There is nothing that stirs the blood quicker than a rematch. It is the essence of sport: revenge or reaffirmation; history, but not too much history. And so it was at Chequers last weekend for Cameron/Clegg II.

In the first encounter, the Prime Minister beat his deputy 8-6, topping off his victory by saying: "Nick is probably the better player, but I was more wily." The "wily" is good; the "probably" is unimprovable. It was Gamesmanship of the highest kidney.

One of the many benefits of an Eton education was that we were encouraged to broaden our minds. Thus it was that alongside tiresome A-levels
you might study Cooking with Mrs Needham (a rare privilege); Lineage (for the social historian); Falconry (the "l", we were taught, is silent) and/or The Complete Upmanship. The last named was a particular favourite of Dave's, the Rev James Bentley's lectures on the works of Stephen Potter proving far more influential than anything uttered by the always mediocre Vernon Bogdanor.

Indeed, as we relaxed on his first night in No 10, the PM wrote down one of Potter's main tenets: "LET YOUR ATTITUDE BE THE ANTITHESIS OF YOUR OPPONENT'S." And this card remains Blu-Tacked on his private computer. (The opponent, naturally, being Clegg rather than any Miliband or Balls.)

There has been no better demonstration of putting theory into practice than Cameron/ Clegg II. Clegg, as expected, showed up for the rematch
turned out in designer gear and looking like a male Arantxa Sánchez Vicario impersonator. Dave wore untailored shorts hoisted by an OE tie, a bomber jacket and flip-flops.

Thanks to Dave deftly placing his shots to Clegg's few strengths, the Liberal Democrat clinched the first set 6-2 and raced to the net to shake hands. Dave responded by suggesting that, as they had been playing for a little over 15 minutes, "perhaps a best of three is in order". Clegg looked pained. So little time, so much to do. But he could hardly cry off. To do so would look weak.

The second set was a classic, Dave toying with his deputy, allowing him into a 5-4 lead and the chance to serve for the match, before ensuring that there was no prospect of him taking it by remarking, "That Vicky Pryce is one spirited lady," as they changed ends. On and on the set went. The rallies lengthened. The tie-break appeared timeless. Until Dave closed it out 22-20 with a deft drop shot. Shattered Cleggy lit up one of his two-a-day ciggies.

Calm as you like, bomber jacket still zipped, the PM sparked up a panatella. This left Cleggy in a parlous social situation as he finished his Silk Cut Extreme while Dave was less than a third of the way through his cigar. Either light up another Extreme, which he hadn't done since his gap year, or hang around (so much to do, so little time).

The PM won the third set 6-0. "I'm afraid I was a bit lucky there," he said, walking off the court.