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Cambridgeshire Squash League
Premiership/Division 1
Stamford v March
Wednesday 19th October 2011.
Team: Spencer Beresford; Rob Vivian: Alistair Gunn; Simon Barker; Dave Robinson

March, Stomp & Quickstep

Away at March, so we knew we had to have a stronger team than the one we put out for the PDSL on Monday.
Rob Vivian or “The Super Sub” was airdropped in, or so he hoped, after an hour and half car journey from Leicester!
The scene was set.
Robinson hit the court dawdling, having been training the night before down the Green Man, he eventually roused in the third game but by then the horse was in a different country, his opponent Andy Osbourne out-playing as well as out-running him. (0-3)
Barker at number two was an entirely different story, grabbing the first two games like a man possessed. Although with the advantage he was not happy with his play and expecting too high a standard was his downfall. Neville MacNish took the next two in quick succession although Simon had his chances in the third and fourth games. Frustration overcame the “Housewife’s Choice” in the final game, when his opponent caught a couple of nicks. (2-3)
The Gunn took to the court like a man suffering from jet-lag…his legs suffering from DVT and his head at 30,000 feet. He was soon back to his best though taking the second smoothly from the grasp of his younger opponent Avison Warren only to crash out in the fourth. (1-3) Mr Vivian arrived late from his mammoth journey, but just in time to warm-up in readiness to play the young teenager Harry Taylor. The smooth consistent shots from Rob were picked up constantly by the fast and reactive Taylor, leaving Rob frustrated, even though the match was closer than the score belied. (0-3)
When Bez stepped on court the match was already lost. Was this going to quash the enthusiasm and drive of the Stamford No1. No Way. Even when Bez went two games down and was losing in the third he dug deep putting on an amazing display of determination and fitness, even the March number one Matt Fiveash looked stunned, well as stunned as an exhausted, beaten man can look. (3-2) Some gorgeous homemade Shepherds Pie from Harry’s Mum and we were replenished and back on the road homeward bound. Roll on the match against Frank Lee in two weeks time.

Peterborough & District Squash League
Division One
Stamford l v Abbotsley l
Monday 17th October 2011.
Team: Spencer Beresford; Simon Barker; Jon Oakley; Dave Robinson; Simon Morris

Squashed, Stuffed & Simons

All squashed up even before we arrived, the team’s transport for this fixture being a decidedly small car.
As we tumbled out of the miniscule vehicle at the Abbotsley club it took a while for the circulation in our legs to kick in. When it did Mr Morris was the first on court against Tony Barker, the veteran of the Abbotsley team but still fast and accurate. Although Simon actually lost, he was the closest in the team to getting a game from the opponents! (0-3).
Up next was Bez, as his opponent wished to make an early exit the number one entered the arena early. Chris Reeve hit some fast unbelievable volley shots, making Bez seem slightly out of sorts but he still took the game to Chris creating some great entertaining rallies. (0-3). Our third on the night Simon, took to the court against Mark Emery, although, attacking, Barker was kept away from the ball by his talented opponent. The Abbotsley number two giving Simon just three points in the whole match was an indicator of just how strong this team was. (0-3). The number four Robinson, after seeing his comrades be beaten went on court with totally the wrong attitude knowing the match was technically over. His six points in total were hard earned from Matt Nankaville but twenty-one short of a win. (0-3) Oakley, stepped onto the court with the correct attitude regardless of his associates’ losses, nearly managing to take a game off opponent Simon ‘Sparky’ Scott.(0-3)
As we squashed back into the vehicle for the return journey we all felt well and truly stuffed, although the team were still bravely upbeat knowing we had all learnt a lesson that would strengthen the team.

Cambridgeshire Squash League
Premiership/Division 1
Stamford v Hunts County
Wednesday 12th October 2011.
Team: Rob Vivian; Simon Barker; Dave Robinson; Dave Spooner; Simon Morris

Lessons, Long games & Losing

The first home match for Stamford 1 was with a weakened team, due to the noticeable absence of Bez and Alistar, our top two players for the first half of the season.
Up first stepped Morris, who had a hard fought match against Andy Reynolds. In the past Simon has had the upper hand but Andy arrived at Stamford to even things up, with all the games going to the wire with the visitor becoming the victor (1-3). Team captain Spooner made a rare appearance, due to the weakened team, at number four string. Even though carrying an injured, poorly shoulder, the true trooper he is became the hope of the team, leading 2-0 only to be eventually beaten by his worthy opponent Paul Goodwin (2-3). Next up was Robinson, who was taught a squash lesson by Hunts County regular John Mitchley. The consistent retrieving by “Mitch” coupled with Robinson’s lack of fitness made for a short match with the Hunts County number three winning comfortably(0-3).
Barker, also playing up a position, took to the court with the right frame of mind, hunting and chasing the ball down at every opportunity. His opponent Colin Griggs, put his coaching skills to good use moving Simon around into every corner, eventually wearing down “the housewives’ choice” to win in safe margins (0-3). The team was greatly strengthened by the appearance of Rob Vivian at number one. Although Rob starting the match off well being neck and neck at one all, his consistent and quality game was unfortunately still not good enough to overcome the slow, methodical grinding technique of his opponent James Powley that could wear the most patient of men down (1-3).
Next week we are away at March for another challenging fixture, fingers crossed for a win this time!

Court 4 having been completely refurbished with new floor, re-plastered front wall and all walls painted, we now eagerly await the refurbishment of courts 2 and 3.

This is anticipated to be carried out this weekend by Wearwell, and is being financed out of club funds (court 4 being financed by the school).

In this instance, the floors will be sanded, rather than replaced, and the side and back walls painted, the front walls still being in very good condition.

This will give the club (and the schoolboys) four courts in top condition on which to play.

The floors and walls will now ‘play’ properly – ie the ball will be ‘gripped’ by the walls and floors and bounce properly instead of skidding.

Members can help keep the courts in good condition by:

Not wearing shoes which mark the floor (proper ‘court shoes’ should always be worn for safety in any case)

Not entering the courts with shoes which are carrying mud or grit from outside use

(If, on entering the court to play, the floor has been contaminated by previous users who have not observed the above guidance, before playing, SWEEP THE FLOOR using the bristle brush provided (not the blue fluffy one). Playing on the floor while it is covered in grit is dangerous and damages the floor further).

Not using dark protective tape on racket heads which marks the walls

By following the above guidance we’ll keep the courts in good playing condition for many years.

COURT TIMINGS

Following the school’s ruling that club members may not enter the courts during school hours (8.30 – 5.30), we changed the court timings so that all courts commenced at 5.40, to allow for changing time.

Some members have said that having all courts commencing at 5.40 creates jams in the changing rooms.

Has this been a problem for you? If you’d like the club committee to look again at court timings please register your view here.

The match started off as a close affair. Tania started well to take the first game. Linda fought back to take the next two games.

Tania started very well in the fourth to go 3-0 up, when she then crashed into Linda causing her to limp a little. Linda then requested an injury break for a dead leg and had an off-court physio come to help.

Unfortunately for Linda, she had to retire injured after 55 minutes of play.

Tania now has a tough quarter final match, on Saturday, against Carol Owens the World Number 2. All the rest of the matches are now being played at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.