Mark Williams reports:
A significantly larger entry of 59 pairs from 7 schools played in this competition (thanks to REFCA moving their U13 tournament to earlier in the season). Quarter-finalists from the previous year's U12 competition and all players from this year's U12s are not allowed to enter.
Highgate still had a large number of good pairs, despite losing their top four pairs, and ten of them won their pools. Their 8th pair pulled off a remarkable coup in beating their first pair 2-1 in a very close third round match, which showed just how similar their top pairs were in standard.
Ipswich and Berkhamsted both had five pairs qualifying for the last 32, which included the day's closest match: Ipswich 5 beating R/rydal 2 12-10, 11-12, 12-11.
In Round 3 Berkhamsted 1 came from behind to beat Highgate 9, narrowly winning the second game 14-11, having been one game and 8-11 down, and there was a simlilarly close match when Highgate 10 beat RGS High Wycombe 2.
In the quarter-finals there were comfortable wins for Highgate 4, R/rydal 1 and Highgate 2, but St.Olave's 1 were pushed hard by Ipswich 1.
In the first semi-final, the R/rydal pair, including a very talented left-hander, were too strong for Highgate 4, winning 12-8, 12-5: the first time a R/rydal pair has reached the final of this competition.
The second semi-final was much closer: St.Olave's winning the first game 12-10, before Highgate 2 replied strongly to win the second game 12-5. One of the Highgate players had an obvious bruise on his hand, and it was therefore a particularly tenacious performance from them to narrowly win the third game 12-9.
We look forward to seeing whether the R/rydal pair can become their first ever n/national champions in the final on Sunday 23rd March at 10am.
3rd Round:
Highgate 8 beat Highgate 1 12-8, 7-12, 13-11
Highgate 4 beat Highgate 5 12-5, 12-5
Berkhamsted 1 beat Highgate 9 6-12, 14-11, 12-2
R/rydal 1 beat Ipswich 2 12-7, 12-8
Ipswich 1 beat RGS High Wycombe 1 12-0, 12-8
St.Olave's 1 beat Ipswich 5 12-3, 8-12, 12-4
Highgate 3 beat Highgate 6 12-6, 12-4
Highgate 2 beat Highgate 10 12-3, 12-4
Quarter-Finals:
Highgate 4 beat Highgate 8 12-6, 12-9
R/rydal 1 beat Berkhamsted 1 12-3, 12-4
St.Olave's 1 beat Ipswich 1 14-12, 12-6
Highgate 2 beat Highgate 3 12-2, 12-7
Semi-Finals:
R/rydal 1 (J.Jones & W.Sissons) beat Highgate 4 (C.Duah & D.Lioubimov) 12-8, 12-5
Highgate 2 (J.Abramovich & K.Steele) beat St.Olave's 1 (S.Balaji & L.McLean) 10-12, 12-5, 12-9