Galashiels Squash Club Members took part in a Squash Tour in Glasgow this weekend. This involved a Team match at David Lloyd, Renfrew and Participating in the SSRC Open in Maryhill.
At David Lloyd the Gala squash club team of Ted Lynch, Jimmy Munro, Del Sharratt and Darren Quinn were up against the David Lloyd Quartet of Zander Noble, Robin Wallace, Neil Smith and Stephen Kilpatrick.
The first match of the night pitted Darren Quinn against Stephen Kilpatrick, and The Borderers didn’t get off to a great stare as Quinn went down 3-0 to the experienced Kilpatrick (15-7, 15-9, 15-4). The City Team kept the momentum going with a Victory in the 3rd string game between Del Sharratt and Neil Smith, Although the rallies were tight, Smith always seemed to manage the winning shot and Smith wom 3-0 (15-7, 15-9, 15-4).
Next up at 2nd seeds were Jimmy Munro hailing form Jedburgh and Glasgows Robin Wallace. This one went the way of the Bordererers as Munro had arrived on tour in a Rich vein of form and Dominated his opponent in this to win 3-0 (15-5, 15-5, 15-8).
Saving the best till last, the Top seeds faced off. Ted Lynch (Melrose) v Zander Noble (Paisley).
Although Ted was full of confidence and both players demonstrated why they were the Top Seeds with some Awesome squash, this was a back and forward battle but the City man was just too good for Lynch and Noble took this one 3-0 (15-12, 15-5, 16-14).
This meant David Lloyd took the match 3-1.
The Hosts then put on some drinks at the David Lloyd Club and the banter was flowing. The Gala Squash Club team curtailed the socials though as they knew they all had to play in the SSRC open the next day.
At the Scottish Squash Rackets Club in Maryhill, the Gala Squash Club members were all raring to go and this was individual Monrad style tournament. Del Sharratt, Jimmy Munro and Darren Quinn entered the Grade D draw and Ted Lynch was in the Grade Cs.
Del Sharratt was drawn against Gavin Lafferty of Glasgow University Squash club and It was not an easy start for Sharratt who had to work for every point in this, Sharratt won the first game 11-7, but Lafferty went on a run in the second and opened up0 a 5-0 lead before a Back hand drop got Sharratt on the Scoresheet, but the younger Lafferty levelled the game 1-1 with an 11-6. The deciding game seen both players cover every inch of the court – but Sharratt just appeared the hungrier of the two and Sharratt exerted that extra ounce of effort to take it 11-9 and 2-1.
At the same time Jimmy Munro was facing off against Kyle Cameron of Strathclyde Uni, Jimmy – carrying on his form from the David Lloyd match the previous night put his stamp on the tournament with a 11-4, 11-7 victory for 2-0. This meant Jimmy and Del would lock horns in the Semi final – and guarantee Galashiels Squash Club representation in the final.
In the other side of the draw, Darren Quinn found it tougher against Shetlands Maks Inster. A Close first game – decided only by some deft serving but Inkser was won 15-13, but Inkster turned on the style in the second and won an easier 11-3. Although a formidable player, Inkster went down 2-0 in the Semi Final against SSRCs own Alex Kleinknecht.
The Borderers semi-Final match between Sharratt (Hawick) and Munro (Jed) didn’t live upto the billing, Del just couldn’t get Focussed and fatigued crept into Del’s game and Munro took this one sided match 11-4, 11-6 to seal a place in the final against Kleinknect.
Sharratt was left eith th e3rd place play off against Quinn’s conquereor Inster. This match had everything, one of Sharratt’s shots even hit Insters racket on the way tho the wall and there was no lack of drama in this match up. Sharratt had played a lot of squs hand just ran out of legs in the end as Inster won 2-1 (11-6, 13-15, 11-3); to leave Sharratt 4th place for the day.
The D Grade Final had all the spectators on the edge of the seats as Munro and Kleinknecht dished up some awesome squash with Drops, Boasts, Drives, Volleys and all shots on display. But Munro succumbed to SSRC’s Kleinknecht 11-5 11-8 to settle for the Runner-Up prize.
Ted Lynch found the C Grade tournament tough as he lost his match 2-1 to SSRC’s Mark Sherrit and lost the Shield match 2-0 to Lewis Aykroyd of Glasgo Uni.
Club Captain Del Sharratt said “It was an enjoyable tour, lots of squash played over both days so I’m looking forward to a couple of days off it!!! Well done to Jimmy Munro on his success.
It was good to play at new places and against players we don’t know anything about.”
Del with his Game Face On
Pics from the weekend
