Match reports
31 Sept - 2nds V Maidenhead 2
BY BALLSY
The 2nd team had the pleasure of attending Maidenheads new Braywick Leisure Centre location last night (very swish). Also, a real inspiration for the team - Ballsy was back!! After Ballsy got over the shock he had to pay for parking, we soon realised the courts are hotter and brighter than the sun.
Geoff on first. Through incredible racket skills and early kills, Geoff delighted the crowd* as he ran out an easy winner at No.1 string. The captain Barracuda was livid about Geoff turning down a legitimate stroke in game one. It has been noted.
Good start 2nd team!
Olu had already started and raced into a 2-0 lead (two 16-14 scores!) against Mr Essex Andrew. Olu then decided he couldn't be bothered to run for a bit and it was quickly 2-2. I missed the last game - but rumours are Olu bribed Andrew to throw the third and claimed a very credible 3-2 win. Even better start!
Jose on next. Basically Jose's two handed back hand baffled his opponent, the crowd and even Jose. Jose claimed the win with a fine (lucky) two handed cross court cut/drop/drive. Match Won! Well done team. Could Barracuda and Ballsy collect a clean sweep? Both went on at the same time.
Barracuda won! According to the post match report from his opponent, Charles was more skilful (do constant boasts count as skilful?) so he tried to outhit him. He obviously hasn't heard of Charles match play ability to adapt to any style and Charles soon saw off this tactical ploy. 4-0 to the team!
Ballsy to bring home the full tray of bacon. It started well. 1-0 up, 1-1 (Ballsy's mind went walkabout thinking about dinner), 2-1 down (still thinking about dinner but now annoyed by some poor solidarity by the team after Ballsy won a point, opponent was happy but Ballsy's own team called the ball down) but wait - following some pointers from Geoff "stop trying to win the point early, bore him to death", Ballsy back to 2-2. Ballsy got too excited in the fifth, went back to trying to impersonate Ramy Ashour with quick winning shots, came unstuck, fell over his 7ft legs a few times and lost 15-10 in the fifth.
A 4-1 win for the team and all agreed that Ballsy's presence had inspired the team to victory and it was very gentlemanly of Ballsy to let the other team win one match.
A quick drive to the Bowling Club for pizza. Nice location but our hosts had failed miserably to coordinate pizza delivery so a good 40 min wait was endured. Pizza was good, but slightly lacking in variety of options. 6/10.
Next match at home in two weeks. Ballsy already thinking of the curry dinner.....
*ran his opponent down until he was too bored and tired to continue and the crowd had long left to watch the other match.
Picture: the team were not sure if Olu had passed away after his match. As Olu did not come for dinner, he may still be there - can someone check...
Here are a couple of Olu and Jose rallies, won off loose balls with good straight drives from the front on the backhand side. Text book.
1st v Braywick
By Henry
After a great start to the season, we were up against a tough Braywick team who boasted an average squash level of >6k! I was very confident with Stuart Milton at 1, we could take them……However, because he is so old and so brittle he did his knee in and had to pull out of the match. So yours truly had to claim the no.1 spot for himself and lead by example.
Yet again, myself and Arron were on at the same time, so I did not see any of his game. Considering he was playing the son of the former world champion, Ross Norman, Arron had a difficult task ahead. Though he lost 3-0, sources told me it was as close and long of a 3-0 match you could get. So long that it lasted this same as my 3-2 win (of course I won), which was either testament to the quality of rallies they had, or the lack of mine…..1-1!
Jack Turnell was on next against a Berkshire County player and had his work cut out for him. He led with a comfortable first game, but after some questionable advice from Milts, Jack lost the next two games…..However, the courageous captain, Henry Withrington, in all his wisdom advised Jack on how to grind his way to a 3-2 win.
Next was the Aussie Roo, Evan Henman, who after getting a squash lesson (or a pasting take your choice) from his captain, was not confident in getting a result against a very strong opponent. After a scruffy first game, Evan managed to keep a level head and grind his way to a remarkable 3-1 win to take the team to victory!
Last but not least was our own super sub Harry Carr….Again there seems to be theme in the premier league of great players out of practise playing at no.5, so Harry had a much tougher game than anticipated. After winning the first game, his opponent stepped up his class with some crafty squash to take the next three. But despite the farmer letting the side down, we won 3-2 staying undefeated!
