EFA Trophy: Salopians And Westway Into Finals Day

EFA Trophy: Salopians And Westway Into Finals Day

10/02/25: The delayed second group in the 2024/25 EFA Trophy in association with Advanta Wealth finally took place at Highgate on Sunday.

The Highgate group had had to be postponed back in November because of slippery courts; thankfully the weather played ball this time and five of the original six teams reconvened under the watchful organisational eye of Adam Morris to find out who would be joining Oxford University and North Oxford for Finals Day at Eton in a couple of weeks time.

The Old Salopians have won the last four editions of the EFA Trophy and were again in fine fettle, topping the group for the loss of just one match all day, the first pair game against old rivals the Wulfrunians. The Wolverhampton team were involved in a tight and tense three way batlle for the second qualifying spot with Team Westway and the Monday Knights, while Cambridge University deserved far better than their final points tally and were competitive in every match they played in.

The tone was set in the first round of matches as the Monday Knights came out on top of a titanic battle with the Wulfrunians, winning first pair 15-14, losing third pair by the same margin and winning the second pair 15-12. The "bonus" point that the Wulfrunians picked up against the Salopians kept them in contention and with Team Westway beating the Monday Knights 2-1, including a crucial 15-13 second pair win, the final round of matches were beautifully set up with all four of the teams on court still in with a chance of qualifying. The Salopians were sitting in pole position on 8 points, just needing to avoid a 0-3 defeat to the Monday Knights to make it through. The Monday Knights themselves were on 6, knowing that they needed to win at least one pair against the Salopians to give themselves a chance, while the Wulfrunians took on Team Westway with both on 5 points, knowing it would be winner takes all if the Salopians could beat the Monday Knights 3-0.

This is indeed what transpired, although the Monday Knights got close at 3rd pair, only going down 15-12. Meanwhile the other two contenders were giving their all to make it to the last four. Westway struck first with a comfortable win at third pair but one wasn't enough and the other two pairs were going right down to the wire. The Wulfrunians won the second pair 15-11, meaning it all came down to the first pair result, which in the end was a win for Westway 15-13, the win enough to take them one point ahead of the Wulfrunians and Monday Knights and through to their first ever semi-final.

Finals Day will be at Eton on Sunday February 23rd, with the semi-finals at 10:30am and the final and the 3rd/4th match at 2:30pm.

Oxford University v Team Westway

Old Salopians v North Oxford

My thanks go to Highgate for hosting the day, to Adam Morris for his help running things and to Advanta Wealth for their sponsorship.

Group A (Highgate)

1. Old Salopians 11 points

2. Team Westway 7 points

=3. Old Wulfrunians 6 points

=3. Monday Knights 6 points

5. Cambridge University 0 points

Round 1

Old Salopians beat Cambridge University 3-0 (15-8, 15-4, 15-1)