Border Reivers 13-10 Linlithgow 3s
Iain Gorman 1-3 Lyle Black
Gorman got his first point of the season for the Reivers. Gorman made life difficult for the younger Black; Gorman won the first 15-9 and seemed to be in control, but this was a fairly even match up and it was nip and tuck all the way through. Black reversed the score in the second 15-9 and at 14-13 to the Linlithgow player a duffed serve let Gorman back in but after an intense tight couple of rallies, Black held his nerve to win 16-14. Gorman tired more in the fourth and seemed to have lost half a yard, but put up a good fight to a 15-10 loss.
Graham Bensted 3-2 Ross Lyall
You couldn’t get a closer match! The games were 13-15, 15-13, 15-17, 15-13, 15-12. It was a war of attrition as both players are hard hitters but it was a great match to watch as neither player could pull away, Bensted was more relieved than anything else after taking the decider 15-13 for a Reivers victory and to tie the match at 1-1 in rubbers.
Pat Spence 0-3 Sammy Ralston
A One-sided match up, after the close encounters in the previous rubbers, Spence failed to get off the ground in this tie. Although a good thinker of the game, Pat couldn’t keep up with Sammy. Sammy exploded out the blocks and seem to be able to maintain his pace and focus throughout as Pat just couldn’t get into a rhythm and this went 15-4, 15-6, 15-9 to Linlithgow.
Iain Laing 3-2 John Black
Two seasoned veterans took to the court, both players have a wealth of experience of league squash up and down the country. John Black started well and took a 2-0 lead 15-4, 21-19. The marathon 2nd game seemed to have affected Black more than Laing though and Laing maintained concentration to come back with the next 2 games 15-7, 15-12. Black knew he had to rdo something different and attempted to send Laing t othe back corners in the fifth, but Laing would do a trademark boast out of the back corner and Black was caught out of position several points and Laing therefore wrapped it up 15-13 for the win and to tie the match at 2-2.
Tony Elliot 3-0 Ashley Mears
Tony never really doubted himself as he aimed to seal the match for the Borderers. Although Ashley Mears is a tricky player and plays accurate shots, Tony is in a rich vein of form just now and it seems like he can beat anyone that takes to the court against him. This won the match for the Border Reivers.