With only 25 competitors, it was the smallest field for some years, but the competitive spirit and enthusiasm on show was as always second to none, writes organiser Peter de Winton.
Although we missed having the boys from Loretto, Derby Moor and Rossall, and failed to add any new schools to the roster this year in spite of issuing invitations widely, there was a solid entry from the regular attendants, and we were pleased to welcome a couple of boys from Richmond Park Academy for their second year, so there was plenty of variety in the experience, style and physical size of those competing.
In the pool stage of the Singles, Taberham of Merchant Taylors emerged as the top player, losing only three points in three games, and impressing with his strength and timing. Hanton of Alleyns ran him close, losing four points, all of those ironically to Francis of Blundells, who went on to win the Plate. The other pool winners all achieved maximum points, and the top second-placed boys only dropped one apiece, so the knockout stage was set for some good tussles, and five schools were represented. Taberham and Hanton both made short work of their quarter- and semi-final opponents, so the final looked intriguing, with Hanton's all-round game pitched against Taberham's physicality.
In the end, Hanton's consistency, composure and variety of shots deprived Taberham of the opportunity to hit winners, and he won decisively 11-3, 11-2. In the Plate, for the next best eight players from the pools, the same five schools were again represented: the matches were close and hard fought, particularly the final where Kirwan of Alleyns kept his resolve throughout a very long and tense game but ended up falling short, with Francis of Blundells, who showed great steadiness and fitness, the winner at 15-9.
With fewer competitors and therefore a slightly shorter Singles session, it meant that the boys had enough puff left for the some determined Doubles action. Twelve pairs entered, and most first-round matches went according to the schools' own rankings, such that by the semi-final there were the first ranked pairs from Alleyns, Merchant Taylors, Blundells and Pilgrims, who had all won their previous matches only conceding six points between them! So inevitably the semi finals were tight matches with some quite long rallies.
Blundells, who had won 11-7, and Alleyns, who had won 11-8, both earned their place in the final, and so a finely balanced match was in prospect. We were not disappointed; Alleyns started quicker, and managed to stay on top for the first game, winning it 11-7, but Blundells came back strongly in the second and it then looked anyone's match. It took a big effort and focus by Alleyns to then go up a gear in the third game and finish the match impressively, Hanton dominating the Blundells serve and Alleyns winning 11-0. In the Plate competition, five teams took part, with Blundells 2 showing superior staying power to vanquish Merchant Taylors 2, 15-3.
My thanks to St.Pauls for allowing us the use of the courts, to the coaches for their enthusiasm and flexibility, and to Frank Akerman for his tireless support in helping to run the show. It is gratifying that, although schools have so many competing sports, they succeed in assembling teams of a good standard, who invariably enjoy the day. I hope the various coaching and other initiatives in certain schools that have as yet not competed, combined with giving an earlier notice about the tournament, will attract other schools. I look forward to next year with confidence that this seed bed of Fives will be welcoming new schools, whilst retaining the traditional competitors.
RESULTS
Singles
Group stages
Pool 1: 1st Hanton (Alleyn's), 2nd Francis (Blundell's), 3rd Cole (Richmond Park Academy), 4th Calder (Pilgrims), 5th Savage (Merchant Taylors)
Pool 2: 1st Clarke (Blundell's), 2nd Rentoul (Alleyn's), 3rd Chapman (Christ's Hospital), 4th Ragudasan (Merchant Taylors)
Pool 3: 1st Mellor (Christ's Hospital), 2nd Walker (Merchant Taylors), 3rd McLaurin (Blundell's), 4th Fakorede (Richmond Park Academy)
Pool 4: 1st Griffiths (Pilgrims), 2nd Gibson (Blundell's), 3rd Burgess (Christ's Hospital), 4th Shah (Merchant Taylors)
Pool 5: 1st Lockwood (Blundell's), 2nd Kirwan (Alleyn's), 3rd Shaw (Christ's Hospital), 4th Andraous (Merchant Taylors)
Pool 6: 1st Taberham (Merchant Taylors), 2nd Kilnkenberg (Blundell's), 3rd Choi (Pilgrims), 4th Yang (Alleyn's)
Knockout section:
Quarter-finals: Taberham bt Lockwood 11-0; Walker bt Griffiths 15-10; Clarke bt Gibson 15-2; Hanton bt Mellor 15-1
Semi-finals: Taberham bt Walker 11-3, 11-1; Hanton bt Clarke 11-2, 11-3
Final: Hanton bt Taberham 11-3, 11-2
Plate: Francis
Doubles
1st round: Merchant Taylors 1 bt Blundell's 2 11-10; Christ's Hospital 1 bt Blundell's 3 11-9; Blundell's 1 bt Alleyn's 2 11-5; Christ's Hospital 2 bt Richmond Park Academy 11-4
Quarter-finals: Alleyn's 1 bt Merchant Taylors 3 11-1; Merchant Taylors 1 bt Christ's Hospital 1 11-3; Blundell's 1 bt Christ's Hospital 2 11-1; Pilgrims bt Merchant Taylors 2 11-1
Semi-finals: Alleyn's 1 bt Merchant Taylors 1 11-8; Blundell's 1 bt Pilgrims 11-7
Final: Alleyn's 1 bt Blundell's 1 11-7, 7-11, 11-0
Plate: Blundell's 2