Table Toppers Tamed

Border Reivers 16-5 Kirkaldy 2s

 

Iain Laing 3-1 Bob Russell

This was the opening rubber of the match and Iain Laing seemed to take a while to get going. In the first game Iain made several unforced errors that were uncharacteristic of his usual precise play and found it hard to read Bobs game, a lot of the points in this game were serve and volley as rallies were few and far between, Bob took the first 15-12. Iain seemed to find rhythm more in the second game and cut out the errors. Iain varied his shots and played a lot of cross court shots as opposed to down the line, but these shots were being reached well by Bob and this was a close 15-10 to Iain. Iain changed his game in the third and was playing full length down the wall shots, theses were good enough to win the points and the rallies extended the more the game went on. The fourth game seen the best squash, Iains placement was perfect and Bob would respond with tight drop shots and both players tried to out think each other. At 14-14 The match went to Tie Break but the Borderer found the extra bit of speed when it matered and took it 17-15 for a 3-1 victory.

 

Pat Spence 3-1 Willie Schultz

Another match that had close fought games was the fourth seeds, Pat Spence who was usually further up the pecking order but due to Piers introduction to the team Pat had the slightly easier task of fourth seeding. It was a close fought match with the games going 15-11, 16-14, 13-15, 15-9 to Spence. The players had a similar style of squash, and this meant both players were reading the game well. Schultz felt at times there were a few contentious decisions by the referee and felt hard done by, this possibly caused a lack of concentration from the Fifer but Spence made the key shots when it mattered and took another 3-1 victory for the Reivers.

 

Piers Wilkinson 1-3 Mel Crockatt

Another exciting 3-1 match, but this time it was Kirkaldy that won the rubber.

Piers enjoyed some long fast rallies in this game and the skill from both players was evident. Another close tie that had many long rallies but a few shots that didn’t find the corners from Piers meant Mel would capitalize and motor on to take the games. Indeed at 14-13 up in the third game Piers made the school boy error of serving out and Mel took that one 16-24. The match was exciting and close but Crockatt won 12-15, 15-11, 16-14, 15-13.

 

Amir Hosny 3-0 Andy Cant

Andy Cant was usually the Kirkaldy Clubs top seed but due to the return to finess of Drummond, Cant got the “easier” task of second seed.

Unfortunately for Cant, Hosny was firing on all cylinders and was on-form, the concentration and focus from Hosny meant he was equal to most of Cant’s shots and a good disciplined performance meant Hosny took the first 15-7. The second game the Kirkaldy Stalwart varied his shots and played some boasts that were made to look like the ball was going the other way, but Hosny maintained focus and kept his eye on the ball this was another game of skill 15-13 for Hosny. In the third game Cant played full length tight shots and Hosny responded in kind, this game went on the longest as some of the rallies seemed to go on and on; Hosny held out for another 15-13.

 

Tony Elliot 3-0 Scott Drummond

Although Drummond was the strongest player for Kirkaldy, he met an in form Elliot. Tony Elliot took most shots early and this meant Drummond couldn’t tell where the ball was going to go until it was on the way back to him, and Elliot played with such pace that most balls were passed Drummond before he could adjust his stance. Elliot took it 15-5, 15-9, 15-9.

 

Club Captain Del Sharratt said after the match “We were fortunate tonight that the Reivers players all brought their A-Game at the same time. This is the stongest line-up we have fielded all season and Kirkaldy are top of the league so that shows how good the Boys played. I was particularly pleaed with Hosny’s demolition of Andy Cant, that is a Scalp and hopefully we can carry momentum on for the rest of the season with a few victories and work our way up the top half of the table.