Melbourn won 10-5

Another week, another match for the 1sts – this one a home clash against travellers from afar, Berkhamsted 1sts.

In an unusual move, the match started in the middle with second strings Mike Herd and Richard Carr the first to take to the court. Well, Mike was there in body in the first game, but his Squash seemed not to have joined him as he seemed all at sea – drop shots that were nearer the service line than the tin were a symptom of a general malaise. Was this rope-a-dope? Probably not, but it worked as that as Richard’s level dropped off in the second, allowing Mike to find his feet to level up on a tie-break – Richard was publicly regretting a soft error whilst game ball up after the match concluded. The visiting player did dig in to win the third, but Mike was into his stride now, moving well and killing points off when the opportunity presented itself. This allowed him to build a lead and hold it in both the fourth and fifth games to wrap up a 6-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6 success that had seemed very unlikely after the first concluded.

At this point we spilt on two courts, and as your correspondent was playing one of these the next reports will necessarily be a little different on details. Lets start with Jan Brynjolffssen (3) against Jack Gregory. Jan started OK, but the first game was really played on Jack’s terms with the Mellbourn player more reacting. It went the visitors way fairly comfortably. The second was better though, aided by a number of points picked up by Jan that had their share of luck – one reaction to an attempt power cross-court that flubbed up for a winner, but was intended to be just that, one angled half-volley drop that was actually played for and got despite audience reaction… and one utter miss-hit that spun onto the front wall and died nastily. 100% fortune, that one. It also came at 9-8, so very well timed. Getting the break was enough to ease Jan over the line 11-9 – game on. The third was the critical game, as this went to a breaker. Jan had his chance on the first game ball of this, but choked on a backhand dropshot. And that, really, was that for the match – Jack took the gift, saw out the game, and then found his best form from 8-7 in the fourth to win it going away on the attack. Jan lost 6-11, 11-9, 11-13, 7-11.

And what of Chris Shaw (1) against Julian Vecchio? Well, by all accounts, Chris was just too good. Both players went on court professing their rustiness – it was Chris’ debut appearance of the summer and Julian’s first for a number of weeks. It turns out when two players are looking for their game, it’s the stronger one who will out. That meant Chris (8400 on Squashlevels) saw off Julian (5400) as rallies were long… but mostly ended in the Melbourn player’s favour. 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 it finished.

This all added up to a 10-5 win overall for 1sts. Against the top-of-the-league side, no less. Another example of how anyone can beat anyone else in the Summer League – it just really depends on who clubs have available on the evening in question!