Varsity Match 2024

Again this year the format was four singles matches followed by two doubles matches. Additionally, there was a second team match comprising two singles and one doubles, played in the morning on the Bridgeman Court whilst the 4 first team singles matches were being played on the Championship Court next door. This Second Team Match was also won by Cambridge, by the score of 2 rubbers to 1, in a deciding doubles after the singles matches were shared:-

Sacha Groom (Winchester & St. Catherine’s) (C) bt Rob Adams (Tonbridge & Oriel) (O) 15/7, 15/3, 15/11.

Charlie Inglis (Winchester & Exeter) (O) bt Henry Buxton (Eton & St. John’s) (C) 15/11, 1/15, 15/9, 16/14.

Sacha Groom & Henry Buxton (C) bt Charlie Inglis & Rob Adams (O) 15/0, 15/10, 15/10.

First team Match

The 4^th strings were first on court, Tristan Gauthier for Oxford against Theodore Seely for Cambridge. The opening game was level pegging till 9-9, mainly on service, but then Theodore had another run of points on serve to give Cambridge the game 15/9. The next game, however, went to Oxford 15/11 this time Tristan notching up no less than 13 points on serve. In the next two games Cambridge was very much on top, again principally from the service box.

Theodore Seely (Harrow & Trinity) (C) bt Tristan Gauthier (Winchester & Trinity) (O) 15/9, 11/15, 15/6, 15/0.

The 2^nd strings were next on court, Charlie Sneddon (0) vs Arthur Adams (C). Again, service was a major factor, Arthur notching up nearly two-thirds of his points from the box, but there were some exciting rallies and good, clean winners.

Arthur Adams (Winchester & Trinity) (C) bt Charlie Sneddon (Tonbridge & Merton) (O) 15/6, 15/8, 15/9.

The 1^st string match was between Isaac Wighton (Oxford) and Patrick Smart (Cambridge) and produced the best rallies of the day, with some fine play, especially from the Light Blue top string, hitting hard and low and to effective angles that gave Isaac little chance of retrieving.

Patrick Smart (Eton & Churchill) (C) bt Isaac Wighton (St. Paul’s & Jesus) (O) 15/5, 15/3, 15/7.

Therefore, Cambridge entered the last singles match with a 3 rubbers to 0 lead, but here Oxford had their best result of the day, coming back from losing the first game to take the next three convincingly.

3^rd Strings Jack Probert (Clifton & Wolfson) (O) bt Arthur King (Winchester & Trinity) (C) 10/15, 15/5, 15/5, 15/9.

With a 3 rubbers to 1 lead from the morning singles matches, Cambridge needed to win one of the afternoon doubles matches to secure overall victory. The 4 singles & 2 doubles format it very new to the Varsity Match, and it has not yet been decided what happens if the score ends up at 3 rubbers each! Perhaps a deciding best of 3 games doubles with one player from the top pair being nominated to play with one player from the second pair? But in the end, this Varsity match did not reach the situation of a 3-all draw because Cambridge managed to win both the doubles rubbers after lunch.

2^nd Doubles. As with the 3^rd and 4^th string Singles, when the players combined together for the 2^nd Doubles, it was the serving that largely dictated the result of the contest, Cambridge winning 35 of their 45 points on service.

Arthur King & Theodore Seely (C) bt Jack Probert & Tristan Gauthier (O) 15/5, 15/11, 15/3.

1^St Doubles The Cambridge No.1, Patrick Smart, stood out in this match as the player most capable of making the decisive winner at the end of many long, and well-fought, rallies. But, interestingly, it was his partner Arthur Adams who was much the more dominant player on service, winning 15 points on serve during the 3 games, compared to 7 from Patrick. This match, as with all the other matches during the day, was played competitively but with commendable sportsmanship, and it was delightful that many parents were in the Gallery to see their sons’ matches.

Patrick Smart & Arthur Adams (C) bt Isaac Wighton & Charlie Sneddon (O) 15/4, 15/6, 15/6

After the matches, Chris Davies, CEO of the T&RA, hosted a Pol Roger Reception in the David Norman Room next to the Championship Court, at which the prizes were presented to the players by Laurence Bialy from Champagne Pol Roger, who have now been the greatly appreciated Sponsors of the Rackets Varsity Match for more than a quarter of a century.