25/05/2005
Shelley's match was superb.I knew she had a real chance as the meeting during the earlier part of the season was close even though she lost 3-0. A good start in the first, a gutsy win and into the second game. This was very one sided and Shelley looked invincible. Jenny had to do something in the third and stepped up the pace, took an 8-4 lead only to see that eroded point by point. The result, a first match win which seemed to define the evening.
Mark played some of the best squash of the season and could so easily have won. Nick said afterwards that he didn't play too well and was probably relieved to have won. I felt that this should have been Mark's match and on another day would have been but at 68 minutes shows neither man is wanting on fitness. So one each.
Alex and Scott went on court at roughly the same time. Of all the games this evening Alex almost certainly had the hardest as a determined and in form James Willstrop is quite something. So it turned out for winners just flowed off James' racket to give the champions a 2-1 lead. At this point I had to go for yet another walk aroung the Nottingham club just to calm down a bit. Although not altogether an unexpected score line we could have been 2-1 up and that would have made things somewhat easier.
Scott meanwhile was having a memorable battle with Marcus. Both players felt aggrieved at different points in the match with the officials but overall this probably balanced out in neither players favour. To say that this was my view when Marcus was awarded a let at match ball to Scott would not be entirely true but after losing that fourth game it is a credit to Scott's powers of concentration that he came back to win 9-5 in the fifth.
Anthony was just awesome. Lee was not on top form but equally he was not allowed to be as Anthony seemed to cover the court in one bound and hammer the ball all over the place.
Although starting over half an hour later than Scott these two matches finished at almost the same minute. It was one of those occasions where you wanted to be in two places at once but even on the balcony at Nottingham you couldn't see both at the same time. With Anthony so dominant I just about saw the last two points of Scott's game over the shoulder of a charming lady Manchester supporter to whom I should appologise if I deafened her after Scott's winning shot.
So both men came off court at the same time having secured a magnificent victory.
Obviously I think it was a great night but it takes two teams to achieve this and the Manchester/Pontefract side came so close to a successive league title and made the night the success for squash in general that it was.
A few final comments. It has been a superb season with every squad member playing an important part, not only the 5 who took part in the final. We had some wonderful wins against the odds which got us to this point and I am very proud to have been associated with a great group of players who truly played for each other and for the team as a whole. The club appreciates this which is why so many took time off from work to make the journey to Nottingham on a Tuesday in May. It has been great entertainment throughout the season and for me very enjoyable, if a bit stressful at times.
Good night to everyone, have a good summer and see you in October.
WHAT A NIGHT,WHAT A SEASON
Wolverhampton manager Stephen Russell is more than "very pleased" ...
We went into this final as the underdogs though with the belief that we certainly could win. It would need some inspired performances, a real team effort but it was possible. In the event we had all of that and more with every member of the team playing their heart out. The individual details of the matches are better recorded elsewhere so tonight, at about 2 am, I will restrict myself to a few thoughts as the evening progressed.
Contributor: Stephen Russell
Club: Wolverhampton
Link: http://www.wltsc.com
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