Melbourn lost 17-9

The final match of the league season sent the Seconds to Hemingford Grey to play the side a place behind them in the Division 3 table, Hunts County 3rds.

The match would decide third place in the final table – the Seconds final chance of finishing runners-up and being promoted to Division 2 expiring when Cambridge 3rds had won their game earlier in the week. Hunts, meanwhile, were assured of at least fourth going into the final round of games, and were just about within striking distance of overtaking us to claim third… but they need to win by 13 points to do that. This meant the Seconds target from the evening was 8 points, as that (due to the maximum of 20 from a fixture) would be enough for an all-time best finishing place.

The first match on pitted Sean Hamilton (5) against Billy Bremner. Sean appeared on his way to a comfortable opening game when he built an 11-4 lead, only for a loss of focus to prove just how little there was between the players. Despite Sean digging in after losing 8 consecutive points to force the game to a break, he somehow found himself a game down. Focusing on what had worked (pushing Billy back) saw Sean win the next two, but now he was in a battle. And Billy is a wily customer. This was most notable by the Hunts player employing an unusual body serve that repeatedly cramped Sean up. Whatever Sean tried, such as adjusting his position to be literally in Billy’s half of the court, he couldn’t make the space to play as he would rush back to where left comfortably close to the wall before Billy had actually served. Worst of both worlds. This particular play probably only generate four or five points for Billy but that was enough to the Hunts player to take the fourth narrowly, and then amid tense scenes (including one unlikely off-boast return winner from Sean from another handcuffing serve!) the same in the last. Sean exited the court hugely frustrated with himself at somehow losing 16-18, 15-9, 15-10, 13-15, 13-15. This, however, did provide two of the eight points Melbourn were after.

Next door on the glass back Jamie Ware (4) was taking on Sam Hewson. Jamie started ice cold and looking nervous, losing the opening game heavily, but found his way into things in the second. This also went against him, but not in the same one-sided manner, which meant he was in the game. The third saw Jamie finally begin to produce the Squash we know he is capable of, getting himself back into the contest, but ultimately being two games down was untenable against a younger player and Jamie was beaten 3-15, 12-15, 15-12, 8-15. But that third game, dredged out against the odds after how the opener had gone, took us up to three from the evening.

Following on from Jamie’s match Matt Walker (3) took on Marcus Lattimer. The first game saw Matt mostly dictating the play, getting ahead but then wobbling slightly as the line approached. However his lead was enough to see him one up. But the seeds of the second were planted in the first as this one started closer and once again Matt was on the edgy side as the conclusion approached. That was enough for Marcus to take advantage and level. Game three saw Matt steel himself to play the drop volleys that are the cornerstone of his game. Marcus was quick around the court, but not quick enough for these, and with that Matt was 2-1 up. Was this our first win of the evening? No, because the fourth was tighter and once it got close Matt got risk averse again. He hoped Marcus would miss to see him home, but Marcus didn’t. It went to a tie-break, but when this went against Matt the writing was on the wall – he eventually lost 15-12, 13-15, 15-6, 14-16, 10-15. Another one that had got away from a Melbourn player (on another night, on another night…), but also two more points to the total – we were up to five now.

That meant skipper Colm O’Gorman (2) could deliver the decisive points if he was to see off Rick Watson. Colm did it. And how. The key shot in this match was Colm’s backhand volley drop, which was absolutely on fire – the balcony agreed at the conclusion that he made around 10 and missed only one. And these were not played with margin for error either but millimetres above the tin and straight into the nick. Rick is a quick player around the court, but these were far too good for him. As was Colm’s general play, when he constructed the rallies to his game-plan – drive Rick back and then step in to kill. Apart from a brief spell going off-message in game two when well up (14-6) this was one-way traffic… and even that one ended with Colm finally get a chance to play one of his killer drops-shots to see off the game 15-13 and generally break Rick’s spirit. Colm won 15-8, 15-13, 15-10, which took Melbourn up to 8 points on the evening and limited Hunts to 17 max – third place was ours.

Everything was settled before the 1st strings, Jan Brynjolffssen and Sean Brodderick, took to the court – Hunts had the win on the night, Melbourn had third in the table. So it was just about the head-to-head. Both Jan and Sean have been around the Cambs Squash scene for a while, but somehow they had never played before. So the start of game 1 was a case of feeling each other out… and for Jan looking for some kind of feel on his serve. Sean had his measure, especially in the latter part of the game, winning it comfortably and the second even more straightforwardly as Jan fought hard but was always a step behind in the rallies. Game three saw Jan take a “throw the kitchen sink” approach, setting up the court, going for his shots and generally looking to cut things out as much as possible. This worked exceptional well, pulling a game back… but also served as a template for Sean to do the same in reverse as he waltzed away with game four to complete a 3-1 win. The game scores (Jan first) were 11-15, 7-15, 15-7, 3-15.

And that meant the evening ended up 17-9 in Hunts favour. Which, when added to the league table, left the Seconds third out of ten in the Division 3 table, with 246 points having won 12 of our 18 games. All of these are team records. It was a good season…