)
M Skjott & J Marshall-Andrew lost to C Mellor & R Malik 1-3 (12-8, 7-12, 5-12, 5-12)
Old Stoics conceded third pair
Old Cholmeleians beat Lancing Old Boys 3-0
N Addy & J Ho beat W Betts & D Foster 3-0
G Chapman & R Beenstock beat S Duncan & R Black 3-0
Lancing Old Boys conceded third pair
Old Emanuels beat Old Aldenhamians 3-0
Old Aldenhamians conceded third pair
Second Round
Old Cholmeleians beat Old Harrovians 2-1
N Addy & G Chapman beat P Dunbar & N Shaw 3-2 (5-12, 12-2, 15-14, 10-12, 12-6)
R Beenstock & J Ho lost to T Dunbar & J Fredericks 1-3 (10-15, 12-10, 1-12, 9-12)
Old Harrovians conceded third pair
Old Olavians beat Old Etonians 3-0
H Wiseman & J Toop beat W Sorrell & F Colqhoun 3-0 (12-0, 12-4, 12-2)
S Cooley & P Markannen beat M Powell & S Randall 3-0 (12-0, 12-2, 12-1)
Old Etonians conceded third pair
Old Ipswichians lost to Old Edwardians 2-1
G Hoskins & T S Fletcher lost to R Tyler & S Purkis 0-3 (7-12, 3-12, 4-12)
M Graves & P Boughton beat C Friend & P Scholey 3-0 (12-6, 12-11, 12-8)
O Watts & E Leach lost to C Mellor & R Malik 0-3 (9-12, 6-12, 6-12)
Old Salopians beat Old Emanuels 3-0
E Taylor & R Nichols won 3-0
M Hughes & T Gerrard won 3-0
T Walters & P Nichols won 3-0
Semi-finals, Eton
Old Olavians beat Old Salopians 3-0
J Toop & H Wiseman beat E Taylor & A Walters 3-2 (12-6, 7-12, 10-15, 12-1, 12-4)
M Wiseman & S Cooley beat P Nichols & R Nichols 3-0 (12-2, 12-1, 12-2)
P White & D Mew beat R Worth & M Hughes 3-1 (12-7, 7-12, 12-5, 12-6)
Old Cholmeleians beat Old Edwardians 2-1
N Addy & J Ho beat R Tyler & S Purkis 3-0 (15-10, 12-10, 14-11)
R Beenstock & M Little beat P Scholey & C Friend 3-1 (12-8, 5-12, 12-9, 12-3)
D Davis & J O'Callaghan lost to C Mellor & R Malik 2-3 (7-12, 12-6, 13-14, 12-5, 7-5 ret)
Final, Eton
Old Olavians beat Old Cholmeleians 3-0
J Toop & H Wiseman beat G Chapman & J Ho 3-0 (12-2, 12-9, 12-4)
M Wiseman & S Cooley beat N Addy & J O'Callaghan 3-0 (12-0, 12-5, 12-5)
D Mew & P White beat R Beenstock & D Davis 3-0 (12-6, 12-7, 15-10)