Stoke Newington School, London
Sunday, 9th October 2022
Organiser Alex Smith reports: It was a cracking day, of fine weather and fine Fives, and the first RFA National Tournament to be held at Stoke Newington School. Seasoned and regular players joined some veterans, young players and recent school leavers in this festival of Fives.
With a small entry there was just one first round match, between the Old Wykehamists 2 and Old Derby Moor 1 , won by the latter. In the semi-finals the Old Wykehamists 1 then beat Derby Moor 2 by 45-12, while Derby Moor 1 saw off the Edward Alleyn side by the same score.
The tournament ended with a nail-biter, which was also a great testament to the unique format of the tournament, where squads of 3 play three doubles matches, switching pairings for each game: 1&2 pair v. 1&2, 2&3 v. 2&3, then 1&3 v. 1&3, with each match won on total points.
The final between Old Wykehamists 1 and Derby Moor 1 was incredibly close: the Wykehamist 1st & 3rd players took the first game 15-9, but Derby Moor came back fighting and their 1&2 pair won 15-11. So it was one game each before the final encounter, but with the OWs 2 points ahead, which might prove crucial ….… Derby Moor would need to win 15-13.
So, the third game began between the 2nd and 3rd players of each team. The game had a full crowd and saw a very high standard of play, with spectators finding it very hard to call who would eventually prevail. But in the end it was the Derby Moor 2&3 who managed to come through 15-11, meaning Derby won the match 39-37. This was certainly the closest final so far in the tournament.
So Old Derby Moor retain the Trophy which they won last year by 7 points, the first team since the Old Paulines to retain it.
Meanwhile Derby Moor 2 won the Plate in a series of group games.
Finally, many thanks to Stoke Newington School for hosting us on their suite of courts. We will be back.
Results
Semi-finals: Old Derby Moor 1 bt Edward Alleyns Club 45-12; Old Wykehamists 1 bt Old Derby Moor 2 45-12
Final: Old Derby Moor 1 bt Old Wykhamists 1 39-37
Plate: 1st Old Derby Moor 2; 2nd Edward Alleyn Club; 3rd Old Wykhamists 2; 4th Old Oundelians
Teams
Edward Alleyn Club: Inigo Ackland, Artem Naum, Alex Smith
Old Derby Moor 1: Lewis Keates, Anthony Goodwin, Bally Singh
Old Derby Moor 2: Vishal Singh, Richard Christie, Kristians Davins
Old Wykehamists 1: Tom Watkinson, Marcus Cloke Browne, Ben Chua
Old Wykehamists 2: Matt Hale, Alec Younger, Louis O’Connor
Old Oundelians: Alex Smith, Louis O’Connor
Medallists!
Derby Moor retain the Owers Trophy
Runners-up Old Wykehamists 1
Plate winners Derby Moor 2
Play on the newly refurbished courts at Stoke Newington School
A sunny day at Stoke Newington School