March 2011 Fives: Not just a young man's game

Simon Woolfries reports:

Very Old Ipswichians vs Very Old Westminsters

This fixture, inaugurated last year, was held again at Westminster on Tues. 22nd March – as far as those taking part can remember.

The match was cut to two pairs late on the day when one of the OWs hurt his back bending over to pick up his bus pass (or something similar). The VOIs had to cast far and wide for a suitably senior team which ended up containing one OI plus ghosts from Repton, King Eds and Lancing. Aldenham were also represented in the VOWs team.

However, the Fives which resulted was both competitive and of a respectable standard. In the first court Graham Pulsford was able to exert enough control to keep Neil Margerison and he ahead of Simon Woolfries and trainee senior Courtney Friend; but not before some long rallies and hard cutting.

The second pair match was even more closely contested, but Nigel Cox’s journey from France that day may explain the collapse that he and Richard Wood suffered in the fifth. John Sanderson and Justin Byam Shaw maintained a height advantage throughout.

Andrew Aitken watching declared the Fives to have been very entertaining and, as characterises seniors events, a good session in the pub ensued. We even remembered the scores!

S.Woolfries and C.Friend (VOIs) lost to G.Pulsford and N.Margerison (VOWs) 6-12, 15-12, 5-12, 8-12

R.Wood and N.Cox (VOIs) lost to J.Sanderson and J.Shaw (VOWs) 12-7, 5-12, 5-12, 14-13, 1-12