EFA League: Westminsters win at Orpington
After tasting defeat in their season opener against the Millhillians, the Westminsters first team opened their Division 1 account on Wednesday night, storming fortress Orpington to record a 3-0 away victory.
After missing their first match, John Reynolds was back in the OW line-up for the trip to Kent, enduring the fierce late summer heat to partner Laurie Brock at first pair against Howard Wiseman and schoolboy Tony Barker. Barker's mature performance made an impression on the eleven-time Kinnaird winner, who noted the youngster's mixture of patience and ambition in his back court play and positioning and aggression on the top step. The Olavian pair pushed the Westminster duo hard but were 2-1 down when they ran out of time and had to stop playing, leaving Reynolds and Brock grateful for the win and for the opportunity to escape from the hot conditions and fall upon the waiting squash and sandwiches.
Ed Rose warmed up for his second pair match alongside Harry de Quetteville by cycling all the way to Orpington having been denied entry to the train at London Bridge with his bike. This failed to stop the Westminster pair recording a 3-0 win against U17 player Chris Self and Karl Rudman - a rare but welcome appearance from the experienced Olavian. Third pair saw another schoolboy pair - Harry Ravi and Sanjay Kundu - gain valuable experience despite losing 3-0 to Saul Albert and ex-RGS High Wycombe pupil Robert Wilson, making his Division 1 debut before heading off to Cambridge in a few weeks time.
Olavian supremo Howard Wiseman was unfazed by the OO1's two league defeats so far, explaining that the long term benefits of exposing these youngsters to such a high level of Fives far outweighed the short-team indignity of propping up the Division 1 table. He also pointed out the potential benefits for the St.Olave's School team, who will be looking to challenge Highgate and Shrewsbury strongly when the National Schools' Championships come around in the spring.