Close contests at the 95th Varsity Match

Bob Dolby reports: In the Men’s Match Cambridge had the better of the Singles, winning 5 of the 8, but so tight were 6 of the games that Oxford came out a single point ahead, by 96-95.

 

The Doubles proved equally close particularly in the top half. It was in the bottom half that results fluctuated and did so eventually in Cambridge’s favour – by a mere 7 points overall, a close, but by no means closest, result in the contest’s 100-year history. Cambridge were delighted to end Oxford’s seven-year winning streak and grasp the Jock Burnet Trophy in the centenary year of the fixture.

 

A slightly rejigged Cambridge Women’s IV had a similar experience to the Men, finding themselves very much in the hunt, just 5 points down, after the Singles. The Doubles also balanced out, with each side consisting of an experienced pair and a less familiar pairing, and it was one particular game that enabled Oxford to accrue a further 5 points and thus retain the Silver Salver by 121-111 in the closest match since the fixture was initiated in 2015.

 

Oxford Beavers continued the pattern of recent years in dominating their match with the Cambridge Sparrows, showing greater experience in both Singles and Doubles, but the Cambridge 1st pair had the satisfaction of preventing an Oxford clean sweep by winning their final two games decisively. Sadly, not for the first time, there was no Fist of Iron to award to the Dark Blues. 

 

A vote of thanks goes to our new organiser, Viola King Forbes, one of the small but distinguished group of players to have represented both universities. Our thanks also in his absence to her predecessor, Marcus Bate, who took over from David Barnes in 2020, for his generous service to the fixture. And to St Paul’s for their hosting of this most competitive but congenial annual event. 

 

 

Men’s Match (Oxford names first)

1. S Wu (St Hilda’s) bt MJN Cloke Browne (Downing) 15-6

2.  JOS Hanton (Reuben) lost to ED Thursfield (Fitzwilliam) 12-15

3. SC Ion (Magdalen) lost to JI Milburn (Jesus) 12-15

4. AH Whitham (Oriel) bt BS Yass (Downing) 15-12

5. KB Bremner (Christ Church) lost to FJA Kottler (Trinity) 12-15

6. AK Deshmukh (Christ Church) bt R-A Menhart (Peterhouse) 15-2

7. ET Arie (Balliol) lost to JTA Pyman (Emmanuel) 4-15

8. C Ng (Trinity) lost to LS Walton (St John’s) 11-15

1. Bremner & Wu bt Cloke Browne & Yass 16-14, 15-8; bt Milburn & Thursfield 14-16, 15-11

2. Hanton & Whitham bt Milburn & Thursfield 12-15, 15-8; lost to Cloke Browne & Yass 15-9, 8-15

3. Deshmukh & Ion lost to Kottler & Pyman 15-13, 2-15; bt Menhart & Walton 15-3, 15-9

4. Arie & Ng lost to Menhart & Walton 15-12, 6-15; lost to Kottler & Pyman 0-15, 7-15

 

Women’s Match (Oxford names first) 

Singles 

1. A Evans (Keble) bt CJ Abercrombie (Caius) 15-9

2. EJ Butler (St Hugh’s) bt JK Murphy (Caius) 15-4

3. SF Winter (Balliol) bt IDK Chorley (St Edmund’s) 16-15

4. Y Amirouch (Wadham) lost to LJ Osborne-Patterson (Fitzwilliam) 2-15

1. Butler & Evans bt Abercrombie & Chorley 15-3, 15-2; bt Murphy & Osborne-Patterson 15-1, 15-2

2. Amirouch & Winter lost to Murphy & Osborne-Patterson 9-15, 1-15; lost to Abercrombie & Chorley 1-15, 2-15

 

1. AJT Cliff (St Anne’s) bt MR Ord (Fitzwilliam) 15-5

2. RGE Millard (University) bt IJ Mellis-Glynn (Caius) 15-3

3. AHJ Barnett (Jesus) bt A German (St John’s) 15-10

4. EC Dunning (Pembroke) bt D de Castro Silva (Trinity) 15-1

1. Cliff & Millard bt Mellis-Glynn & Ord 15-1, 15-3; bt de Castro Silva & German 15-1,15-2

2. Barnett & Dunning bt de Castro Silva & German 15-7, 15-8; lost to Mellis-Glynn & Ord 6-15, 7-15

 

The teams

Cambridge Men’s VIII

Cambridge Women

Cambridge squad

Oxford Men’s VIII

Oxford Women’s IV

Oxford squad

Cambridge squad celebrating

Oxford Women with Salver and Champagne

The big match – Shiloh versus Marcus

The Doubles draw to an end

Our new umpire