Border Reivers 2s Face Tough Defeat Against Dominant Grange 4s

East League 4, 2023: In a clash that unfolded as a display of resilience and skill, the Border Reivers 2s faced a challenging night against the formidable Grange 4s, ending the year in 7th place out of 10 at half way stage in East League 4.
The Grange 4s, traveling down from Edinburgh, asserted their dominance on the court, proving too strong for the weakened Border Reivers 2s team. The absence of Top Seed Iain Laing from Selkirk, who called off just 24 hours before the match, forced Captain Del Sharratt to make last-minute adjustments to the lineup.

The evening saw an array of intense matchups, with Grange 4s ultimately securing a 14-5 victory over the Border Reivers 2s.

Individual Matches Recap:

Graham Bensted (Border Reivers) 1-3 Will Smith (Grange)
Racketball specialist Bensted, stepping up to the plate following a last-minute call, displayed commendable effort against the skillful Smith. Despite Bensted’s swashbuckling performance, Smith claimed the victory with a 3-1 scoreline (15-8, 15-10, 15-17, 15-8).

Pat Spence (Border Reivers) 1-3 Andrew Jenner (Grange)
Stalwart Pat Spence faced a tough challenge against the faster and fitter Jenner. In a closely contested match, Jenner emerged victorious with a scoreline of 15-8, 15-10, 12-15, 15-8.

Derek Noffke (Border Reivers) 0-3 Stephen Davey (Grange)
The match between Noffke and Davey was characterized by small margins, with Davey’s deft drop shots proving decisive. Davey secured the win with a 3-0 scoreline (15-12, 15-13, 15-10).

Del Sharratt (Border Reivers) 0-3 Patrick Hayes (Grange)
Sharratt faced a challenging step up to the 2nd seed against Patrick Hayes, who proved a superior player on the night. The match concluded with a 15-10, 15-5, 15-6 victory for Hayes.

Richard Taylor (Border Reivers) 3-1 Jonathan Hardie (Grange)
In a standout performance for the Border Reivers, Richard Taylor secured the sole victory of the night against top seed Jonathan Hardie. Taylor’s strategic use of cross-court switches proved successful in a thrilling match that ended 11-15, 15-13, 15-13, 15-7.

Despite the overall defeat, the Border Reivers showcased determination and spirit, setting the stage for a promising start to the second half of the season in January.