To be held at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood, 11th December 2011
Following the success of the email-based entry system which was pioneered over the last two years, we will be continuing with it for this year's RFA Club President's Cup.
Right from the start, it was clear that this would be a particularly long day. No less than five of the eight first-round matches went the distance to three games, and by 1pm only four matches had been completed; even by 5pm, with barely a pause in the action on any one of the four courts, no finalist had been confirmed in any of the four competitions!
Nevertheless, as the day went on, the tournament began to take shape. In the main competition, it was perhaps only to be expected that the only pair not to be involved in a three-game match – the ex-Christ's Hospital pair of Luke Thomson and Guy Matthews – won their way through to the final, beating Max Frost and Richard Dyke in the second round, before disposing of Ed Hawke and Henry Jefferies in the semi-final.
In the final, they would face John Minta – going for an unprecedented third consecutive win – and Mark Kiteley, who was playing in his first President's Cup final. They had had a tough opening match against Richard Price and 'Harry Potter' star Freddie Sjostrom (taking the chance to re-acquaint himself with the game on a trip back to the UK from his home in Los Angeles), but then secured more comfortable wins over, first, Bruce Hanton & Bhaswar Baral, and then Gareth Price and Andea Gemade.
Almost inevitably, the final went to three games, and it was a hard-fought battle, not without its contentious moments. For large parts, it was effectively a singles battle between Luke and John, with their partners taking cover in the back corners and desperately trying to avoid a mistake when the ball found its way to them. The first game went to John and Mark, but Luke and Guy never lost confidence: they stuck to their game and hit back to take the next two games, securing the President's Cup. It crowned a fine year for Luke, in which he also won the Schools' and Universities' championships, as well as representing the largest achievement in Guy's Fives-playing career.
Play in the three plate competitions was no less intense, and eventually saw wins for Hamish Buchanan & Alex Satterfield (a newcomer to the game) in the Love Mug, Max Frost & Richard Dyke in the T-Pot, and Ed Hawke and Henry Jefferies in the Mate's Plate.
Results
1st round: G.Price & Andea bt Walter & Compton 7-15, 15-7, 16-14; Hale & Gravatt bt Pringle & Lamb
15-13, 10-15, 15-11; Hanton & Baral bt Burrows & Arnott 15-10, 15-6; Minta & Kiteley bt Sjostrom & R.Price 15-7, 13-15, 15-7; E.Hawke & Jefferies bt Buchanan & Satterfield 15-10, 6-15, 15-11; Parker & Warner bt Lee & Bridge 15-5, 15-10; Frost & Dyke bt Tristao & Butler 13-15, 15-3, 16-15; Thomson & Matthews bt Kirby & Kirk 15-8, 15-6
2nd round: G.Price & Gemade bt Hale & Gravatt 15-7, 13-15, 15-13; Minta & Kiteley bt Hanton & Baral
15-4, 16-14; Hawke & Jefferies bt Parker & Warner 15-7, 15-13; Thomson & Matthews bt Frost & Dyke 15-8, 15-13
Semi-finals: Minta & Kiteley bt G.Price & Andea 15-13, 15-1; Thomson & Matthews bt Hawke & Jefferies 15-11, 15-11
Final: Thomson & Matthews bt Minta & Kiteley 11-15, 15-11, 15-11
Love Mug: 1st round - Burrows & Arnott bt Lee & Bridge 15-7, 15-6; Buchanan & Satterfield bt Kirby & Kirk 15-5, 15-2; R.Price & Sjostrom bt Walter & Compton 15-8, 15-6; Tristao & Butler bt Pringle & Lamb 15-13, 16-14
Semi-finals: Buchanan & Satterfield bt Burrows & Arnott 15-5, 15-9; Tristao & Butler bt R.Price & Sjostrom 16-14, 6-15, 15-10
Final: Buchanan & Satterfield bt Tristao & Butler 15-8, 15-9
T-Pot: 1st round: Pringle & Lamb bt Hale & J.Hawke 15-6, 15-7; Hanton & Baral bt Walter & Compton
15-12, 15-4; Parker & Warner bt Kirby & Kirk 15-10, 3-15, 15-11; Frost & Dyke bt Lee & Bridge 15-6, 15-8
Semi-finals: Pringle & Lamb bt Hanton & Baral 15-4, 15-6; Frost & Dyke bt Parker & Warner 15-9, 11-15, 15-9
Final: Frost & Dyke bt Pringle & Lamb 15-9, 15-9
Mates' Plate: Semi-finals - G.Price & Andea bt Burrows & Arnott 15-9, 15-5; Hawke & Jefferies bt R.Price & Sjostrom 15-6, 15-2
Final: Hawke & Jefferies bt G.Price & Andea 8-15, 15-12, 15-12
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