Wisteria Hysteria: Hughes Hall/Magdalene Win The Wok
Lewis Drummond reports:
05/12/24:It's that time of year again when all the fives players across Cambridge are hit by wisteria hysteria as the Cambridge beginners' tournament - The Wisteria Wok - returned at the weekend for its fourth edition.
After the obligatory late dropouts nine pairs were left to do battle for the much coveted wok.
The morning pool played at Magdalene was easily won by one of the pre-tournament favourites Alex Ukrasin & Micheal Mclean (Hughes Hall/Magdalene), leaving only one spot remaining for the knockout stages. This was taken by Sacha Brozel and Ursula Hall (Magdalene), whose performance improved significantly following a mid-pool “quick 5k run”. Post-run, Sacha’s mid-court volleys and Ursula’s impressive back step gets were too much for wok veterans Tom Morris and Hugh Jones, who sadly missed out on the knockouts in what might have been their last appearance in the wok.
The sports centre pool was a much tighter affair, at least for the lower placings. Conor Mckenna & Tom Salter (Magdalene) cruised through the group stage with their powerful cutting proving too much for the other pairs.
This left two spots left in the knockouts to be claimed and in the last match of the pool stages any of the remaining four pairs could have gone through. The Queen’s pair of Anna Fitzpatrick & Conal Lowe had to beat the Magdalene postgrad pair of Joseph Cameron & Diarmid Xu, which they did 8-6, and then hope based on the tie break of points scored that they had done well enough to get through. Maja & Kellam (Magdalene/Pembroke) had to beat William & Isaac Gianfrancesco (a former wok victor stepping in after a last-minute dropout) and again had to cross their fingers on points scored that they had done enough to get through. Maja & Kellam played some excellent fives to beat William & Isaac, but sadly for them, in spite of Maja’s excellent volleys and Kellam's incredible movement, it was not to be as they narrowly missed out on having enough points to go through. Anna and Conal despite beating Diarmid and Joseph finished just below them in the group on the points count back.
This meant the line up for the knockouts had been decided, with Sacha & Ursula to play Anna & Conal for a place in the semi-finals. This was a closely fought game, but Sacha’s mid-court volleying proved to be too much for the Queen’s pair, as they lost 12-7.
Sacha & Ursula then had the reward of facing Conor & Tom in the semi-final, which was a brutal affair. Cnnor & Tom’s cutting was on fire. Sacha & Ursula, despite being very much in the rallies, were swept aside as Conor and Tom had their eyes firmly set on the coveted wok.
The second semi-final was rather similar to the first with Alex & Micheal dominating the set piece. Joseph & Diarmid never got going before a wayward cut hit Joseph's nose, leading to a nosebleed and sadly a concession as the prolonged medical timeout meant the Magdalene postgrad pair had to concede in order to get to chapel.
The final was then played after a short break where much needed refreshment was gathered. The first set was a very tight affair with both sides having very strong cuts, Alex & Micheal managed to reach foot down first, and rather unluckily Tom hit his step cut straight out, gifting Alex & Micheal the first set. Unfortunately for the crowd the second set was much shorter. With some inspired play by Micheal and Tom & Conor beginning to fade, Alex & Micheal had managed to run away to 6-2 before most of the crowd had come back from Magdalene bar with some refreshments. And then it was all over with Alex and Micheal taking the last set 8-2.
For a beginners' tournament the standard of fives on display was exceptional and all those who participated have a bright future in the game. Congratulations to everyone who played!
Playoff
S.Brozel & U.Hall (Magdalene) beat A.Fitzpatrick & C.Lowe (Queens’) 12-7
Semi- finals
C.Mckenna & T.Salter (Magdalene) beat S.Brozel & U.Hall 12-0
A.Ukrasin & M.Mclean (Hughes Hall/Magdalene) beat J.Cameron & D.Xu (Magdalene) 6-2 ret
Final
A.Ukrasin & M.Mclean beat C.Mckenna & T.Salter 2-0 (8-6,8-2)
