Oxford v Cambridge 2012
Mar 07, 2012 - Apr 26, 2024 The Queen's Club
Oxford team: Alex Portz, Johnny Beale, Arthur Wakeley and Henry Faber.
Singles
1 - A.Portz bt T.Elliot 15/7, 15/2, 15/5 (Oxford win 3/0)
2 - E.Kay bt J.Beale 15/5, 15/6, 15/10 (Cambridge win 3/0)
3 - H.Faber bt J.Watson 15/7, 15/6, 15/7 (Oxford win 3/0)
4 - A.Wakeley bt C.Lemon 15/11, 15/2, 15/3 (Oxford win 3/0)
Doubles
1 - Oxford bt Cambridge 15/12, 15/14, 15/6 (3/0)
2 - Oxford bt Cambridge 15/12, 15/0, 15/3 (3/0)
Report
Shadows of tension and grim foreboding always hang heavy over titanic bouts, and no where was this more true than the Rackets Varsity match. I take nothing away from Cambridge when I say that Oxford were the favourites. Rackets is a game where great players can dominate a fixture, and few players cast taller, broader and more muscular shadows than Alexander Portz. A man of infinite resource and sagacity, his talents would be put to the test.
The fixture match began with the 4th string singles, showcasing two rookie varsity match competitors Arthur Wakeley and Cameron Lemon representing dark and light blue respectively. The match was a clear throw back to a time when the institutions were famous for their stark divide in areas of excellence; Arthur, the historian's champion and Cameron, natural science's worthy nominee. The first game was a desperate fight, but eventually first blood went to the arts. Science tried valiantly to gain a foot hold in the 2nd and 3rd games but Arthur asserted his dominance and ran away with the match 15-11, 15-2, 15-3. Perhaps a devastating blow for the forces of the humanities against the methodological study of the material world. History would have been proud of Arthur, if not worthless to the rest of his, and the worlds economic advancement.
Next up were Henry Faber of Oxford and James Watson representing Cambridge. A wisp of revenge lay in the air as these two had faced off almost exactly a year before. James, the D'artagnan of the rackets court, brought to the game much of poise and power which makes him some a fearsome real tennis player. Throughout the match the ball found new speeds hitherto unseen, smashing bottles left in the gallery and parts of the new gallery itself. However the greater experience of master Faber was the telling factor. Sealing the victory 15/7, 15/6, 15/7.
The 2nd string singles was between John Beale and Ed Kay from Oxford and Cambridge respectively. The game carried with it the scent of a feud unresolved. These two had faced each other in the varsity real tennis match not two weeks before. Beale, the more experienced real tennis player had overcome Kay on that occasion, but on the rackets court in theory there shouldn't have been much between the players. However practise proved very different to theory, Kay destroying his opponent 15/5, 15/6, 15/10.
The final singles was between Alex Portz and Tom Elliot. We have already mentioned the single Alex cuts, but what of his opponent, was this to be young man from Cambridge's hour to take the Portz down; put simply, no. There is no question that Tom tested Alex during the rallies, but was unable to convert this into points on the board, the final score being 15/7, 15/2, 15/5.
The 2nd string double saw the numbers 3 and 4 of each university doing battle. Technically a dead rubber as Oxford had won the two single matches but there was still a chance to muddy the victory celebrations by claiming the doubles. The task for Cambridge however was a tall one, Arthur and Henry both having significant experience advantages over there opponents. And this was reflected in the score, 15/12, 15/0, 15/3.
The 1st string doubles however carried the whole fixture on its shoulders, most importantly deciding which side left with the Pol. I will spare the reader the details of the struggle, let me just say that Portz carried his partner to a tight victory. The game score not doing justice to a team which could have stolen the fixture given a crucial points this way or that; the final score 15/12, 15/14, 15/6. Oxford have asserted their dominance for some years, but one can feel change on the way, and the spectator would do well to look at the years to come.
Johnny Beale - Oxford