Before our opening match Mike Hall noticed I was the only member of the Grange team without white hair. Little did he know that was about to change in the next hour. The EUS lads pitched up on time looking typically student like - young, thin, bored, energy in abundance and unscarred by life. Unfortunately for Grange they also knew how to play squash very well indeed. How annoying!
First up Andy Whitelaw at 5th string vs. Ben Duquemin. Young Ben immediately went on the offensive and Andy went into retrieving mode and the serve went back and forth in a hotly contested first 15 minutes. Ben took the lead only for Andy to come back at him with a late run of 5 points but eventually the first game finished 9-5 in Ben’s favour. Ben took the second easily but Andy regrouped and put up a good fight in the third putting Ben under some pressure and made him scamper for some of Andy’s craftier shots, but eventually youth triumphed over experience and Ben took the third. 3-0 in games. If Andy were 100% fit I reckon this would’ve been evenly contested. Let’s wait for the second half of the season.
At 4th string Mike Gore vs. Tom Metcalf. I only saw the guys warming up here as I was marking the other game but I did notice Tom looked like he could swing a racket handily so feared the worst for Mike. A completely founded concern as it turned out as Tom closed out Mike 3-0. So the Grange 2 matches down overall.
3rd string was myself vs. Nigel Anthony. Yes he is as posh as his name suggests but he can smack a ball. Opponent’s excellent court coverage and killing shots make Allan an unhappy and sweaty boy. On this occasion I was outclassed and definitely outgunned. By Nigel’s own admission he should be trying to get further up in the team but I think he was just trying to make me feel better. 3-0 loss.
Alan Stokes at 2nd string against Zahan Dastur. I didn’t see most of this match but I did overhear a fair bit. Grizzled veteran Stokes drew first blood and was leading 5-1 before Zahan regained his composure (or had he just finished his warm up?) and fought it back to even and eventually closed it out 9-6 against Alan. The second match was all Zahan 9-2 but it has to be said Stokesy rallied in the third and gave it his all, fighting like a tomcat and talking smack and really unsettled his opponent but after digging his heels in as much as he could Zahan and youth finally triumphed over craft and experience 9-3 in the third. Overall a 3-0 loss and 4 matches down.
Our ace in the hole Mike Hall had his work cut out for him against Nick Roberts but after Mike completed bossed the opening of the match and took the first game, all was on track for Grange to retain a scrap of dignity and best them at 1st string. Mike looked unruffled and composed against a mis-firing Nick and the second game was just as evenly contested but Nick took this one 9-7 and continued to tighten up and provide Mike with less opportunity eventually winning 3-1.
Obligatory pizzas and beers for everyone in the bar afterwards while the oldies sat at one end of the table and licked their wounds while the young ones occupied the other – the match a distant memory to them. An 18-3 overall defeat in points could perhaps be seen as a rocky start to the season but maybe it’s a wake up call we need. It definitely set my expectations!!
Overall looks like 3-20 loss. Match report Allan Wallace.
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