Twelve teams entered with the four seeds receiving a bye into the second round namely St Olave’s (1), Shrewsbury (2), Harrow (3) and Eton (4). Ipswich lost narrowly to St Olave’s 2-1 having beaten Mill Hill 3-0 in the first round whilst Shrewsbury succumbed 3-0 to non seeds Highgate. Harrow went straight into the semi-finals with a walk over against Aldenham and Eton comfortably beat Lancing 3-0.
In the semi-finals first seeds St Olave’s had no problems defeating Eton in three straight game matches and Harrow, with the Dunbar brothers at one and two, comfortably saw off Highgate. The Dunbar factor ensured a pair win in the final but the depth of strength in the St Olave’s side ensured that they retained the Alan Barber Cup for the fourth consecutive year.
First Round
Old Ipswichians beat Old Millhillians 3-0 at Millhill
Old Etonians beat Lancing Old Boys 3-0 at Eton
T McCall & W Sorrell beat ? & ?
12-7, 12-5, 12-2
W Hopton & E Morrison beat ? & ?
12-7, 12-7, 12-6
A Basey & A Sibia beat ? & ?
Not played due to late arrival of Lancing pair
Old Harrovians beat Old Aldenhamians w/o
Old Cholmeleians beat Old Salopians 3-0 at Highgate
N Addy & G Chapman beat E Taylor & E Taylor
12-10, 12-10, 12-7
A Varma & H Young beat M Hughes & P Nicholls
6-12, 5-12, 12-3, 12-6 conceded by Shrewsbury
Old Salopians conceded the third pair
Semi-finals
Old Olavians beat Old Etonians 3-0
J Toop & M Wiseman beat A Illingworth & W Sorrell
12-7, 12-5, 12-0
H Wiseman & P White beat T McCall & A Sibia
12-0, 12-2, 12-6
D Mew & S Ranasinghe beat F Eckersley & S Randall
13-10, 12-7, 12-8
Old Harrovians beat Old Cholmeleians 2-1
T Dunbar & J Fleming beat N Addy & R Beanstock
12-0, 12-1, 12-3
P Dunbar & N Shaw beat H Young & M O’Callaghan
12-2, 12-8, 12-9
J Frederick & R Bryan lost to G Chapman & D Davies
12-9, 13-10, 11-15 conceded by OH
M.R.F.
Alan Barber Cup Report by Mike Fenn
Updated 21st January 2008 by Mike Fenn
efa@etonfives.co.uk