Winchester College
Sunday, 23rd October 2016
The WFA’s Harry Akerman reports
We had our annual match against the Rugby Fives Association yesterday, and despite the fact that Dan Tristao only emailed me at 4am on the morning of the match confirming their team (which was still two and a half hours before he went to bed!) they turned up with a very strong team.
Any team with John Minta and Ben Beltrami down as a third pair is going to be a match for anyone; and, indeed they proved to be too strong for the WFA team.
With each pair playing each of the opposition pairs in one game to 15 and then then two games against their opposite pair, the RFA got their noses in front after the first round of matches. They then continued to win each round such that, in the end, their winning margin was 249-214 points.
I would love to describe more of the matches, but as mine was always the last to finish each round, I did not see anyone else playing until we had the privilege of watching the final game between both team’s first pairs.
The speed and anticipation of both Dan and Will (and Hamish and James!) around the buttress was absolutely incredible and a real treat to see.
Unusually for a fives match, we finished bang on time and so we were able to head to The Queen for some well earned lunch at the time we said we would be there!
Thanks to all for playing, especially to those who came from quite a distance: John Minta from Manchester, Steve Coffey from Malvern, James Marshall from Brighton, and Theo, Ollie and Tom from Bristol, as well as many more from London.
Next year we will get our revenge, but the series is now poised at 3-3!
WFA vs RFA
2011 WFA win 248-217
2012 WFA win 252-223
2013 RFA win 237-217
2014 RFA win 258-230
2015 WFA win 266-257
2016 RFA win 249-214
Scores: (WFA first)
WFA I bt RFA I 13-15, 15-10; bt RFA II 15-13; bt RFA III 15-11; bt RFA IV 15-6
WFA II lost to RFA I 9-15; lost to RFA II 5-15, 6-15; bt RFA III 15-13; bt RFA IV 15-8
WFA III lost to RFA I 3-15; lost to RFA II 15-16; lost to RFA III 11-15, 3-15; bt RFA IV 15-7
WFA IV lost to RFA I 1-15; lost to RFA II 5-15; lost to RFA III 8-15; bt RFA IV 15-7, 15-8
RFA Win 249-214
WFA Team
I Will Ellison & James Bristow
II Dave Butler & Harry Akerman
III James Marshall & Giles Munn
IV Steve Coffey & Andy Passey
RFA Team
I Dan Tristao and Hamish Buchanan
II Ollie Arnold & Theo Parker
III John Minta & Ben Beltrami
IV Johnny Baker & Tom Watkinson