March 2014: Highgate edge out Summer Fields in the U12s

Mark Williams reports:

A remarkable 89 pairs from 11 schools entered the Under 12s competition in the Marsh Insurance National Schools' Championships, and after a busy day's Fives were reduced to just two pairs who will contest the final at a date to be rearranged.

Summer Fields in particular had an excellent day: all 11 of their pairs qualifying from the pools, 7 for the last 32, 5 for the last 16 and 2 for the quarter and semi-finals. Their 8th pair beat Highgate 3, and both pairs who reached the semi-finals were of a high standard; their 2nd pair having a particularly good win against Sunningdale 1 in the quarter-finals

Given the general quality of the field, it was a fine achievement for the first pairs of St Olave's, Berkhamsted and Belmont to reach the last 16.

The top 2 Highgate pairs had to work hard in their quarter-finals against their 5th and 6th pairs respectively, and in the semi-finals were both run close in at least one game by the top two Summer Fields pairs.

In the lower half of the draw, Highgate 2 won their first game easily, but Summer Fields 2 rallied effectively to set the second game at 10-10 before narrowly losing to a physically stronger pair.

Summer Fields 1 played particularly well in their first game, beating Highgate 1 12-10, before the latter replied strongly to level 12-6. Summer Fields established a lead at the halfway stage but were pulled back to 10-10 before Highgate triumphed with superior return of cut and angled approach shots.

So once again we have two Highgate pairs in what should be an interesting final of constrasting styles, but for the first time for a while they were both pushed hard in the semi-finals, and had to earn their places.

The rest of the field should take heart for the future.

4th Round:

Highgate 1 beat Highgate 8 12-4, 12-6
Highgate 5 beat Highgate 4 12-3, 12-6
Berkhamsted 1 beat St.Olave's 1 12-8, 12-9
Summer Fields 1 beat Belmont 1 12-2, 12-8
Sunningdale 1 beat Summer Fields 3 12-3, 12-7
Summer Fields 2 beat Summer Fields 5 12-2, 12-6
Highgate 6 beat Summer Fields 8 12-1, 12-2
Highgate 2 beat Highgate 10 12-0, 12-1

Quarter-Finals:

Highgate 1 beat Highgate 5 13-10, 12-9
Summer Fields 1 beat Berkhamsted 1 12-4, 12-3
Summer Fields 2 beat Sunningdale 1 12-10, 12-5
Highgate 2 beat Highgate 6 12-4, 14-13

Semi-Finals:

Highgate 1 (C.Coleman & J.Sochor-Grethe) beat Summer Fields 1 (B.Porter & A.Backhouse) 10-12, 12-6, 13-10
Highgate 2 (J.Avigdor & A.Sharp) beat Summer Fields 2 (E.Bingham & F.Anton-Smith) 12-3, 13-11