The OIs played St Olaves at Orpington in the quarter final of the Barber Cup.

This is the premier club competition and we had our strongest 6 players in the team.

1st Pair Isaac Weaver (OI 2010-20) (National under 25 champion) and Dan Ingram (Schools under 16  winner) were up against Howard Wisemen and James Toop. In a match of a very high standard the young Ipswich pair were unable to win a game and lost 0-3.

2nd Pair. Gareth Hoskins (OI 1984-91) and Tim Gregory (OI 1982-89) played Prajeth Sathiyamoorthy and Tanish Arjaria. There was over a 60 year age gap between the pairs. The OI pair showed age was no barrier and won 3-2 in a match over two hours.

3rd Pair Elliot Caldwell (OI 2017-24) and Cam Lyle (OI 2009-16) played Tom Gallagher and Harry Ravi. Elliot and Cam could not match the class of Gallagher and lost 0-3.

We wish the Olavians all the best in tbe next round of the competition. This was a very strong OI performance and augurs well for the future.

We have qualified for the EFA trophy semi and finals day in February, when we try and win the trophy we last won in 2006.

Written by Tim Gregory (OI 1982-89).