A League
Cannell Print’s winning start to the season came to an end against a very strong Argosy team. Dave Norman maintained his unbeaten streak, taking a 3-1 win over Cannell Print’s Thomas Whiteway. Damien Loughrey had a 2-0 lead over Argosy’s Paul Barnett who fought back to win 12-10 in the 5th game. Fraser Dorling earned Cannell Print’s first win of the night, beating Dave O’Neill 3-1 but Malcolm Levy’s 3-0 win over Ben Peach sealed the fixture for Argosy.
Juniors achieved their second win in a row on games count back. With Crazy Billions missing their usual number 1, Juniors managed to win 3-0 at numbers 1 and 2 whereas at 4, Crazy Billions won by the same scoreline. There were high quality rallies in the number 3 match between Junior’s Ben Leith and Crazy Billions’ Chris Walton. Despite Chris winning 3-1, Ben’s one game resulted in the bonus points for the Global Monetary Solutions Junior Academy.
Stone Art returned to winning ways after 3 consecutive defeats with a good 3-1 win over Josh’s Jaguars. Josh Green, the Jaguars’ captain, won 3-0 but the Stone Art number 2, Toby Woolard, also then won with the same score line. Woolard’s team mate Angus Hopkinson next overcame his opponent 3-1. The match of the night was a 5 game tussle between Doug Jacobsson and the rapidly improving Michael Fernandes. This match was incredibly close and exciting with the Stone Art player, Jacobsson just clinching the final game 12-10. The match score was 13-6 to Stone Art.
B League
The Atla Group Arrows held their nerve to snatch a win from the league leaders, Derivco Sharks. At 5, Atla player Sarah Simpson, playing up from the C league put in an honorable performance against a very tough opponent, Dave O’Neil, who won 3-0. At 4, Atla Group’s Phil Butler caused an upset, beating Dave Freer 3-0. 3rd seed saw Atla’s Mike Fernandes battle it out with Douglas Jacobson, who managed a close 3-1 win. At number 2, Lance Wyllie had a long and arduous battle with Shark’s Alan Macnair. Neither wished to concede a single point, but Alan edged the match 3-2. At number 1 spot, there was another really close match between Harvey Douglas of Atla and Alistair Crossley. Both displayed a high level of squash but Harvey won 3-2 to give Atla Group Arrows an overall 3-2 victory.
This week, Racketeers Pioneers faced the Mavericks. James Leith of Racketeers used his height and reach to beat Clare Townsend in three games. Andy Brown pulled out some really tight squash in the first game but succumbed to the experience of Mavericks’ Dave Hedley to lose 3-1. Racketeers’ Marc Taggart’s experience could not quite match the skills of Richard Cretney, who won 3-0. In some fantastic squash, Baillie Watterson met the Mavericks newest player, Chris Walton. Chris used his endless energy to overcome Baillie’s tight drops shots and boasts to win 3-0. The final match saw the Racketeers’ Fraser Dorling play the Mavericks number one seed, Rob Colquit. Despite being a close match, Fraser managed to counter whatever Rob played and won 3-0.
C League
Strix Squash Squad achieved their 4th win in a row, beating Hansard Racketeers 3-2 this week. At 1st seed, George Rumney for Strix used his youth and front court play to give him the 3-0 win. Steven Wright of Racketeers then took a 3-0 win using his strong cross court play. Match 3 was the battle of the Andy’s with Andrew Igoea and Captain Andy Dalrymple. The first game was a real nail biter, ending 15-14 to Strix. Igoea won the next two games too, pulling off his first 3-0 win. Next, Aaron Rumney of Strix used his fitness and speed to win 3-1. In the final game of the night Racketeers David Johnson, made some excellent misleading shots and gained a 3-1 win.
Next up, the Falcons started the match at great pace with their captain Vusimbe Zivave winning in straight sets against the spirited Jamie Biddulph. The match of the night was between Jon Cox and Andy Maclean with Falcons’ Jon becoming the eventual 3-2 winner. The Dragons got the remainder of the 3 matches through their experienced Stuart Highly, Ben Arthur and Scott Jones.
Finally Buchanan & Pitts Misfits took on the Crazy Jacks. Misfits 4th string Chris Gledhill had to work hard to narrowly take all 3 games against Tom Barker. Misfits captain Stephen Pitts playing at 3 had a hectic game with some good rallies against Tek Min Ewe and also won all 3 games. At number 2, Andy Dixon faced Darren Smith of Crazy Jacks. After struggling in the first game Smith improved but Dixon still won 3-0. Lastly at number 1, Misfits Patric Russell played Matt Ripley (Crazy Jacks Captain). Despite a close first match, Russell won 3-0. The game of the evening was between Lee Whetnall who debuted for Misfits at number 5 and an energetic Craig Brereton for Crazy Jacks. Whetnall started strongly, winning the first game but then Brereton clinched the second game by 1 point. Whetnall’s nerves settled and he managed to get back on top to win 3-1. Thus it finished Buchanan & Pitts Misfits 5 Crazy Jacks 0.
After last week, Cannell Print, Derivco Sharks and Buchanan & Pitts Misfits are top of their leagues.
Crazy Jacks (Left to right): Tek Min Ewe, Craig Brereton, Tom Barker, Matt Ripley, Mark Goodall, Darren Smith