Old Pauline Sport

OLD PAULINE RUGBY

Saturday 14 December 2019 the St Paul’s Leavers XV versus ‘Last Year’s Captain’s XV’

This annual match was held as always at the Old Pauline Sports Ground at Thames Ditton. The morning kick-off, the wintry weather and the previous night’s festivities may all have contributed to the teams arriving just short of a full complement of players; but turn up they did, as did a highly competent referee and a large and enthusiastic crowd of families, friends, staff and Old Pauline rugby supporters.

Despite a strong wind blowing directly down the pitch, the crowd was treated to an excellent match. The 2019 Leavers’ were captained by Declan Thompson (unfortunately unable to play himself due to an injured hand). With the wind at their backs, they started strongly and their heavier forwards secured a constant supply of possession. As the first half wore on, the Old Boys used the elements well and reached half-time 19-0 up. Theo Moreland, who looked distinctly fitter than many of his colleagues, Edan Baines and Euan Morrison, scored tries. Isaac converted the first try; the less said about the attempt to convert the second the better and Euan Morrison surprised everyone by converting his own try from near the touchline.

The question being asked at half-time was would the lead be enough. The St Paul’s team had already shown signs of their adventurous approach and full-back Luke Scott made a magnificent break from his own half, only to succumb to a painful looking hamstring injury as a try looked likely. Just as Luke left the field his brother Alex emerged to reinforce the Old Boys team, but sadly the opportunity was missed for them to face each other on the pitch.

With the wind behind them, the school team set about reducing the deficit and their efforts were rewarded when left wing Daniel Whiley crossed in the corner after fine handling by the backs. He then nonchalantly slotted the conversion from wide out. Ten minutes later Daniel scored again after clinging onto a beautifully floated pass from fly-half Finlay Bell. For the rest of the game the match ebbed and flowed with everyone committed to trying to secure victory for his team. Players found hitherto unexpected reserves of fitness as breaks were made, tackles and turnovers effected and kicks chased. But still the score remained resolutely 19-12 in the ‘Old Boys’ favour. In the last minute the School launched another attack and centre Freddie Eltringham picked a great line to take a pass and crash over under the posts. Two points down with the kick to come – could Freddie hold his nerve? The kick was never in doubt. The ball sailed between the posts and referee Tom Bliss immediately blew the final whistle. A 19-19 draw was a fair result and testimony to the efforts of both teams.

Everyone then took shelter in the Colets’ clubhouse and enjoyed the hospitality of the Old Pauline Rugby Club. Ties were awarded to the deserving ‘men of the match’ from the two teams – Alexander Davies and Toby Depel – and Brian Jones, OP Club President thanked everyone for supporting this annual event. Andy Riley (OPFC Co-Chairman), Rob Rayner (Club Secretary) and Chris Jackson (Tour Organiser) then spoke briefly about the rugby club and its ambitious plans to tour South Africa as part of the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations in 2021.

Huge thanks to James Blurton for bringing the school team along, to captain Archie and his team for making the effort to play after the rigours of a long term, and to Declan and his year group for making sure that they too could field a team. Everyone entered into the spirit of the day and it was generally agreed that 2019’s was the best in the recent series of matches.

OLD PAULINE FOOTBALL

Saturday 15 February 2020 – St Paul’s versus OPAFC

The combined efforts of both Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis saw the annual fixture between OPAFC and the School switched from the hallowed (and sodden) turf of Thames Ditton to the hardy 3G surface of Lonsdale Road. It was a grey and blustery day, though the Amber warning was no more than advance notice of the attacking menace about to be unleashed.

First up was the 2nd XI match. Both sides contained an attacking mix of players and before long the School took an early lead, courtesy of a sharp finish from Paolo Chiesa. With the wind in their favour, they continued to press and added two further goals – aided by the elements; at half time it was 3-0.

The change of ends spurred OPAFC into life; soon a goal was pulled back through a 20-yard postage stamp finish from Nirav Ghantiwala (2003-08). Chances were now being created at both ends, but it was OPAFC who were able to turn pressure into goals thanks to precise finishes from Nick Troen (1998-2003) and Nick Andrews. Try as they might, neither side could produce a winner and so it was penalties. Both sides missed one each amongst a flurry of well-taken penalties. The pressure was mounting. Who would blink first? The prized scalp of a Nick Troen penalty being saved is now the highlight of James Stubbs life as a goalkeeper, captured for posterity by the paparazzi…

And now for the 1st teams. With the rain falling hard, the School dominated the early exchanges with slick and incisive movement from all positions. Before long, it was 2-0 thanks to goals from Luke Warriner (1997-2002) and Tyler Payne, and looking very much like game over for OPAFC. A rare counter-attack resulted in a penalty (VAR proved inconclusive) and Hatam Al Turaihi (2009-14) coolly slotted home for 1-2. Soon afterwards another OPAFC attack levelled things up and it was 2-2 at half time.

With the wind now in their favour, OPAFC would have harboured ambitions to take the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half. However, the School had other ideas and were quickly 4-2 up courtesy of a brace from Joe Brian.

OPAFC continued to press and closed the gap thanks to a fine 20-yard strike from Joe Birtwistle. Could they haul themselves back into the match once again? The School side assembled by Luke Warriner showed its composure and moved its slick passing game up a gear to take the game away from OPAFC.

Two further goals, from Tyler Payne and James Baxter, put the game to bed and SPS ran out deserved 6-3 winners.

Huge thanks to Luke Warriner and Nick Troen for organising a great morning of football, and thanks to both sets of players for playing both matches in such a good spirit.

OPAFC will be hosting summer training at School and welcome all leavers, gap year & university students, and recent graduates.

OLD PAULINE RUGBY FIVES

q Cunis Cup 2020: Dan Tristao, Matt Shaw, Jack Malde, Julian Aquilina, Ben Beltrami, Tim Cunis, Elliot Malone, Peter King q Owers Trophy winners 2018: Ben Beltrami, Julian Aquilina and Dan Tristao with the eponymous Mr Owers

Fives is a game that is great fun to play, simple to resource and sociable in the extreme. The camaraderie built up on court at St Paul’s, and at schools’ matches and tournaments leads to lasting friendships. Why would there not be a place for an Old Pauline Fives Club? And yet it was not until the ‘class of 2002’ that any group really suggested and set about forming the club.

It was quite a short step to establish a weekly club night on Thursday evenings at School (still the regular meeting point), to open up membership to leavers recent and less recent, and see who came along. Founder members included former National Singles winner John East (1960-65) and his school contemporary John Dennis (1959-64), National Schools’ champion Simon Kemp (1975-79) and an array of variously talented players from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Success in the world of Fives tends to be cyclical. Oundle, Bedford and St Dunstan’s enjoyed periods of supremacy, and more recently Winchester and Alleyn’s. But from the mid 1990s onwards St Paul’s has enjoyed exceptional success as some outstanding groups of friends and players found their way into the sport. Adrian Lee (1997-2002) lost not a single match in five years of National Schools’ singles in the different age groups. Three years earlier Giles Corner (1994-99) had almost achieved the same distinction. Daniel Tristao (2002-07) and Ed Kay (2005-10) both won the Nationals in consecutive years, and it is hardly surprising that they are now the two players at the top of the national singles rankings, with Daniel having recently retained the National title with his fifth win, fifty years after John East’s triumph, and the first OP since to do so.

One of the most charming elements of the game is its suitability for players of many standards, and in doubles especially the principle of balancing pairs to make an even contest has been enshrined in the RFA President’s Cup tournament, contested annually for over sixty years. Four different OPs have their names on the trophy from the last four events, and the OPRFC stages its own version of the tournament as well. Founder member Tim Cunis (1955-60) presented a cup for the Club’s singles tournament, also a ‘handicap’ event for which the organisers have had to devise increasingly stringent handicaps to prevent Daniel Tristao continuing to win despite everything.

The dominance of Old Paulines in the national rankings at present (at least half of the top twenty in both singles and doubles with the majority in the top ten) reflects the strength of the game at the School. The Wood Cup, a teams-of-four competition for clubs, had been dominated for much of its 35 year history by Manchester YMCA and Alleyn Old Boys. OPRFC’s first win in 2011 was the start of a ‘new era’, as one of the Manchester players observed, which saw five wins and five finals in ten years. Similarly the Owers trophy, a competition for “genuine” old boys’ teams instituted in 2004, has rarely lacked a Pauline presence in the final, with the 2019 win being the club’s tenth. The world of Rugby Fives provides admirable bridges between the school and adult game, with competitions for universities and Under 25s. With the School’s academic strength it is hardly surprising that we have contributed by some distance the largest number of participants to the Oxford v Cambridge Varsity match over the years, including many captains, on more than one occasion the captains of both teams. Among those who have won full blues (discretionary, rather than the more routine half-blue) are John East, Alan Beverly (1999-2004) and Charlie Brooks (1997-2002) (multiple winners of the BUSF doubles for Cambridge), Ed Kay, Ben Beltrami (2009-14) and Matt Shaw (2008-13). Charlie has been a highly ranked player for many years, and like Daniel sits on the RFA board as well as the Jesters Club committee, and has enjoyed several wins in the National Doubles.

The success of School and OP Fives owes much to the enlightened choice to equip six courts in the 1968 buildings, by a distance the most congenial and natural home for major tournaments such as the National Schools’ and matches involving large numbers including the Varsity match. The sports policy for the Spring Term in the Fourth Form also gives a real opportunity to pupils to discover games which they might otherwise never have known: Ben Beltrami, for example, is on record as saying he might have been merely a low-level team footballer if that had been the sole or normal option, instead of which he discovered a passion for a great game and now ranks 4th in the country – well, the world, really! I am sure Alastair Mackenzie had much to do with the planning of the building before the move from West Kensington; he was also careful in selection of potential players, as I well recall being quizzed by him on the playing fields at Osterley when I first applied to play. And the enthusiasm of the coaching staff continues to inspire. Long may it continue to do so.

OLD PAULINE SPORT ALMANAC

OP CRICKET 2019

Team 1st XI 2nd XI Sunday XI P W D L A 20 6 2 11 1 18 12 3 3 0 3 3 0 0 0

Surrey Championship 1st X1: 6th in Division 4 2nd X1: Champions Division 5

OP Cricketers in 2019 (25): Tom Abbott, James Grant, Ollie Ratnatunga, Chris Berkett, Joe Harris, Yaseen Rana, Jamie Bomford, Rich Hay, Tim Schneider, Mihir Bhushan, Michael Lever, Jehan Sherjan, Sam Cato, Freddie Light, Tom Speller, Rahul Dev, Charlie Malston, Narayan Subramanian, Henry Dodd, Dave Mathuen, Oliver Tapper, Alex Duncan, Tom Peters, Jack Turner, Archie Foster.

OP GOLF 2019

Played 11, Won 4, Halved 2, Lost 5

Kayton Trophy Just Cup Haswell Bowl, Kayton Cup Eastman Salvers

Mercers Cup, Sayers Cup Lane Cups

Walker Cup, Bewshar Bowl

Toby Bain Neil Fitch Chris Vallender Nick Downing/ Steven Spencer Rob Smith Robert Silverstone/ Nick Downing Robert Silverstone North Cup Nick Cardoza Courlander Cup, Cunis Claret Jug Robert Silverstone Edgar & Williams Cups David Charman/ Robert Silverstone

Downing Salver Jubilee Salver Tom Webb-Wilson Robert Silverstone

OP Golfers in 2019 (55): Chris Vallender, Hugh Roberts, Robert Silverstone, Brian Thompson, Philip Francis, John Cooper, Robin Campbell, Alex Kerr, Robin Young, Robbie Parker, Max Rose, Charlie Prior, Tito Bastinello, Freddie Bastinello, Alex Bastinello, Robbie Lyon, Lucas Moore, Ben Rowan, Jamie McFarlane, Ian Starr, David Pincott, Brian Selwyn-Barnett, John Woodcock, Nick Cardoza, Laurence Harris, Jeremy Williams, Toby Bain, Charles Mathias, David Charman, David Mayhew, Dick Vollmer, Steven Spencer, Mike Rowley, Hugh Garnham, Alex Meadows, Richard Hamilton, Nigel Williams, Chris Kraushar, Jon Morgan, Neil Fitch, Nick Downing, Rob Smith, Tom Webb-Wilson. Laurence Gilford, John Stone, Guy Wildy, John East, Brian Lowe, Harvey Bogard, David Basham, Charles Miller, Alan Stranders, Oliver Gilford, Ray Burton, Charles Hogbin.

OP FOOTBALL 2019-20

Team 1st XI 2nd XI Vets XI P W D L 14 3 3 8 12 7 3 2 3 1 0 2

OP Footballers in 2019-20 (45) Alex Lloyd-Jones, Ciaran Harries, Rishi Stocker, Hatam Al-Turaihi, Max Gordon-Brown, Harry Browne, Matthew Evans, Pareet Patel, Jasper Harlington, Aaron Connor, Jez Conrad, Tom McGlynn, Peter Wellby, Jack Wellby, Luke Warriner, George Mayo, Greg Brown, James Gosling, Jack Kleiber, Olly Jones, Alec Stewart, Kit Brice, Adam Klein, Jehan Sherjan, Justin Maini, Ben Roberts, Paul Clarke, Russell Burns, Mark Weston, Ed Owles, Nick Troen, Dave Arrowsmith, Harry Cotterall, AJ Foster, Math Williams, Nye Williams, Harry Draper, Jeremy Roberts, Roland Archdall, Onur Kuzalti.

OP RUGBY 2019-20

Team 1st XV 2nd XV Vets XV P W D L 14 4 1 9 15 6 1 8 6 3 0 3

Leagues and positions 1st XV: Surrey 3, 10th 2nd XV: Surrey Combination 1 North, 7th Vets XV: Surrey Vets League 2, 3rd

OP Rugby players in 2019-20 (17): Tom Roberts, Toby Ejsmond-Frey, Jake Coleman, Rahul Shorthouse, Toby Depel, Declan Thompson, Martin Macdonald, Tim Barlow, Stuart Kerrigan, Tom Arscott, Robin Ejsmond-Frey, Iain Stewart, Theo Moreland, Euan Morrison, Juyong Kim, Pete Henshall, Fred Engelbach.