Melbourn lost 20-2

The long trip to Stamford proved a tricky one for the 1sts, especially as we made the trip with a team missing it’s regular #1 and #2.

The meant call-ups from the 2nds for Kate Bradshaw (4) and Jan Brynjolffssen (5), both playing their first Division 1 match for a while. It came as a shock to the system for both. Kate came into her one against Jon Hand feeling she was in good nick after claiming a Masters Series title the previous weekend, but Jon was not in the mood to let Kate settle as he kept all rhythm out of the match – the sign of a good match player. Kate began to force in response, and produced a number of tins. She lost 7-11, 3-11, 3-11.

Jan’s match against Simon Morris was almost as quick. The first game saw the visiting player looking and feeling nervous, and so sitting too deep. This gave Simon too much space to pop the ball into in the front court. The second was better as Jan dragged his position forwards and began to play some rallies from the ‘T’, and also get back more of Simon’s flicky shots. But even so, a lift in performance from the Stamford player from mid-game took him home. The third was a similar story, with a rubbish start from Jan thrown in to gift away the first three points – not clever in PAR-11. He fought back to be level at 6-6, but once again Simon stepped up a gear as Jan lost 4-11, 7-11, 7-11.

Things were closer for Miles Jeanneret (3) against Michael Catling… because the rallies were rather longer. Miles was on the back foot too much though, relying on his movement and retrieving. Which is a strength, but not a strong enough strength to undermine Michael’s patient attacks. All it was doing was tiring Miles out. He looked a bit lost for ideas at the end of the second, but encouragement to step higher up the court worked to build a lead in the third. However, here the tiredness kicked in as Miles ran out of steam to lose 7-11, 4-11, 9-11.

Next to start was Mike Herd (2), who was taking on Neil Steadman. This, finally, was a very close game with some nip-and-tuck points. Neil is a powerful player, but Mike was chasing and stretching well to neutralise that, and then making the most of his own opportunities. He was having particular joy when he pinned Neil into a back corner, and then moved up to counter-punch away the response – Squash is essentially the same at every level, isn’t it?? The match ebbed backwards and forewards, Neil claiming the first on a tie-break and then the second nearly as narrowly. Mike really found his mojo in the third and looked to have the upper hand as Neil tired, but some tight boasts and counter-attacks from the home player got him over the line in the as Mike went down 10-12, 9-11, 11-7, 8-11.

The top string match was also a tight one as Vinod Duraikan (1), a Masters Tour regular, took on Eden Spooner, a teenager. Eden’s ability to fly around the court took him to the opening game, but Vinod was merely warming up at this stage. Calm and rapid movement, allied with careful watching of the ball neutralised the youngsters variations and no-look shots in game two as Vinod edged it in a tie-break. The pattern for the match was now set… but with things so close it could turn on one unlucky bounce or slightly mistimed ball. The next two were also decided by narrowest possible margin, but they both went Eden’s way as Vinod lost 5-11, 12-10, 9-11, 9-11.