Alan Barber Cup 2016: Lucky 13 for the Olavians

Mark Williams reports:

15/02/16: The Salopians marshalled a strong side to play the Olavians in the Alan Barber Cup Final at Eton on Sunday.

At third pair, Howard Wiseman and Dave Mew were too strong for Henry Lewis and Chris Hughes and won comfortably in 3 games.

The second pair match was the best contest, with all three games being hard fought and close throughout. James Toop masterminded the win with experience and flair, but Ian Hutchinson and George Thomason were able to pressure on Tom Gallagher. The latter, still at school with a year to go, steadily improved his play, so that the Olavians won all three games.

Ed Taylor and Rex Worth won the first game impressively at 1st pair, where Seb Cooley was feeling significantly under par with a heavy cold and had just arrived from Shrewsbury. However, he shrugged off the ailment in the next three games, and with Tony Barker playing with increasing confidence, the Olavians won all three comfortably.

Thus the Olavians won the Alan Barber Cup once again, proving that they remain undoubtedly the strongest club both in quality and depth.

Old Olavians beat Old Salopians 3-0:

S.Cooley & T.Barker beat E.Taylor & R.Worth 3-1 (7-12, 12-4, 12-1, 12-3)

J.Toop & T.Gallagher beat I.Hutchinson & G.Thomason 3-0 (12-9, 12-8, 12-9)

H.Wiseman & D.Mew beat H.Lewis & C.Hughes 3-0 (12-5, 12-4, 12-1)