This year was the 8th Rossall Schools Championship with players from all over the country and some new schools entering for the first time including RoSsall the host school. As always a number of players and staff met up at East Croydon and travelled up to Rossall on the three hour train ride. On arrival at Rossall the group headed straight for the Blackpool pleasure beach for some serious fun and extreme air hockey matches, before returning to the school for dinner.

Entries
This year’s tournament had a variety of different Fives playing schools - Malvern College, Lancing, Westway, St Olaves, Whitgift, Stoke Newington and a first and large entry from the host school Rossall. Rossall re-introduced Fives at the School from the beginning of this term and although only playing for five weeks provided half of the doubles draw. There were a total of twenty-four singles and twenty-four doubles pairs entering, one of the highest yet.

Singles
The Singles started on the Sunday at 8am sharp with all players except the Rossall players as there had been a miscommunication from the staff to pupils. The players were split into four groups of six with Rossall players filtering in to gain some vital warm up practice matches. The day witnessed outstanding back court play from Ashley Lumbard, Lancing’s only representative, and great overall play from the St Olave’s army many of whom made it to the last eight of the draw. The players from Whitfgift, Malvern and Stoke Newington excelled in their Rugby Fives field with great retrieving and returning of serve.

In the knockout stages the top two players from each of the four pools went into the last eight. The qualifying eight were all very strong with no clear cut favourite as to the potential victor. Five were from St Olave’s, two from Malvern and one from Stoke Newington. At this stage it was the Rugby and Winchester players who showed their strength with amazing back court play and incredible serving.

At the semi-final stage the lone remaining Eton Fives player, Rahul Desai from St Olave’s Grammar School, had a tough match playing Malvern 2nd string John Brierly. This match went to the wire with Rahul narrowly winning 16-14. In the other semi-final Mike King (Malvern) beat Sid Mason-Malik 15-5.

Semi-finals:
St Olaves 1 (Rahul Desai) beat Malvern 2 (John Brierly)
16-14
Malvern 1 (Mike King) beat Stoke Newington 1 (Sid Mason-Malik)
15-5

Final:
Malvern 1 beat St Olaves 1
15-9

Doubles
There was a large entry of twenty-four pairs for this year’s competition enabling four pools of six. Among the pairs was defending champions Malvern’s Mike King and John Brierly. In the group stages the Malvern pair had an easy ride and looked like clear favourites. As all pairs warmed up there were other pairs emerging that could challenge the defending champions. The mixed pair of St Olave’s and Stoke Newington seemed to make a great partnership with the players coming from different codes; they came first in their pool with a few challenging matches, with great return of serve and retrieving. This year was a first for Rossall with the help of Laura Harvey and Arun Kalra, (the Rossall School Fives coaches) entering the draw with twelve pairs of varied ability and skill. It was pleasing to see the host school entering and producing many good players after only four to five weeks of play.

The top four pairs went through to the knockout stages. As in the singles the St Olave’s team had many pairs in the top sixteen, as well as Malvern and Stoke Newington. There was also a top Lancing/St Olave’s and Westway pair as well as one from Whitgift. With such a varied style and range of players the title could have gone to any pair. The defending champions seemed to be the favourites but there was stiff competition from many pairs as there was an extremely high standard from all players. Rossall had three pairs qualify for the last sixteen. They were, Rossall 3, 10 and 12, a girls pairing. All six players showed good all round play and great returning and serving. Unfortunately they could not overcome the strength and experience from the likes of St Olave’s and Malvern. There was good play from all players with a high percentage of return of serve and retrieving and outstanding serving.

In the semi-finals there were some very long and tough rallies. The matches were a test of skills and stamina. There was great play from the Malvern pair who were just too strong for St Olave’s beating them 15-5, the games being closer than the score suggests. The other semi-final consisting of combination pairs of St Bees and Rossall, playing against St Olave’s and Stoke Newington. This was cracking match with great serving and accuracy hitting the buttress in quick succession. The St Olave’s and Stoke Newington pair grabbed the win 15-7.

The final was down to a battle to the death of the fittest after playing draining matches throughout the day. The St Olave’s and Stoke Newington pair Rahul Desai & Sid Mason-Malik took on the defending champions Mike King & John Breirly from Malvern. Both pairs were off to a flying start with the mixed pairing taking the first point. The pairs spent much time in deadlock with long rallies and no scoring. Eventually the Malvern pair broke free and stormed ahead only letting their opponents take a few more points. The Malvern pair successfully defended their title and took home both the singles and doubles trophies.

Semi-finals:
Malvern 1 beat St Olaves 4 15-5
St Olaves/Stoke Newington beat St Bees 15-7

Final:
Malvern 1 (Mike King & John Breirly) beat
St Olaves/ Stoke Newington (Rahul Desai & Sid Mason-Mali)
15-3

The 2006 competition was probably the best to date especially with the first time entrant of the hosts Rossall School. Rossall played extremely well throughout the competition. We would like to thank the Headmaster for allowing us the use of Rossall’s unique playing facilities and the kitchen staff who provided such excellent catering.

Congratulations to Malvern and there Master-in-Charge Peter Grey on their victory, and to all players who played extremely well and of course to all the Masters-in-Charge who made the competition possible. We hope to see you all next year.

D.E.A.R.

Rossall Schools International 2006-2007 by Dominique Redmond
Created 26th January 2007 by Mike Fenn
efa@etonfives.co.uk

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