By Dave Fielding
Well, this was the Big One. Top two teams in the division head to head and the match of the season. And boy, did it live up to expectations. An absolutely superb evening of squash, one of those matches which it was a privilege to be part of and which make you remember why we drag ourselves out week after week though the winter.
Team selection was eagerly debated. With my top three fit, well and in the country (always a bonus), plus the welcome return to form of Olly Reeves, this meant competition for the no.5 slot between me and Lady Bear. We had a shoot-out the weekend before and I sneaked it, thus earning my place on merit. Andy Egan had something airy fairy to say about that, but he’s Welsh so doesn’t count.
Gareth had his team issues as well, with Antii being sadly away that day (his quality would have made a great evening even better) and Neil rather spectacularly falling off the wagon – and the pavement – the Friday before and sending a grovelingly apologetic text to his captain. Gareth’s verdict in the changing rooms definitely wasn’t PG rated. This meant an outing for the newest member of the club: Heather Joy. More on her later. Seb Monson moved up to 4, with Chris at 3, Gareth at 2 and Toby at 1.
Slightly unusually, Adam was first on against Toby. I didn’t see the game because I was on the other court but Adam said that wouldn’t stop me writing anything I wanted about it because apparently even when I watch a game I report on a fictional one. He has no idea what he’s talking about, poor boy. Anyway, he played beautifully, with some glorious shots, in particular his drops which were utterly magnificent etc etc. I haven’t a clue as to what actually happened, but Toby got the first game 10-8 which was a top effort.
Next door, I was up against Heather. She has joined with an impressive pedigree: played county up in Warwickshire, leftie (always tricky), times the ball beautifully, tight & accurate. A suspiciously large number of people told me this prior to the game, which was basically code for “you’re going to be beaten by a girl but don’t feel bad about it. We won’t rip too much out of you.” Yeah right: much as I would love to, I haven’t forgotten that match against young Amy Jones.
On we went and everything they said was true, and more. My evening and immediate future looked bleak as I lost a tight first game. I was hanging on for dear life and as the game wore on the gallery got steadily larger in an eerily familiar way. Somehow approaching the hour mark we were 2-2 and both utterly exhausted. Even the Great Guru Koko knew he couldn’t reprise his famous motivational pep talk of “up the work rate, you lazy b******d” so instead counselled me to conserve my energy in the 5th by volleying more. Thankfully it worked. I think I only won because I was the last one standing. That and the BBAG factor, which must never be underestimated. Fabulous game.
Well, this was the Big One. Top two teams in the division head to head and the match of the season. And boy, did it live up to expectations. An absolutely superb evening of squash, one of those matches which it was a privilege to be part of and which make you remember why we drag ourselves out week after week though the winter.
Team selection was eagerly debated. With my top three fit, well and in the country (always a bonus), plus the welcome return to form of Olly Reeves, this meant competition for the no.5 slot between me and Lady Bear. We had a shoot-out the weekend before and I sneaked it, thus earning my place on merit. Andy Egan had something airy fairy to say about that, but he’s Welsh so doesn’t count.
Gareth had his team issues as well, with Antii being sadly away that day (his quality would have made a great evening even better) and Neil rather spectacularly falling off the wagon – and the pavement – the Friday before and sending a grovelingly apologetic text to his captain. Gareth’s verdict in the changing rooms definitely wasn’t PG rated. This meant an outing for the newest member of the club: Heather Joy. More on her later. Seb Monson moved up to 4, with Chris at 3, Gareth at 2 and Toby at 1.
Slightly unusually, Adam was first on against Toby. I didn’t see the game because I was on the other court but Adam said that wouldn’t stop me writing anything I wanted about it because apparently even when I watch a game I report on a fictional one. He has no idea what he’s talking about, poor boy. Anyway, he played beautifully, with some glorious shots, in particular his drops which were utterly magnificent etc etc. I haven’t a clue as to what actually happened, but Toby got the first game 10-8 which was a top effort.
Next door, I was up against Heather. She has joined with an impressive pedigree: played county up in Warwickshire, leftie (always tricky), times the ball beautifully, tight & accurate. A suspiciously large number of people told me this prior to the game, which was basically code for “you’re going to be beaten by a girl but don’t feel bad about it. We won’t rip too much out of you.” Yeah right: much as I would love to, I haven’t forgotten that match against young Amy Jones.
On we went and everything they said was true, and more. My evening and immediate future looked bleak as I lost a tight first game. I was hanging on for dear life and as the game wore on the gallery got steadily larger in an eerily familiar way. Somehow approaching the hour mark we were 2-2 and both utterly exhausted. Even the Great Guru Koko knew he couldn’t reprise his famous motivational pep talk of “up the work rate, you lazy b******d” so instead counselled me to conserve my energy in the 5th by volleying more. Thankfully it worked. I think I only won because I was the last one standing. That and the BBAG factor, which must never be underestimated. Fabulous game.
So, 2-0 up and looking good. Next pairings on were Olly vs Seb, and Dave Powell vs Gareth. They went on at the same time and finished at the same time – an hour later – just to keep the drama up. For this was where the match was won and lost. Seb has improved dramatically over the last year and is developing into a really dangerous player. He is tall, light, strong and lightening quick. Olly has superior skills but needed all of them. Some of Seb’s retrieving was out of this world and left Olly staring at the gallery with his “how the hell did he get that??” face, which is never a pretty sight. We may have thought he had the fitness of an Tesco burger, but even having played football that afternoon (duh?) Olly proved us wrong to outlast Seb and take the match 3-2.
Meanwhile, DP was having a battle royal with the Tigers’ captain. Gareth is one of those players who isn’t naturally talented but works massively hard on his fitness and movement. DP is the exact opposite. The result is, ironically, two very effective players and it made for a fascinating contest. The rallies were long and punishing with Gareth keeping the error count very low, cleverly playing to his strengths and denying DP his. They were only in the 4th game come the 50 min mark, with DP edging it 2-1, when a significant passage of play happened. Dave was at match point when there was the longest of those teeth-crunchingly long and gruelling rallies, one which went on and on and on. Gareth refused to be cowed and won it. In disappointment, I turned to Adam and remarked that anyway it didn’t matter: there was no way back for Gareth from this point. “You know nothing about lactic acid do you?” he replied. Sure enough, that rally had taken its toll on DP and Gareth promptly took an alarming run of points. Dave dug deeper than he had all season and fell over the line to win 3-1. He admitted afterwards that if he hadn’t won the 4th he would have lost big time.
So, down to the Saga match: Phil Alexander against Chris Gildersleve. It’s never nice when the elderly are up past their bed time, and for the first couple of games Phil seemed to have trouble facing the right way let alone hitting the ball. I’ve never seen so many unforced errors from the man. Yet he is a true grit player and dug in to level the match at 2-2. As time went on Chris was also getting better and hitting his rhythm, so it made for a fascinating last game that almost made the watching gallery forget that it was past 1045 at night and we were hungry. Koko pulled every trick in his formidable armory but Chris had the energy and skill to deal with them and nicked the last 9-7. Great stuff.
What an evening, one which could have gone either way. Above all, it was fun and what it’s all about. Much as I would love to be smug, 18-9 doesn’t tell the full story: it was too close for me to be anything other than relieved. But also a tiny bit proud of the team who had started the season losing the first five matches. Beaconsfield first and second in the division by some distance - who would have thought it? And in Heather we have a quality player who will further strengthen our impressive squads.
Meanwhile, DP was having a battle royal with the Tigers’ captain. Gareth is one of those players who isn’t naturally talented but works massively hard on his fitness and movement. DP is the exact opposite. The result is, ironically, two very effective players and it made for a fascinating contest. The rallies were long and punishing with Gareth keeping the error count very low, cleverly playing to his strengths and denying DP his. They were only in the 4th game come the 50 min mark, with DP edging it 2-1, when a significant passage of play happened. Dave was at match point when there was the longest of those teeth-crunchingly long and gruelling rallies, one which went on and on and on. Gareth refused to be cowed and won it. In disappointment, I turned to Adam and remarked that anyway it didn’t matter: there was no way back for Gareth from this point. “You know nothing about lactic acid do you?” he replied. Sure enough, that rally had taken its toll on DP and Gareth promptly took an alarming run of points. Dave dug deeper than he had all season and fell over the line to win 3-1. He admitted afterwards that if he hadn’t won the 4th he would have lost big time.
So, down to the Saga match: Phil Alexander against Chris Gildersleve. It’s never nice when the elderly are up past their bed time, and for the first couple of games Phil seemed to have trouble facing the right way let alone hitting the ball. I’ve never seen so many unforced errors from the man. Yet he is a true grit player and dug in to level the match at 2-2. As time went on Chris was also getting better and hitting his rhythm, so it made for a fascinating last game that almost made the watching gallery forget that it was past 1045 at night and we were hungry. Koko pulled every trick in his formidable armory but Chris had the energy and skill to deal with them and nicked the last 9-7. Great stuff.
What an evening, one which could have gone either way. Above all, it was fun and what it’s all about. Much as I would love to be smug, 18-9 doesn’t tell the full story: it was too close for me to be anything other than relieved. But also a tiny bit proud of the team who had started the season losing the first five matches. Beaconsfield first and second in the division by some distance - who would have thought it? And in Heather we have a quality player who will further strengthen our impressive squads.
Happy days.
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