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016 Ipcterite %qua31). THE LONDONDERRY CUP. The first full season of the Old Peterite Squash Rackets Club was a triumphant success in every way, and the School justified their entry for the Londonderry Cup by reaching the last four. Their conquerors in the semi-final were Eton, the holders of the Cup, but the latter only won by the odd event of five—a most creditable performance by St. Peter's when one considers the •enormous disparity in the numbers of the two schools. -
Before dealing with the Cup matches in detail, a few general comments may not be out of place. In the case of a comparatively small school like St. Peter's, it is vitally important that such team -events as the Londonderry Cup should attract the support of everyone in the running for a place in the side. At the present time we have five players of County standard in N. W. D. Yardley, the brothers Burrows, R. G. Bullen, and S. G. S. Pawle, and there is no doubt that if this team was available for every match we should stand a very good chance, even against such a strong side as Eton. But without any one of these five, the standard falls Appreciably. There is a big drop in playing ability from A. V. Mackintosh, fifth string against Clifton in the first match, to the next best candidate for a place—and the fifth string position is often of vital importance, as we saw in the Eton match. It was greatly to be regretted that the School's second best player, who has represented Yorkshire at first string on more than one occasion, did not consider the semi-final worthy of a journey from the West Riding. His decision not to play for St. Peter's undoubtedly cost us a coveted place in the final, for on his form against the Northern champion of 1932, Charles Packe, our fourth string, David Burrows, would have beaten De Quetteville in straight games. Any reference to Old Peterite Squash would be incomplete without a tribute to the untiring and unselfish work of the Hon. Sec., B. A. C. Gray, whose keenness brought about the formation of the club. His organising ability was of tremendous value, and his infectious enthusiasm had a good deal to do with making the Cup and other matches such an unqualified success. With a stronger team at our disposal than at any other time
in the season, we gained a most convincing victory over Clifton
by five events to love, at Latymer Court, on February 27th. Yardley, Bullen, and Mackintosh won in straight games, though Bullen had a close first game with Elsmie, cousin of the former R.A.F. Champion, who set a pace he was unable to maintain.
