Schools' Winchester Fives Championship
Winchester College, 10th November 2013
Eleven pairs entered the first Schools' tournament of the season at Winchester on a fine autumn Sunday, writes organiser David Barnes; and, although no matches went to three games, a lot of good fives was played. In the first round, Derby Moor II pipped Marlborough in the closest match of the day, while Derby Moor III looked immediately at home on the courts, defeating the local second pair.
The quarter-finals saw the four seeds, St. Paul's I and II, Derby Moor I and Winchester I, come through with some ease, the stoutest opposition coming from Radley I and the plucky Derby Moor III, who were eventually to contest the plate final. In one of the semifinals the top St. Paul's pair – already holders of the Rugby Fives Schools' doubles title – beat Winchester I comfortably in a match where the Wykehamists fought hard but failed to win many points. The other semi saw Derby Moor's experienced first pair give St. Paul?s II a good match before succumbing to the Paulines' left and right partnership and better handling of the buttress.
The final was a pleasure to watch, as the outstanding Beltrami and Arnold (St. Paul's I) dealt increasingly skilfully with the possibilities of the buttress, while their second pair (Kahn-Pascual and Ashraf) retrieved well and hit the ball almost as hard but not quite as consistently or accurately. For two pairs unused to Winchester fives, the standard was extremely high and St. Paul's I thoroughly deserved their victory.
The plate competition was a most enjoyable one, with several pairs in with a chance of winning. Eventually Derby Moor III (Halligan & Singh) took the prize, beating a good pair from Radley in a close final. It was due reward for consistently good fives throughout the day.
Many thanks to Giles Munn for his help and to Winchester College for the use of their fine courts, which played as well as ever.
RESULTS
Round 1: Derby Moor II bt Marlborough 16-15, 16-14; Winchester I bt St. Paul's III 15-3, 15-5; Derby Moor III bt Winchester II 15-3, 15-9
Quarter-Finals: St. Paul's I bt Derby Moor II 15-2, 15-0; Winchester I bt Radley II 15-1, 15-1; Derby Moor I bt Radley I 15-5, 15-4; St. Paul's II bt Derby Moor III 15-7, 15-3
Semi-Finals: St. Paul's I bt Winchester I 15-3, 15-2; St. Paul's II bt Derby Moor I 15-11, 15-11
Final: St. Paul's I (B Beltrami & O Arnold) bt St. Paul's II (Y Kahn-Pascual & B Ashraf) 15-2, 15-6
Plate winners: Derby Moor III (J Halligan & J Singh)