Archive for March, 2003

This was Stamford’s biggest challenge of the season. Kimbolton, Cambs premiership team who finished 4th in the table arrived with a full strength team. Stamford knew the pressure was on and tonight would be a taster for what we can expect next season, now that we have secured promotion to the Cambs premier div ourselves of what the best of the premiership could offer.

First on was Simon Barker playing Pramjet Deol. Pramjet started well and from the off found his touch taking the pace off the ball well and playing some lovely touch squash. This forced Simon into a serious running game needing to cover the front of the court. Struggling to relax Simon made too many errors losing the first 9-4. The second saw an improvement but Simon still not able to get forward enough to have any time on the ball forcing either an error playing the drop or a loose shot to the back where Pramjet was waiting. 9-6 to Pramjet. The third saw a fight back from Simon as he finally got that yard forward and started to cover Pramjets short shots. Better drops from Simon and good recovery shots took him to 8-8. Disappointingly though. he was unable to capitalise and lost the third 10-8.

Next on was Jon Oakley against Matt Towers. This was the best game of the night as both players produced some outstanding squash. Matt starting better, worked the ball well causing a few mistakes from Jon as he lost the first 9-4. More relaxed in the second Jon started playing some fantastic squash. His movement around court was very quick as he picked everything up and hit a lovely length and width. Too tight for Matt the next two went to Jon 9-7 and 9-5. The fourth saw Matt get back in control as he edged it all the way himself playing some great shots. 2-2 in the tie now. As they started the fifth, Jon, showing great determination and concentration had a flying start storming to a 6-0 lead before Matt got a grip and began fighting back. As he picked the points up the tension rose, but Jon kept his head and took control again to take it 9-6. A great result for Stamford and Jon. Well played.

Next on was Adrian Hargreaves playing Gary Milner. Gary, obviously fired up for this, dominated the T and massacred everything Adrian hit. Gary playing some excellent squash, taking the ball very early, hitting very hard and to a good width kept Adrian at the back of the court under serious pressure. Gary, too strong in the first took it 9-0. the second started the same as Gary stormed away to a 5-0 lead. Adrian finally grabbed a point and suddenly found himself back in the game as Gary dropped his game hitting a number of tins and then it was 5-5. Adrian now, forcing himself to take the ball early, was battling well but Gary cut the errors out and started applying the pressure again forcing mistakes from Adrian. The second finally going to Gary 9-7. The third saw Adrian again having to work hard for everything but Gary, still faster to the ball, kept Adrian on the back foot and had a comfortable 9-0 to take the tie 3-0.

Mark Smith next playing Steve Davis (much more interesting than the other). From the first point it was apparent that Mark was going to have to win each point 3 or 4 times as Steve’s speed and outstanding court movement got him to everything that Mark hit with seemingly half an hour to spare. Excellent rallying saw a very entertaining tie. Both players running hard but Mark was always under intense pressure as Steve picked up anything that didn’t roll out of the nick. The first went to Steve 9-3, the second 9-0 and valiant attempt by Mark in the third to stop the rot failed as Steve wrapped it up 9-6.

Last on was Yorkie playing Steve Barlow. Steve having an awesome touch and a vast array of shots was to prove a handful for Yorkie. The first started evenly but then Steve started throwing a working boast in from the back of the court and with Yorkie forced to do a few shuttles the omens weren’t good. A hard first saw Steve have the edge to take it 9-5. The second, was dominated by Steve as he pushed Yorkie around the court, playing some lovely touch shots. Yorkie fought hard putting winners away when the opportunity arose but Steve was controlling the T and secured the second 9-3. A better third from Yorkie as it went evenly up to halfway before a couple of errors under pressure gave Steve the edge and he went through to finish it 9-6.

So a convincing win for Kimbolton but credit to the Stamford lads as they fought for everything making it a very entertaining evenings squash. My thanks go to all who came and supported us.

With the season now over, to recap: Stamford are division two winners promoted to the premier league and Cambs cup semi-finalists. An excellent first year in Cambridgeshire. As this is the last match and report of the season I would also, as team captain, like to thank the team that has supported me this year. Whether they played one, or all 17 matches their support has made my job enjoyable. I would also like to thank our sponsors for the year: Stamford Green Man (Tony Shilling and his staff, excellent food, service, beer – a top boozer!!) AWARE promotions for the team shirts and Movenpick ice cream – probably the best ice cream in the world! Cheers.

Comfortable win.

Yorkie beat Paul Burnett 3-0
Smithy beat Roy Pickerill 3-1
Jon O beat Jon Palin 3-1
Adrian H beat Bill McTaggart 3-0
Simon B beat Martin Cadel 3-0

…the next match is the cup semi-final.

Recent results had not been good for Stamford and tonight’s match saw another new face in the team, Adrian Hargreaves. Yorkie was back post injury but Richard B was still sidelined with a pulled calf. Tonight’s team order is Yorkie at 1, Jon Oakley 2, Adrian Hargreaves 3, Si Barker (captain) 4 and Si Richardson at 5.

Si Richardson was up first against Stewart McTavish. Simon, fresh from a weekends skiing, commented “I always play crap, straight from skiing so I got a game in yesterday and got the crap game out of my system” He then went on court and preceded to play crap! Seriously though Simon was up against a very strong player and as determined as Simon was to rally the ball up and down the wall Stewart picked the ball off putting it away consistently. Simon ran for everything but couldn’t contain Stewart who had a comfortable win 9-0, 9-4, 9-2.

Captain on next who was determined to seek revenge on his opponent Jaques Van Oorschot for the 3-1 defeat during the first half of the season. Jaques though had other ideas and Simon, making way too many errors, made the task easier for him. The first went to Jaques 9-3 by simply taking the ball early and keeping Simon under pressure. Simon played better in the second but with still too many errors inexplicably lost it 9-1. The third saw a valiant fight back from Simon as he finally managed to force some errors from Jaques, but couldn’t do enough to steal it as Jaques took the third 9-7. Stamford now 2-0 down and in trouble again.

Next on was Adrian playing Jaco Vermaak. Adrian had an excellent start with Jaco making unforced errors to allow Adrian an easy 9-3 in the first. The second saw Jaco tighten up, find a better length and take control of the rallies. Adrian’s turn to make the errors as Jaco took it 9-7. The third was an excellent display of quality squash as both players hit accurate shots around the court. Adrian though always just had the edge and took the third 9-2. The fourth was an almost exact copy of the third as Adrian sealed it 9-2 and the tie 3-1. Was the comeback on?

Jon Oakley on now, against Hussein Said, (who made Yorkie work very hard in the first half of the season). Hussein started slowly giving Jon time to settle in. Jon, looking sharp around the court was quick to pick up everything and caught Hussein with the short ball. 9-3 to Jon in the first. Hussein stepped up in the second and Jon, looking a little too casual made the errors to give Hussein the second 9-6. The third began with a much more focused Jon playing excellent length and width, retrieving superbly and even when under pressure finding a great shot to get out of trouble. Hussein had no answer to this as he buckled to a 9-0 defeat. The fourth followed on with Jon totally dominating for a convincing 9-1 win to take the tie 3-1 and square the match 2-2.

Finally Yorkie was on playing Ben Bradshaw. Pressure was on Yorkie as the match relied on his result. The first saw Yorkie a little cautious (technical jargon for moving round court like a slug on a go slow) which we put down to him protecting his recently injured calf. This allowed Ben an easy ride in the first to take it 9-6. The second, Yorkie came out on a mission and suddenly found that extra half a yard and massacred just about everything into a selection of nicks. Ben found himself moving up to two paces forward of the T just to give himself a chance of picking the ball up before it bounced for the fourth time. 9-1 to Yorkie. A nail biting third then commenced as Yorkie threw in a few tins as well as the nicks and with Bens confidence lifted his retrieving was awesome. Yorkie stuck to his game though and snuck the third 9-7. The fourth was a real battle and with Yorkie’s little legs starting to fade the tension spectating was high. It was very even up to 7-7 then Yorkie clinched a point to give him match ball – but couldn’t finish it. With Yorkie’s tank about empty he didn’t need a fifth and finally on his third match ball a winning kill secured it for him 3-1 and the match 3-2.

Well played the top three and Stamford back winning. That result secured promotion to Cambs div 1 next year. Brampton at home next week and then the following week the cup semis at home. Come on the big boys!

Still recoiling from last weeks defeat and with an injury list worse than Casualty at PDH on a Friday night the Stamford lads were cautious about any predictions for this match. With both Yorkie and Richard now injured and unable to play, a first appearance for Paul Swift and the return of Simon Richardson (now almost a regular) was the order of the day. The team order for tonight was Mark 1, Jon 2, Simon B 3, Simon R 4, and Paul 5.

First on was Simon R playing Robin Attlesey. This proved an entertaining match with Simon playing some tight accurate squash, matched equally by Robin. The first game was tight with Robin just nicking it 10-8. Simon came back strongly in the second for a comfortable 9-3 win. Good squash in the third from Simon as he again dominated the game keeping Robin under pressure to take it 9-6. Fortunes changed in the fourth though as Robin fought for everything to take it 9-4 and level the tie 1-1. The fifth saw both players working hard until finally Simon had match ball at 8-7. Unable to clinch it Robin clawed back to 8-8 and continued on to win 10-8 and take the first tie 3-2.

Paul Swift was on the other court against Peter Askew. Paul started well, taking the ball early and controlling the game and did enough to force mistakes from Peter and take the first 9-6. The second saw too many errors from Paul and it was the turn of Peter to take advantage of the “free” points to take it 9-6. The next two games were taken one each to make it 2-2. The fifth saw Paul struggle to keep consistency with Peter now in control and finally taking it 9-3 and the tie 3-2.

So Stamford 2-0 down and in trouble. Jon Oakley on next against Paul Swallow. A very strong start form Jon playing great width and length added to some excellent retrieving saw a convincing win 9-0, 9-2 for the first two games. Jon relaxed in the third and this let Paul back in as he fought hard to take it 9-4. The fourth saw a more determined Jon as battled well and stepped up the pace to take the game 9-8 and the tie 3-1.

Simon B on now against Stephanie Marriot. After Jon Oakley’s fawning display, that destroyed the pride of men folk when he played her during the first half of the season and barely scrapped a win 10-9 in the fifth, Barker was determined to set the record straight. Simon took about tackling a somewhat unorthodox style of movement from Steph with vigour and after two close games Simon was 2-0 winning them 9-7 and 9-6. It was Simon’s turn to relax now and suddenly Steph was back in the match. Simon was now getting more and more frustrated trying to cope with Steph’s style he had to resort to the occasional “dropped shoulder” as he made the effort to get around Steph. Steph took the third 9-4 and the fourth 9-7. 2-2 and game on. The fifth though proved an anti-climax as Simon took control and stepped the pace up for a comfortable 9-1 win.

With the match squared at 2-2 now the pressure was on Mark playing Robert Murfitt. A quick first game with Mark either playing winners or tinners as he lost it 9-7. Much the same in the second but without the winners as Mark continually found the top inch of the tin to go down 9-3. A pep talk from the captain and top tips such as “don’t hit the tin” obviously worked as Mark came back in the third to take it comfortably 9-1. Was this the comeback? Sadly no, as the fourth saw Mark again finding the tin, letting Robert back in to take it 9-4 and the match 3-2.

So another loss for the Stamford boys. If only I had a football boot to kick around! Another tough one next week, Portugal Place.

Michael won the first two games of this semi-final against the No.1 seed El-Halaby from Priceton, 6-9, 7-9. However his best opportunity came when he served in the fourth game at 7-all. However, El-Halaby ran out that game when he hit a good ball that clung too tightly to the right wall to be returned by Michael. The Egypt-born Princeton freshman then won the fifth game 9-1 to take the match 3-2.