EFA Trophy: University Win The Day In Oxford Derby

EFA Trophy: University Win The Day In Oxford Derby

24/02/25: Oxford University won this year's EFA Trophy in association with Advanta Wealth at Eton yesterday, defeating local rivals North Oxford in the final.

The morning semi-finals saw North Oxford up against the most successful side in the competition's history and holders of the Trophy since 2020 the Old Salopians, while the Oxford students took on Team Westway, who had played superbly well to qualify in the second weather-delayed qualifying group a couple of weeks previously.

The Westway team are currently top of Division 2 and were led from the front by fast-improving Bryanstonians Tancred Campbell and Frank Lebon. One or two other members of their qualifying team were unavailable for finals day, unfortunately, and although they still managed to produce a competitive side, Oxford University had the edge on them both in terms of big hitters at the top of the order and in strength in depth, running out 3-0 winners across all three pairs of their semi-final.

The other match was a tighter affair: North Oxford's first pair of Isaac Weaver & Fred Prickett put in an excellent performance to beat the strong Salopian first string of Tom Welti & Adam Morris. Luke Lloyd-Jones & Tom Bromley-Davenport struck back at second pair, holding off the challenge of Edwardians Pete Scholey & Stephen Thatcher, but the North Oxford win was clinched at third pair, where the vastly experienced duo of Mike Hughes & Marc Quinn were unable to hold off Karen Hird & Nathan Turnbull, for whom a win in the tight first game proved crucial.

The Salopians returned from their lunch break refreshed and ready to claim third place over Team Westway, despite the presence of two Salopians (Al Taylor & Tim Thurnham) in the Westway ranks, the highlight an excellent first pair match that saw Welti & Morris withstand a gallant Campbell & Lebon third game comeback to win in four.

The final saw a return to the late 2010s, when the two Oxford teams met in a series of EFA Trophy semis and finals. The University team opted for a change of strategy in the afternoon, spreading their strength across their three pairs and banking on their depth to see them through. It worked, as North Oxford's second and third pairs had little or no answer - despite some defiance in close third games in both instances - to their University counterparts, leaving another outstanding first pair performance from Weaver & Prickett not enough to stop the students claiming a deserved win as the best and strongest all round team on the day.

Our thanks go to Eton for hosting the competition, to Advanta Wealth for their continued sponsorship and to all of the teams who entered this year's competition, which is one of the most enjoyable and best-supported events on the Fives calendar.

Semi-Finals

Oxford University beat Team Westway 3-0

G.Wiseman & N.Choustikov beat F.Lebon & T.Campbell 3-0 (12-8, 12-6, 12-8)

B.Hart & B.Swallow beat B.Bannerman & A.Taylor 3-0 (12-7, 12-5, 12-4)

J.Robb & E.Gosnell beat P.Wilkinson & T.Thurnham 3-0 (12-2, 12-1, 12-3)

North Oxford beat Old Salopians 2-1

I.Weaver & F.Prickett beat T.Welti & A.Morris 3-0 (12-6, 12-6, 12-5)

S.Thatcher & P.Scholey lost to L.Lloyd-Jones & T.Bromley-Davenport 0-3 (7-12, 7-12, 6-12)

K.Hird & N.Turnbull beat M.Hughes & M.Quinn 3-0 (12-9, 12-6, 12-7)

Final

Oxford University beat North Oxford 2-1

G.Wiseman & J.Robb lost to I.Weaver & F.Prickett 0-3 (4-12, 3-12, 4-12)