Veterans titles for Cavanagh, Minta and Pringle

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NATIONAL VETERANS’ CHAMPIONSHIPS

Marlborough College, April 23rd/24th

The entry for this year’s Veteran’s singles was not as big as in some previous years, though the quality was superb. Newcomers to the event included Rick Carr, playing his first games for 18 years, Matt Cavanagh, and Raoul Sbaiz. Raoul’s interest in Fives has been inspired by Jeremy Stubbs, who lives in France and spreads the Rugby Fives word by encouraging the natives of Reims to play the squash court version of the game. Before Saturday morning, Raoul had seen neither a real Fives ball, a proper Fives court, nor, indeed, England. Jeremy had to act as his translator, although it was evident to all from the big grin he carried that he was enjoying himself.

Generally as expected, the Cup competition saw a semi-final line up of Minta versus Kiggell and Buchanan versus Cavanagh. Carr had the misfortune to be drawn against Cavanagh in the quarter-finals, and while looking a class player was defeated partly by Matt’s superb play and partly by unforced errors caused by his severe lack of practice. Tom Kiggell put up a good fight against John Minta in the semis, taking him to 3 games whilst complaining that his sixth formers did not really prepare him for John’s unremitting onslaught. On the other side of the draw Matt Cavanagh was made to work hard by Hamish Buchanan, but eventually won with comfort.

Some incredibly long rallies made the final exhilarating to watch and debilitating to play. John’s superb fitness could only benefit him to a limited extent and in the end Matt ran out a comfortable, though tired, winner.

Neil Roberts added to his lifetime haul of trophies by winning the Plate in fine style, defeating Nick Geere in the final. Keith Kennerley won the Bottle of Beer (aka the Second Plate). After a superb Saturday evening meal, the result of the well directed local knowledge and managerial ability of Tom Hillman, Sunday was a busy day, with 20 pairs entered for the doubles.

Everybody appeared ready when the organiser arrived just before the start time. In a noticeable break from Fives tournament tradition, players were on court warming up before the event was due to start.

Again the competition went as expected, with semi-finals between Buchanan & Perry (his first Veteran’s tournament) and Sutcliffe & Walter on one side of the draw, and Minta & Pringle and Bruce Hanton & Roberts on the other side. The Buchanan & Perry pairing made short work of Sutcliffe & Walter, who had little answer to the awesome power of Robin’s right hand, while Minta & Pringle suffered some stiffer opposition from Bruce Hanton & Neil Roberts, eventually winning 11-4, 11-6.

The final was a match which, without belittling the efforts of the singles players, made the whole weekend worthwhile on its own. In the first game it looked as if Buchanan & Perry were likely to shade it, until Minta & Pringle crept up to take it by 16-15. Then there was a lower key second game, which Buchanan & Perry won at a canter, 15-5, looking as if the challenge was all but over.

The final game also appeared to be going the same way, with Buchanan & Perry getting off to a good start, only to be pegged back. They got away again, only to stall at 11 points as Minta & Pringle made a late surge to take a well earned win. Had the game been less exciting, this report might have been better. As it was, the see-sawing of the score is what can be remembered, but the detail has been expunged by the sheer excitement of the bout and awe at the athleticism of the protagonists.

At a lower level, though just as important in the minds of the participants, the plate rumbled along. Points of note are the two wins of the French Sbaiz & Stubbs pairing. This must be the first wins recorded by such a pair in a Rugby Fives tournament. They were finally knocked out in the semi-final by Geere & A Hanton, who themselves were vanquished by Mathieu & Oscroft in the final.

The Bottle of Beer was played as two round-robin groups, the winners of each playing for the coveted bottles. Suffice to say, those bottles were taken home by the organiser & his magnificent partner, Bob Sandie.

A wonderful weekend of Fives made great by those who played to their utmost and participated fully. Let us hope next year’s tournament is as good.

RESULTS
Singles
Cup
First Round: Geere bt Kennerley 11-9, 11-5; Roberts bt Stubbs 11-3, 11-6; B Hanton bt Bishop 11-5, 11-8; Carr bt Sbaiz 11-0, 11-0
Quarter-Finals: Minta bt Geere 11-1, 11-2; Kiggell bt Roberts 11-6, 11-2; Buchanan bt B Hanton 11-0, 11-3; Cavanagh bt Carr 11-1, 11-2
Semi-Finals: Minta bt Kiggell 9-11, 11-7, 11-8; Cavanagh bt Buchanan 11-1, 11-5
Final: Cavanagh bt Minta 15-5, 15-4

Plate
Quarter-Finals: Roberts bt Sbaiz 15-4; Bishop bt Kennerley 15-12; Carr bt Stubbs 15-5
Semi-Finals: Roberts bt Bishop 15-5; Geere bt Carr 15-13
Final: Roberts bt Geere 15-4, 15-0

2nd Plate (round-robin)
Kennerley bt Sbaiz 15-0; Stubbs bt Sbaiz 15-10; Kennerley bt Stubbs 16-15
(Kennerley 31 points, Stubbs 30, Sbaiz 10)

Doubles
Preliminary Round: Hawke & Sandie bt Blakeley & Fernley 15-6; Boddington & Davies bt Hendry & Thompson 15-9; Mathieu & Oscroft bt Jenkinson & Sharp 15-2; Hillman & Sanders bt Sbaiz & Stubbs 15-7
First Round: Buchanan & Perry bt Hawke & Sandie 15-0; Davison & Kiggell bt Geere & A Hanton 15-6; Carr & Warner bt Boddington & Davies 15-4; Sutcliffe & Walter bt Mathieu & Oscroft 15-7; B Hanton & Roberts bt Hillman & Sanders 15-1; Butterfield & Kirby bt B Atkinson & Kitlely 15-4; P Atkinson & Ryan bt Kennerley & Kirk 15-7; Minta & Pringle bt Bethwaite & Folland 15-1
Quarter-Finals: Buchanan & Perry bt Davison & Kiggell 11-4, 11-0; Sutcliffe & Walter bt Carr & Warner 11-5, 11-4; B Hanton & Roberts bt Butterfield & Kirby 11-5, 12-10; Minta & Pringle bt P Atkinson & Ryan 11-1, 11-0
Semi-Finals: Buchanan & Perry bt Sutcliffe & Walter 11-1, 11-1; Minta & Pringle bt B Hanton & Roberts 11-4, 11-6
Final: Minta & Pringle bt Buchanan & Perry 16-15, 5-15, 15-11

Plate
Preliminary Round: Jenkinson & Sharp bt Blakeley & Fernley 11-9; Sbaiz & Stubbs bt Boddinton & Davies 16-14; Bethwaite & Folland bt Hendry & Thompson 15-8; Hawke & Sandie bt Hillman & Sanders 11-4
Quarter-Finals: Geere & A Hanton bt Jenkinson & Sharp 11-3; Sbaiz & Stubbs bt B Atkinson & Kiteley 11-8; Kennerley & Kirk bt Bethwaite & Folland 15-9; Mathieu & Oscroft bt Hawke & Sandie 11-2
Semi-Finals: Geere & A Hanton bt Stubbs & Sbaiz 11-0; Mathieu & Oscroft bt Kennerley & Kirk 11-7
Final: Mathieu & Oscroft bt Geere & A Hanton 11-9, 11-9

Second Plate (2 round-robin groups)
Group 1: Hawke & Sandie bt Jenkinson & Sharp 12-10; Hawke & Sandie bt Bethwaite & Folland 11-4; Bethwaite & Folland bt Jenkinson & Sharp 11-5
(Hawke & Sandie 23 points, Bethwaite & Folland 15, Jenkinson & Sharp 15)
Group 2: Blakeley & Fernley bt B Atkinson & Kiteley 11-6; Blakeley & Fernley bt Hendry & Thompson 12-10; Blakeley & Fernely bt Hillman & Sanders 11-7; B Atkinson & Kiteley bt Hendry & Thompson 11-6; B Atkinson & Kiteley bt Hillman & Sanders 11-2; Hillman & Sanders bt Hendry & Thompson 11-6
(Blakeley & Fernley 34 points, B Atkinson & Kiteley 28, Hendry & Thompson 22,  Hillman & Sanders 20)
Final: Hawke & Sandie bt Blakeley & Fernley 15-3

Matt Cavanagh: Veterans Singles Champion 2016

Matt Cavanagh: Veterans Singles Champion 2016