2011 EFA Trophy: Berkhamsted pip the Salopians in epic

The semi-finals and final of the 2011 EFA Trophy took place at Eton at the weekend and produced a day of fiercely contested matches between four well-matched teams: Berkhamsted, North Oxford, Old Wulfrunians and Old Salopians.

Berkhamsted made the early running in their semi-final against North Oxford with Andrew Joyce and Jeremy O'Neill - full of confidence after their Under 21 triumph the week before - taking the first game at first pair against Jeremy Hindle and Graham Pulsford and Ant Theodossi and Jonathan Fagan repeating the dose at second pair versus Justin Byam Shaw and Carl Rennie. North Oxford then struck back, as Spencer Chapman and Chris Lloyd moved into a 2-0 lead at third pair against David Smith and Alex Rattan and both the first two pairs levelled their matches at one game apiece. With the pressure on, Berkhamsted rose to the challenge with Andrew and Jeremy moving through the gears to win the third game 12-0 and the fourth 12-6. Ant and Jonathan did the same at second pair winning the third and fourth games to 4 and 7 and Alex and David joined in at third, levelling their contest at 2-2 before conceding to save their energy for the final with the match won.

The other semi-final pitched old rivals the Salopians and Wulfrunians against each other, with both sides hell bent on beating the other and making the final. The Wulfrunians had won their match at the same stage of this competition last year and for a long time it looked like they would repeat the dose this time round. Richard Ambler and David Jones won 3-0 at third pair against Marc Quinn and Craig Webster and both first and second pairs were leading 2-1. Any pair containing the combative Grant Williams can never be written off however, and he and David Blofield gradually clawed their way back into the first pair contest against Chris Austin and Sid Simmons, winning the fourth game 15-10 and the fifth 12-7. Second pair then became the crucial rubber, and youngsters George Thomason and Tom Welti were beginning to to make the most of of their significant age advantage to outlast Mark Yates and Andy Husselbee, clinching the final game 12-8 as Mark and Andy began to feel the effects of nearly three hours on court.

The final saw the Berkhamsted team adjusting their pairs in an attempt to outflank the Salopians, with Theodossi joining Joyce at first pair to take on the strength of Williams and Blofield, with O'Neill dropping down to third pair to guide Rattan through against Quinn and Webster. The Salopian first pair duo fought hard to share the first two games 9-12, 12-4 but the morning's efforts caught up with them in the end and Theodossi and Joyce won 3-1 in four hard-fought games. Second pair saw Welti and Thomason in fine form, recording their second win of the day with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Smith and Fagan. The early signs at third pair were good for the Salopians with Quinn and Webster establishing a 2-0 lead as the Berkhamsted pair gamble appeared to be failing; the third game was the turning point, however, as Jeremy O'Neill began to take control of the contest and with solid support from Alex Rattan won it 12-6. Once the momentum had turned there was little the Salopian pair could do, and the Berkhamstedians went on to win in five games and reclaim the trophy that they last won in 2008.

Results:

Semi-finals:

Berkhamsted beat North Oxford 2-1

A.Joyce & J.O'Neill beat G.Pulsford & J.Hindle 3-1 (12-4, 10-12, 12-0, 12-6)

A.Theodossi & J.Fagan beat J.Byam Shaw & C.Rennie 3-1 (12-6, 5-12, 12-4, 12-7)

D.Smith & A.Rattan lost to S.Chapman & C.Lloyd 2-3 (11-13, 2-12, 13-10, 13-11, ret)

Old Salopians beat Old Wulfrunians 2-1

G.Williams & D.Blofield beat C.Austin & A.Simmons 3-2 (12-6, 8-12, 9-12, 15-10, 12-7)

G.Thomason & T.Welti beat M.Yates & A.Husselbee 3-2 (12-5, 11-14, 10-12, 12-7, 12-8)

M.Quinn & C.Webster lost to R.Ambler & D.Jones 0-3 (12-13, 4-12, 3-12)

Final:

Berkhamsted beat Old Salopians 2-1

A.Theodossi & A.Joyce beat G.Williams & D.Blofield 3-1 (12-9, 4-12, 12-8, 12-10)

D.Smith & J.Fagan lost to G.Thomason & T.Welti 0-3 (5-12, 5-12, 3-12)

J.O'Neill & A.Rattan beat M.Quinn & C.Webster 3-2 (8-12, 11-15, 12-6, 12-4, 12-6)

3rd/4th Place play-off:

Old Wulfrunians beat North Oxford 2-1

C.Austin & D.Jones beat G.Pulsford & J.Hindle 2-0 (12-6, 12-6)

R.Ambler & G.Hammond lost to S.Chapman & C.Lloyd 0-2 (7-12, 5-12)

M.Yates & A.Simmons beat J.Byam Shaw & C.Rennie 2-0 (12-4, 12-9)