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The Southern Schools Championship was re-introduced this year after a seven year gap, and held at Charterhouse School in Surrey with kind permission from the Headmaster and new Master-in-charge John Troy.

The Southern schools’ event is for players in the under 14 age category. This year we had 14 pairs from three different schools’ which were St Olave’s , Westway and the host school Charterhouse. The pairs were divided into two pools of three and two pools of four with the top two pairs qualifying for the main draw and the other pairs creating the Plate section of the tournament. Each pool played every pair in a one game match to fifteen points.

POOL STAGES
All pools had some great matches. There was terrific play from all Charterhouse players who have only six weeks of playing experience. The team work from all the Charterhouse pairs helped them to gain points and really get into the matches against the more experienced pairs. From the pool matches there were many pairs that were good enough and clear contenders for the Title. The seeding all went to plan except from the unexpected qualifying pair of Charterhouse 3 who beat Charterhouse 1 with brilliant volleying and attacking play, to qualify for the knock out stages.

MAIN COMPETITION
In the main section many Olavian pairs qualified along with Westway and the most promising pair of Charterhouse 3. All quarter-finals were played one game to fifteen, all pairs playing exceptionally well. Unfortunately the only Charterhouse pair to qualify were out classed by Westway’s second pair of Benedict Carlin and Lindon Jonas 15-8. Meanwhile St Olave’s were battling it out against Westway themselves. The semi-finals were inter-club matches Westway 1 played Westway 2 and St Olave’s 1 played St Olave’s 2. There were many great rallies and exceptional volleying and game control by Westway’s Alex Peppiatt. Both games were closely contested, but the seeding went as expected.

The Final was going to be best of three games. In the first game the Westway pair of Alex Peppiatt and Sam Matthews dominated the St Olave’s pair of Tony Barker and Harry Ravi, Westway winning 12-3. The Westway pair continued to dominate in the second when they went 8-1 up but the St Olave's pair fought back to win 12-9. They then continued their run of points into the third and final game going 6-0 up and taking it 12-4 with greater consistent play and back court rallies from Harry Ravi. The St Olave's pair beat the Westway pair to win the title despite losing the first game and coming from behind in the second. The Westway pair found it hard to close the match allowing St Olave's to win 2-1 in a very exciting final.

Semi-final
Westway 1 (S Matthew & A Pepiate) beat Westway 2 (B Carlin & L Jonas)
15-11
St Olave’s 1 (T Barker & H Ravi) beat St Olave’s 2 (C Self & B Wang)
15-4

Final
St Olave’s 1 (T Barker & H Ravi) beat Westway 1 (S Matthew & A Peppiatt)
3-12, 12-9, 12-4

THE PLATE
The Plate consisted of Charterhouse and Westway pairs. There was one large pool of six pairs. Each pair played every one in the pool in one game to twelve (no setting). Now that all pairs had found their level, each plate match was just as good as the main competition; there were great rallies, fast reaction and amazing cut returns. Most games were closely contested with all players well matched in standard. The pair with the most wins would be the winners of the Plate. At the beginning there was no obvious winner - all pairs played extremely well. The consistency and high level of play from Charterhouse 1, who won the plate with sixty-four points, was closely followed by Charterhouse 2 in runners up position.

Well done to all players who took part, especially our finalists in both events. Thank you to John Troy and Charterhouse School for hosting such a wonderful event. Due to the success of this tournament we will be holding another in the Lent term.

D.E.A.R.

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Southern Schools 2007-2008 Report by Dominique Redmond
Created 17th January by Mike Fenn
efa@etonfives.co.uk

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