Craigshill Xcite 18-2 Border Reivers
Darren Quinn 0-3 Robin Nisbet
Darren Quinn answered the SOS from Captain Sharratt as the Reivers were one player short. This was Quinn’s first game for the team this season and came up against an experienced campaigner in Nisbet. Nisbet has played league squash for over 15 years and had the measure of the younger Reivers man. Quinn never gave up and couldn’t be faulted for effort but Experience won through in this one and Robin Nisbet ran off 15-7, 15-3, 15-5.
Del Sharratt 1-3 Craig Baxter
Sharratt got Reivers first point of the night, but also found the going tough. Baxter boasted a p3 w3 record against the Borderers. Sharratt just couldn’t find consistent length in his shots; whenever Del got the ball passed Craig he would win the rally but more often than not the ball stopped short and Craig Baxter would be all over it. Baxter seemed to be nursing a thigh strain but despite Sharratt trying to send him round the court the loose balls made it relatively easy for the Xcite man to return. This went in Baxters favour 15-4, 15-5, 13-15, 15-9.
Pat Spence 0-3 John Taylor
This was a repeat of last seasons top seed fixture – thet time Spence won out 3-2. But it’s amazing how effective Home Advantage can be at Squash as John Taylor seemed to have the better of the match this time. Taylor has a very unorthodox style; and this distracted Spence enough as Spence would try to Second Guess Taylor but it wasn’t the way to win and a few key misses from the Borders Stalwart meant this time the tie went Xcites way 15-8, 15-11, 15-13.
Amir Hosny 1-3 Phil Brown
Brown was another who, like Nisbet has been around the East Leagues for many years. Although Hosny is fairly new to the League he was extremely fast and skilful. This was a titanic tussle as some rallies were 20-30 shots and both players excelled in retrieving the ball no matter where it was placed. A niggle in the groin hampered Amir a bit – indeed enough to slow his movement and this meant Brown took the match in a close fought 17-15, 15-6, 11-15, 15-13.
Tony Elliot 0-3 Albeer Mahmood
Tony’s reputation in the league preceded him – as Mehmood was drafted in by Xcite for this particular match. Mehmood though was a standard above the rest of the players, and even the usually victorious Tony Elliot couldn’t live with him. Mehmood has qualified for the National Championships next year and is expected to get far! Although Tony played the squash of his life, Albeer took it 15-7, 16-14, 15-5.
Sharratt said “This is our biggest defeat to date, I’m a bit miffed that Mehmood was brought in just to play against us, this means the rest of the team move down a seeding. But if we want to mprove then players like that are who we strive to be like and it showa the level we Can get to if we are dedicated enough.
That’s the mid-way point of the season and although we are 6th of 13, I fancy a few wins in January and hopefully we can climb the table.”