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News Menu Draws and Fixtures All the latest from the world of Rackets. News Archive Look through our past news items, going back a full four years: 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Ask Your Question If you've a specific question - ask the Rackets.co.uk Team. ............................................ Specialist Links Sponsorship We provide promotion & sponsorship opportunities to suitable companies. Site Terms Our complete terms of use.	Alister Robinson and Guy Barker, John Prenn, Charlie Danby Harry Foster Marlborough's succesful defense Alister Robinson and Guy Barker [Marlborough 1] beat Harry Foster and Charlie Danby [Harrow 1] 4/15,15/6,15/12,15/12,15/6. to retain the Public Schools Old Boys Doubles Championship [Noel Bruce Cup] Both pairs had had relatively untroubled passages to the final and indeed the game the Marlburians lost in the final was the first one they had dropped in the course of the last two competitions. They reached the final by beating Howard Angus and Mike Bailey [Winchester 1 in straight games in the 1/4 finals and and had another straight games win over Willie Boone and Neal Bailey [Eton 2] in the semis. Harrow had lost a game to Mark Hubbard and Ben Bomford [Malvern 1] in the 1/4 finals and beat John Prenn and Alaister Orchard [Harrow 2] for the loss of another game in their semi. This was a much tenser affair however as the Harrow second pair were in the lead in all of the last 3 games. At first it did not look as if Harrow 2 would win a point let alone a game as Danby and Foster won the first 25 points winning the first game to love and then going to 10/0 in the second. Prenn then got in the box and won nine points in row, before the 1st pair got back in and finished off the game in 2 hands. The third game was closer with John and Alaister leading 12/11 before Harry once more regained serve and took 4 points for the game In the 4th game Danby and Foster went into a 7/3 lead before having got in to the box Orchard won 5 points on his serve and then Prenn took 8 on his to win the game 15/7. They should have taken the 5th game as well as they had game ball at 14/10, but a serve onto the back wall let Danby and Foster in who wrapped up the game without losing any more points. The final started badly for Harry when he received a blow to the head from a ball struck by Ali on the return of serve. The Harrovians did not let this put them off and indeed if anything it seemed to inhibit Robinson the most. The second game was won easily by Marlborough taking a 7/3 lead and then going from 8/6 to 15/6 in one hand. The third and fourth games followed a similar pattern Harrow getting into a seemingly winning position at 12/8 and 12/10 respectively and then losing the games in one hand. All the players were by now well warmed up and producing some tremendous rackets leading to long rallies and some breathtaking gets. At the same time there were quite a few schoolboy howlers as the players, particularly Robinson and Foster, missed straightforward kills at the front of the court. The most enjoyable rackets was being played on the left hand side as Barker's usual immaculate stroke play, he was the best player throughout, was at times matched by Danby's great natural ability. Losing the 4th game seemed to cause the Harrovians to lose heart somewhat and although Foster and Danby took a 5/1 lead, Marlborough went to 10/1 in one hand and then losing 1 point went from 10/6 to 15/6 when they next had serve. Marlborough were worthy winners but one must feel for Foster and Danby ,who having reached the final for the 5th year, once more fell at the last. Draw Other Links ....................................................................................................................................... Read About The History Of Rackets From its roots of a game played outside taverns, through to the modern game. About The Past Champions The past and present leading players of the game. Find Out The Latest Results In The World Of Rackets All the results, fixtures and draws for the UK game.