The Varsity Match
2000-2001
The Varsity Match 25th February 2001 - Eton
'Blitzspiel' by Cambridge overturns favourites!
Three games of vividly aggressive Fives by the light blue first pair and strong supporting performances in the other two courts overturned last year's Oxford supremacy and brought an overwhelming 3-0 victory to Cambridge on a fine cold day at Eton.
The Cambridge Penguins too won convincingly 2-1.
Nick Shaw produced an electric performance on the step and fine angled boasts from the backcourt, which put too much pressure on the Oxford pair and never allowed James Toop to assume a dominant role. Partner Ross Bryan showed few signs of his recent injury and lack of practice and provided sustained high quality support to produce an unexpected and morale-boosting (for Cambridge!) 12-8, 12-6,14-11 result for the experienced Harrow pairing of light blues. Splitting Oxford's winning 2000 pairing did not suit Sunny Maker any better and the more determined and error-free performance of skipper Paul Thompson and James Birch brought them a 3-1 win in much the same time. Consistency also proved decisive in third pair where James Grant-Peterkin and Ed Ryder never lost the initiative and won convincingly in three games 12-5, 12-4, 15-14.
In the keenly contested second team match, Oxford Peppers produced their only victory at second pair while Cambridge Penguins won in both the others in three straight games.
Both Clubs acknowledge with thanks the hospitality of Eton College for this time-honoured encounter and thank their Master-in-Charge Mark Williams for making their facilities and himself available on the half-term weekend.
Cambridge beat Oxford 3-0
Nick Shaw (Corpus Christi & Harrow) and Ross Bryan (Girton & Harrow) btJames Toop (Jesus & St. Olaves) and Ewan Thompson (Wadham & Berkhamsted)
12-8, 12-6, 14-11
Paul Thompson (Selwyn & KES Birmingham) and James Birch (Corpus Christi & KES Birmingham) bt
Sunny Maker (Pembroke & Harrow) and George Nicholson (Worcester & Eton)
12-6, 8-12, 12-8, 12-3
James Grant-Peterkin (St. John's & Eton) and Ed Ryder (Christ's & Berkhamsted) bt
Tom Leach (St. Catherine's & Shrewsbury) and Tom Swerling (Keble & Repton)
12-5, 12-4, 15-14
Cambridge Penguins beat Oxford Peppers 2-1
Tom Record (Pembroke & Lancing College) and Robin Chatterjee (Magdalene & City of London) btPatrick Henessey (Balliol & Berkhamsted) and Charlie Caroe (Balliol & Eton)
12-9, 12-8, 12-7
Steve Block (St. John's & KES Birmingham) and Simon Maskell (Corpus Christi & Malvern) lost to
Johnathon Goldman (Jesus & KES Birmingham) and Mike Marshall (Oriel & Charter House)
2-12, 0-12, 1-12
Reuben Arasaratnam (Emmanuel & Ipswich) and Ed Dallas (Emmanuel & Cheltenham) bt
Joss Knight (Brasenose & Eton) and Robin Ganguly (Christ Church & St. Olaves)
12-5, 15-12, 12-7
R.M.K./P.J.T.
Constructed by Mike Fenn
13th March 2001
efa@etonfives.co.uk