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2001 EFA Trophy

Ed Taylor reports:

Six sides were drawn up for this year's contest - a nice number. Two round robin pools of three, allowing proper three game matches...

...However, after twenty minutes of play the Oxford University side, who had been the first to enthusiastically enter a team, (with their formidable squad of players) - had yet to make an appearance... a few calls on the mobile and it soon became apparent that they were still sleeping it off -tucked up in bed! It would seem that the club secretary had left the organisation to the president and vice-versa...a shameful state of affairs, and an apathetic lack of consideration for the other competitors - you know who you are! This led to a most embarrassing situation - games that were begun had to be halted and the draw had to be re-jigged to make one "super-pool", every team playing every other in an unforgiving, one game - first to fifteen format. The semi-finals were at stake; one side wouldn't cut the mustard...who would be "The Weakest Link?"

Rather surprisingly the side that suffered the "walk of shame" (to the pub) were the Old Olavians, with two wins and ten losses, while a combined Etonian/Carthusian team came out top (9 & 3) with the Old Salopians close behind (7 & 5)...these teams were seeded into the semi's.

Semi-finals

So in the semi's the Old Salopians took on a combined "Cambridge and friends" team. Headed at first pair by R Bryan & P Thompson, A Taylor and D Eckley at second (Salopian double agents!) and J Fagan & A Theodossi at third. The Salopians won through 3-0.

In the other semi the competitive Etonian/Carthusian side played an interesting strategy - putting one of their strongest players in third pair. It was now a fairly tough call - which of their three pairs was weakest or strongest? After some discussion play went ahead anyhow and the Etonian/Carthusian team won through 2-1, St Olaves school winning first pair with the considerable strength of M Barter and W Powell. So the Etonian/Carthusian tactic paid off...however, when it came to the final would they cope with the mighty Salopians?

The Final

The Old Salopian side, boasting the cream of the Shrewsbury Monday club, were certainly a force to be reckoned with...at third pair Anthony Wagg and Joss Knight, faced Shrewsbury crusaders "Big T" Walters and Andrew Elliott... a match won with ease by the experienced Walters and Elliott duo, a very wiley pair indeed. Andrew Elliott proving he still has a remarkable eye for the ball. They ruthlessly ran through the match in double quick time, winning the third game 12-0!

F Wickes & M Powell played at first pair for the Etonian/Carthusian team taking on more Northern Salopians; D Blofield & J Walters - the first game was extremely tight with some great rallies and good cutting from all four players. Jacob Walters, at the time a Shrewsbury sixth former and future Salopian star player, put his preferred Southpaw to work, hitting some great volleys, while Dave Blofeld showed terrific form and consistency- I've always been impressed by his anticipation and nimbleness around court. However Forman and Martin were in determined mood, making their experience tell - with a more measured and tactically sound approach. The first game went to 11-11, at which point a little good fortune can often be the deciding factor - on this occasion the balance tipped in favour of the Salopians. From this point the game continued to be hard fought, but the Etonian/Carthusian side were unable to score heavily on their serve, allowing the Salopians to eventually win the remaining two games.

The match was decided - the Salopians having already won two pairs. However second pair was still going strong and turning out to be a very enjoyable match indeed. R Pattison & S Parrish played Salopians M Quinn & W Chiang... for a topsy-turvy contest, with a real mix on court - the experience and guile of Pattison measured against the nimble, but less consistent youth of Chiang. The first game went to the Salopians, the second to the Etonian/Carthusian side, then the Shrewsbury boys took the third only for the opposition to clinch a tight fourth... the final already decided and having played the semi's the same morning - all four players agreed that the only sane thing to do was agree a tie and join the rest of the gang down the pub!

Qualifying Round Robin:

1st - Old Etonians/Carthusians 9 wins and 3 losses

2nd- Salopians 7 wins and 5 losses

3rd- Cambridge University + friends 6 wins 6 losses beat St. Olave's on points (+3) vs (-17)

4th - St Olaves School 6 wins 6 losses

5th- Old Olavians 2 wins 10 losses


Semi-Finals:

Cambridge & Friends lost to Old Salopians 3-0

1st: R Bryan & P Thompson lost to D Blofeld & J Walters

2nd: A Taylor & D Eckley lost to M Quinn & W Chiang

3rd: J Fagan & A Theodossi lost to A Walters (snr) & A Elliott

Old Etonians/Carthusians beat St Olaves School 2-1

1st: R Pattison & S Parrish lost to M Barter & W Powell

2nd: M Powell & A Wagg beat E Rose & J Dean

3rd: J Knight & F Wickes beat T MacDonald & S Payne


Final:

Old Etonians/Carthusians lost to Old Salopians 2.5 - 0.5

1st: F Wickes & M Powell lost to D Blofeld & J Walters 11-14, 6-12, 5-12

2nd:R Pattison & S Parrish drew M Quinn & W Chiang 5-12, 12-9, 7-12, 15-12 tie agreed!

3rd:A Wagg & J Knight lost to A Walters (snr) & A Elliott 5-12, 8-12, 0-12