Grange 5 15-4 Border Reivers
Darren Quinn 0-3 Alfredo Iavocone
Alfredo hit form at the right time for Grange 5s; the City Slickers form has been patchy of late but he brought his A game to the table against the Borderer Quinn. Quinn’s mind just didn’t seemed to be on other things as he just couldn’t get into a rhythm, Iavocone took this rather straightforwardly in the end 15-3, 15-5, 15-3
Alan Hepburn 1-3 Mike Gore
This was a pretty evenly matched game in all aspects, as both players were the same size, build, age and had similar styles. Hepburn was making his first appearance after a long injury lay off and found his movement rather hampered; Hepburn relied on tight shots to score points as he wasn’t yet at full fitness. Hepburn was serving for the game at 14-13 in the first but some shrewd boasts by Gore meant the Grange player took it 17-15, the second game was just as close, it seemed to swing one way then the other; a comment from the spectators was “it’s like watching twins playing”. The remaining game were close but Gore just sneaked it at the right time as they went 15-13, 12-15, 15-11 to Grange.
Graham Bensted 0-3 Harry Grenwood
15-10, 15-10, 15-8 was how the match went in Grange 5s favour. Greenwood is a highly skilful player and normally plays further up the order. Bensted has a fast and hard shot and used this to good effect to reel off sevral points but ultimately Greenwood had the more skilful game and better movement and took this – a far closer encounter than the 3-0 score suggests!
Del Sharrattt 0-3 Stephen Thomas
This was another close match up; but once again the rub of the green went the way of Grange 5. Thomas was trying to play the ball to Left handed Sharratt’s back hand hoping that it was his weaker hand. But most of Sharratt’s back hand returns yielded success. When there was rallies it was Thomas that would keep control and boss the rallies and Sharratt found it difficult to move Thomas about. tHis was 15-10, 15-12, 15-4 to Thomas
Tony Elliot 3-0 Finlay Halton
15yo Finlay Halton was the top seed for Grange 5 and he was the youngest opponent Elliot has faced this season. Tony Elliot won 15-11, 15-9, 15-13 but in Tony’s own words – “This was the toughest match I have had this season, if it had went to 4 or 5 games he would have motored away”. Halton just wouldn’t stop running and it’s great to see a junior player of this standard in the East Leagues, it bodes well for the future.
Gala Captain Del Sharratt said “We don’t seem to travel well this season, in our 8 game so far we are unbeaten at home but haven’t won away from home. Tonight the rub of the green just went against us in all the rubbers, I anticipate a different story in the return leg in March.