The Weakest Wink
OXFORD UNIVERSITY TIDDLYWINKS SOCIETY recorded their first varsity victory since 1995, and only their second in 40 years, at Queen's College Cambridge last Sunday.
Despite an inaccurate implication in the popular BBC sitcom Blackadder Goes Forth that the varsity tiddlywinks fixture was played as early as 1914, the modern game dates back to the formation of the Cambridge University Tiddlywinks Club in 1955.
The varsity match consists of 16 pairs matches: each of the four pairs on each team play each other once during the course of the day. Seven points are available in each match.
The match on Sunday was delayed due to the late arrival of some Oxford players who were stuck on their coach in Bedford. However when play did get underway after lunch, the first blood went to Oxford as captain Charlie Oakley won the squidge off. Oxford went on to win all four first round matches to lead 18 1/2 to 9 1/2.
Cambridge had the better of the second round, but the Oxford second pairing of Andrea Gorman and Matt Moorhouse won, with some impressive baseline potting from Gorman, and Oxford held on to their lead.
In the third round Oxford again took all four games, including a 6 - 1 thrashing of the Cambridge number ones by Moorhouse and Gorman, who were undefeated throughout.
The Dark Blue's lead was now strong, although not unassailable, and the Tabs began the final round well, both of the Cambridge third pairing potting out againt our third pairing of Ann Carter and Rachel Gray. But despite good squoping by Chris Abram, Moorhouse and Gorman won 4-3, and when Andrew Walpole scored a point in the first pairs match, the Blues were home and dry. In the remaining game, the Tabs won 6 consolation points.
Charlie Oakley, the world number 33, spoke exclusively to the OxStu sports section about his teams victory.
27th Feb 2003