Thursday 11 March 2010

Grange 4 at Haddington – Wednesday 10th March 2010

After several changes of personnel the 5 squash warriors selected to do battle at Tyne assembled at the Grange to make the journey down to Haddington with high expectations that a win would confirm the glorious fourths as fifth division champions.


On arrival it seemed that news of the forthcoming epic squash fixture had reached the whole town as the surrounding area was teeming with people. Unfortunately it was not us that were the star attraction and it would appear that something with much more appeal was going on at the local sports centre.
First on court was Gordon Sloan at No 2 playing Stevie Young and Richard Nisbet at No 4 playing Doug Turnbull. As I was marking Richard’s game I didn’t see much of Gordon’s match. Due to the close proximity of the courts I could hear the marker of the other match and the resounding thud of the match ball on the front wall as both matches progressed at a remarkable similar pace. There appeared to be a lack of the dropshot or boast in both matches with both players preferring to drive and volley their opponents into submission. The Grange men winning the first sets, this continued into the second and third sets with both players imposing their style of play on their opponents. In the end triumph was ours and a perfect start as both players closed out their matches 3-0. Gordon’s score was 9-4, 9-3, 9-4 and Richard’s score was 9-5, 9-2, 9-1.


Next up was Neil Love at No5 playing Tommy Thomson and Mark Dutton at No 3 playing Chris Dixon. I surprised my opponent from the offset with a few well chosen attacking boasts from the back of the court and was soon 7-2 up when a string broke on my racquet of choice. Nevertheless I managed to close out the set 9-2 with a broken string. The second set started and I soon found that my back up racquet wasn’t quite as good at the boast and I had to revert to driving and crosscourt and closed out the second set 9-4. Tommy rallied in the third set and I found myself down 6-3 but I managed to claw my way back into set and closed out the third 9-6 for another victory for the Grange men.


Meanwhile a closer match was unfolding on the other court as Mark with some typical unorthodox serves and fully committed retrieval shots had nudged ahead taking the first two sets 9-7, 9-7. Chris managed to find his range and took the third 9-4. The younger man was looking the stronger in the fourth and after some resolute defence from our man Chris prevailed and closed out the set 9-6. Into the fifth and the excitement was mounting the players were giving it their all and Mark nudge ahead 4-2, Chris was determined not to beat and was chasing down all Mark could throw at him, just as it seemed that Chris would go on a take the fifth a bit of eagerness crept into his play and he was now finding the tin when in promising positions to close the match out. Mark kept his composure and nudged 7-6 in front. We were still not sure who would come through victorious when from nowhere Mark served out for the win with two weak returns from Chris. 3-2 to the Grange Man 9-7, 9-7, 4-9, 6-9, 9-6.
The last match of the evening was Allan Stokes at No1 playing Raymond Jefferies. As everybody available has disappeared to take a shower this match started without a marker. Sportingly both players agreed to get the match underway and Raymond was 7-1 before a marker appeared from the bowels of the changing rooms. Raymond duly closed out the first set 9-4. The second set was a much closer affair with both players giving no quarter with decisions abound and some good natured banter. Allan came through to level the match winning 9-6.


Off came the sweat top at the start of the third set and we were treated to a veritable feast of shotmaking with drops, lobs, drives and crosscourts a plenty. A close third set was taken by Allan 9-7. Off came the tracksuit bottoms in the fourth and Raymond’s resistance crumbled with Allan closing out the fourth to Love. 3-1 to the Grange 4-9, 9-6, 9-7, 9-0 to complete a veritable rout. The 20-5 result confirmed the Glorious Fourths as Open League Division 5 Champions with two matches to play.


After the match the teams went back to the Bistro and were treated to platters of sandwiches followed by sausage rolls and beans. A fitting feast for the newly crowned champions. Talk turned to the activities planned for later in the year with Gordon taking on the Caledonian Challenge in June 2010 and Richard training to compete in the Etape Caledonia in May 2010. We made our excuses and made our way back to Edinburgh fully satisfied with a job well done.


Report: Neil Love (this man has missed a career in Journalism, I hereby award ROTS Report Of The Season for this account)

3 comments:

GrangeSquashClub said...

OK....having previously been advised by our club captain that I was holder of the "blog of the year" title, I now formally get down on my knee and present the sword and hey-you-jimmy hat of office to Neil Love.....

Mark Dutton said...

Comment of 12 March 02:20PST was from Mark Dutton (could'nae work out how to identify myself...)

Loob said...

We knew all along it was you, Mark... Email from Ali G anticipated this very comment:

Mark will be miffed! He prides himself on lively reports and is out of action next week so won’t be able to regain title!

Your award by Captain of BoTY is much more prestigious than the RoTS award from a has-been like me, akin to getting an Oscar compared to a BAFTA ;-)
Plus you have been consistent all season so you've won the blue-riband premier league of blogging whereas Mr Love has turned in one good performance in the equivalent of a cup final.