news archive

Cunis Cup Singles - Sunday 23rd September 2012

Despite every effort by the handicapper, Daniel Tristao retained the cup for the third year, beating Charlie Brooks 16-14 in a magnificent final. More details here.

At the AGM which followed, Charlie Brooks was elected Captain in succession to Adrian Lee, currently working abroad, and Tom Dean Hon Secretary. Daniel Tristao and Niraj Patel were added to the committee.

President's Cup Doubles - Sunday 25th March 2012

Eight pairs had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon's fives, with the eventual winners Charlie Brooks and Matt Shaw (SPS L8th) just edging out Mark Gibbor and Jack Malde in the final. Ed Kay and Ollie Arnold (SPS Colts) won the 3rd place play-off 16-14 against Tom Kiggell and Sam Russell (SPS U8th).

The event has previously been held in the depths of winter, but the move to Spring, and the inclusion of current Paulines, was popular. Pictured are winners Matt and Charlie; and the assembled company (bar SPS captain Francis Thomas, who had hurried away!)

Owers Trophy - October 1st 2011

OPRFC retained the trophy in a tournament with a disappointingly low entry. In the semi-final they dispatched a composite (more Oundle than anything else) team, and in the final they won 88-23 against newcomers Old Derby Moor. The team was Ady Lee, Dan Tristao, Tom Dean, Sam Roberts and current SPS fives captain Francis Thomas. 

Cunis Cup - September 18th 2011

The winner was  again Dan Tristao. See separate page for details

Wood Cup 2011 - April 16-17

After finishing as runners-up twice, OPRFC again reached the final of this highly competitive event, but this time went one better, breaking a run of five consecutive titles for Manchester YMCA. Excellent wins were recorded on Saturday against White Rose (Yorkshire) and Wessex, who had fought through a very tough quarter-final against our old rivals Alleyn OB. In the final the singles were evenly matched, but some devastating doubles play enabled OPs to draw 22 points clear at the interval, and the next two games were both - extraordinarily - won to love. So we are now the holders of both major club championships, a feat only previously accomplished by Alleyn OB: but as our players were quick to point out, the Alleyn's team that won the Wood Cup had some guest old boys from other schools.... A full report may be read at the RFA website.

The team in the final, pictured with both the Wood Cup and the Owers trophy, was Charlie Brooks, Adrian Lee, Dan Tristao, and Tom Dean. Sam Roberts played in the quarter-final in place of Tristao.

Owers Trophy - October 2nd 2010

Wood Cup 2010 - April 17-18

OPRFC again reached the final of this highly competitive event, and did us proud, with a much more convincing performance against the winners from Manchester. Excellent wins were recorded on Saturday against Wessex and the Executioners (who had enjoyed a quarter-final walk-over). The squad was Adrian Lee, Charlie Brooks, Dan Tristao, Sam Roberts and Ed Kay. A full report may be viewed at RFA report.

A year on from last year's splendid victory, OPRFC again reached the final, but with a slightly reduced squad were unable to overcome newcomers Old Pilgrims, going down by 6 points in the final. Adrian Lee, Charlie Brooks, Mark Gibbor and Alex Griffiths contested the final rounds, while Tom Dean had played an important part in the group stages. Full report may be viewed at the RFA website http://www.rfa.org.uk/news/index.html#Sep27a.

Wood Cup - April 18-19

A remarkable performance by the Old Paulines, without three of the victorious Owers team, took the club to its first final in the National Club championships. Victory in the quarter-final against Derby Moor was reasonably comfortable, with Dan Tristao, Sam Roberts, Mark Hine and Tim Hoolahan all winning singles games and continuing their good form in the doubles. On Saturday afternoon the match against Alleyn OB could not have been closer, with the result in doubt until the end of a 12-11 final game of doubles, where Roberts and Tristao held their nerve against younger opponents. Mark Gibbor and Tom Dean had made up the four for this semi-final. In Sunday's final against Manchester, with Hoolahan now partnered by Joe Harris, the great strength and experience of the opposition held sway, but this was a great effort by a young squad, featuring two of this year's school four (winners of the National Schools' doubles).

Owers Trophy - September 28th 2008

VICTORY!! After two consecutive minuscule defeats in finals, the Old Pauline team at last won this tournament (for "real" old boys of the schools), beating Alleyns, winners in 2006 and 2007, in the final.  The team in the final was Adrian Lee, Charlie Brooks, Dan Tristao and Alex Griffiths; Sam Roberts, Chris Hay and Tom Dean had played in earlier rounds. We beat Oundle 89-34 and Winchester I 80-33 in the group stage, and Merchant Taylors' 58-39 in the semi-final, before a convincing 60-44 win in the final. For a full report see RFA website at http://www.rfa.org.uk/news/index.html#Sep28;

BUCS 2008. Oxford's Dan Tristao retained his National Student/BUCS singles title in Edinburgh, coming back from 10-1 down in the first game to take the match in two games, 15-12, 15-6. Runner-up was Imperial's Will Ellison, who completed a double of sorts by also finishing runner-up in the doubles with partner Chris Burrow. Winners  - by a score of 15-8, 15-13 - were the Durham pair of Inigo Ackland and Alex Griffiths. Congratulations also to Chris Hay (Durham), semi-finalist in both singles and doubles, and Jonny Major (Edinburgh) who was in the singles quarter-finals and doubles semi.

President's Cup - Sunday 30th December 2007

The winners were Dan Colton and Andy Cox. Five pairs contested a round-robin, and in the final game they defeated the other unbeaten pair, Tim Hoolahan and Niraj Patel, by a single point. Alex Griffiths and Anish Bhuva were third. Jonny Major and Ed Martin, and Chris Hay and Matt Hanney also competed in an excellent afternoon's fives.

Varsity Match - Saturday 21st February 2009.

7 OP players were involved in the matches, won by Oxford. see further details at Varsity details or on the RFA site.