Victory Snatched at the Death

Waverley 4 11-8 Galashiels

 

Graham Bensted 3-2 Gordon Scott

A tale of two halves in this game. Gordon Scott motored away in the first game, Scott would reel off 3-4 points at a time and Bensted would nick the odd point here and there when Scott hit the tin or put the ball out, this was 15-6 to Scott. In the second game again Scott would reel off several points 7-2, 10-4 and finally 15-9, at 2-0 up this looked very one-sided and was making for a quick match. The game had been long hard shots, both players trying power to win the rallies and had been a war of attrition which Scott was winning. In the third, Scott seemed to sit back a bit, and almost took it for granted too much and bested went for everything and refused to give up, although they were still playing shots to the back wall, now they were slightly looser and with the ball now quite hot it w\s bouncing more and this was extending the rallies; this seemed to suit Bensted and he went from 9-8 to 15-8 for the game.

Both players starting to vary the play now, Bensted was noticeably more confident and Scott seemed to slow slightly and probably rued taking his eye off the ball in the third, With a deft serve to the corner Bensted sneaked it 16-14 and 2-2. The momentum was with Bensted, and Scott now struggled to string off points and the deciding game opened with a series of winning serves as Bensted shot off to 6-0 and 11-3. Scott’s head was down and Bensted completed his comeback 15-8 for his first victory in the Leagues.

 

Del Sharratt 0-3 Dave Ferguson

In what is now a bit of a friendly rivalry, Sharratt and Ferguson took to the court, the Banter was flying as they both tried to out psyche each other with mind games, but when the match started they were both completely focussed on the task at hand. Ferguson seemed to have the guile from the start and his accurate drop shots to Sharratt’s forehand were all really tight and this was enough to seal several points for a comfortable 15-8. In the next Sharratt seemed to ‘wake up’ as the movement was better and he exploited Ferguson’s weaker point by full length shots to Fergusons backhand corner, but Ferguson persevered with his successful drop shots as although Sharratt made valliant efforts to reach them, they were all tight enough to the wall to be winners. It was a closed game, although Sharratt served for the game at 14-12 and the serve was down and Ferguson capitalised and took it 17-15. The third game again seen a sequence of forehand drops by Ferguson that seemed to make all the difference throughout the match and won 15-8 for the white wash.

 

Adam Niemczewski 0-3 Bob Porch

This was youth against experience as Adam, who was relatively new to competitive squash, bumped into an in form veteran of the game in Bob Porch. The thing with the veterans is although they MAY lose the fitness and speed over the years, the know how and skill never dies. Indeed Porch seemed to know exactly when to play what shot and when to fake shots.

This was too good for Adam who although he covered every inch of court just wasn’t clinical enough to take anything from the match, Porch won 15-10, 15-8, 15-9.

 

Tony Elliot 3-0 Peter Cochrane

Gala top seed, and STILL unbeaten Tony Elliot didn’t disappoint in this rubber, Peter Cochrane tried to throw everything at Elliot, but whenever Cochrane was getting the upperhand Elliot would change his game and take over again, I’d like to say Elliot bossed all the rallies and this was pretty straight forward but the scoreline doesn’t do Cochrane justice, Eliot just didn’t seem to miss anything! 15-5, 16-14, 15-7

 

Pat Spence 2-3 Florient Chevreul

This was match of the night, indeed a contender for match of the season. Seasoned Veteran Spence and young French prodigy Chevreul had the complete opposite styles of squash but this seemed to make for an amazing and tight tussle.

#chevreul, who was rather more erratic with his shots than Spence who placed his shots although was that yard slower. The first game went right to the wire at 14-14, it was a couple of clever serves that took it for Chevreul 16-14. The second game was going along similar to the first, Chevreul would run about endlessly but he didn’t know where his shots would end up so Spence had no chance! Then at 9-8 to Waverley, Spence appeared to run out of steam and the youngster ran off 15-9.

Spence knew he had the better, tighter hots and he too a couple of minutes to compose himself as he really didn’t fancy a 3-0 loss. Spence seemed to be a different player as he came out with guns blazing in the third and used his sqush brain to tire the French man out and switch his shots from front to back and he took it 15-11 to ensure Gala got at least 1 point from this game.

The match was now heating up, the other players were keen spectators as this rubber decided the match. Chevreul took command in the fourth, keeping one or two points ahead of Spence throughout, but his erratic shots meant he came unstuck and although Floriant served for the match at 15-14, a well controlled lob for Spence gave him the edge and he took it 17-15.

Now 2-2 in this game and 2-2 in rubbers, the pressure was on for both players. Spence appeared the more relaxed and Floriant more tense and the match was still intense as it went 10-10 and 14-14, it was Chevreul who held out in the end for 17-15 and took the match for Waverley.

 

Gala Captain Sharratt said afterwards “What a close exciting match, we always seem to have classic encounters against Waverley and this one could have went either way. Again Gala lose valiantly But we just need the rub of the green in these matches and we wll secure a victory.”