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[ Surrey wk 5 ] [ Surrey Tables ] [ Surrey wk 2 ] [ Surrey Nov 06 ] |
 SURREY CUP
NEW ON
THE SQUASH SITE ...
OK, the Surrey Cup is not as
prestigious as the National League, but
believe me, the faithful followers like me enjoy great matches, great fun,
and great players.
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17th Nov: LAKESIDE …
THE 'OTHER' WIMBLEDON
It was not the first time I went to the Wimbledon Lakeside Club,
but it was the first time to cover the Surrey Cup, as they were tonight
receiving Esporta.
And what a beautiful club it is…. Drowned in green, situated exactly in
front of the All England Club, an ideal situation really. The Bar
is vast, airy, the place cosy and warm, the staff professional and
friendly, and the food was delicious and very well presented (yes, some of
the players didn’t stay for the meal, so I was lucky enough to get
invited).
In other words, a really lovely place this is. |
But today, we had two upsets really, as
number 1 and 2 from Esporta, Adrian Grant and Del Harris
lost their matches…. The vast Lakeside audience that came to support their
team was rightly overjoyed, even if the outcome was still 3/2 for the
Mighty Esporta…
VAIL EXHAUSTS HARRIS
“This was the longest game of squash I ever played, and it’s the longest
game I ever intend to play again as long as I live…” said an out of breath
Tim Vail, Lakeside number two, at the end of his first game against
Del Harris.
Yes, it was a looooong first game, 29 minutes, and 10/9. And what a game….
So close to start with, 2/2, 3/3, 5/5. Long rallies, by the book, length,
drop shots, lobs, tight game, intense game… Then Del seemed to take a real
advantage, getting “quickly” to 8/5. But despite 6 game balls, he was not
able to hold his early game dominance. Yes, too many tins, too many
mistakes from the tall Englishman, gave Tim Vail the opportunity to claw
back, serve by serve, to 8/8, then to 10/9.
The second was still very close, 4/4 after a good start from Vail and a
catching up from his opponent. We stayed a few serves at 6/5 for Tim, who
eventually grasped the game 9/5 in 11 minutes. The last one will be a
formality, 9/0 in 5 minutes.
But boy, did we have a good match….
MEADS: “I FELL ASLEEP…
… in the second!”
 It’s
with these words that Steve Meads explained his loss of the second
game…
Well, after being down 4/8 to eventually take the first game 10/8,
“Grinding Machine” Steve Meads allowed his opponent Smiling Steve
Richardson to come back from 4/8 to 10/8 in the second…
“Have a taste of your own medicine”, the Irish seemed to say to the
English…
The atmosphere of the game was very intense squash-wise, but extremely
relaxed friendly-wise. To the point that, after an extremely disputed
rally in the middle of the second, as the two players were happily
chatting away between serves, I wrote in my book: “Come on, guys, you’re
not here to have a good time….”!
I love squash….
 Anyway,
Richardson gave it all, ran everywhere, followed the ball to the four
corners, up and down the court, but Meads, frowning his eyebrows like he
does when he gets into a game, got the control of the last two games,
directing the rallies, controlling the pace, and dropping the ball as if
the temperature on court was minus 12!
And after 50 minutes of very entertaining squash indeed, Esporta was now
2/2, as their number 4, Stewart Cowie, had overcome Alex Couch,
in a close 3 setter; 9/4, 10/8, 10/9 |
WEEK FIVE RESULTS:
W'don L'Side
2-3 Esporta
Colets
5-0 Surbiton
Christophers 0-5 St Georges
Limpsfield 5-0
Wimbledon 2 |
NEW FATHER
OVERCOMES GRANT
 New
baby, new strength? Well, in Esporta BSPA a few months ago, after having
played a marathon in the morning against Steve Meads, I saw Stacey Ross
taking a game from Adrian Grant. So I knew that the match would be
close…
And having a caesarean to have his baby boy Charley didn’t seem to
have any effect on his form…. Men are just incredible, aren’t they???
Joke apart, Stacey was in a devastating form, and gave away only 9 points
in the match. I missed the first game and an half, as I was watching the
soap going on the next court between the two number twos, and arrived as
Ross was leading one game to love, 8/2 game ball. It took him 8 lets and
10 minutes to make the last point, both players complaining that the other
didn’t leave a direct way to the ball.
It was fun….
In the last game, Grant was controlling the rallies, imposing his game,
playing good length, putting his opponent under real pressure… and would
end up in the tin too many times, giving the match away in 14 minutes,
9/1, after being led 0/8.
Stacey played a steady, strong game, not letting himself being impressed
either by the high world ranking of his opponent (Adrian is 13), nor by
the precision of his length and width, and just returned everything that
was thrown at him, counterattacking beautifully…
Stacey, you should have babies more often….
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LAKESIDE:
ONE MAN SHORT…
It happens sometimes, you know, when a club player has got to fill the 5th
spot, and gets to play a professional player. Well, tonight, William
Exelby had the privilege to play against James Robbins.
The match was short and sweet (15 minutes), and the crowd was very
supportive of a player who was all heart, even if his legs wouldn’t carry
him where he wanted them to go….
So, as far as the overall result is concerned, if Lakeside had a stronger
number 5, I think they could have created a real upset tonight….
Oh well, return match then…. |
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