I thought early January would be a good time to fit in the Handicap
Competition but this has proved not to be the case. Unavailability, mainly work related and an unprecedented number of injuries meant a small turn out. I had 12 entries which meant 4 groups of three in the round robin stage with 4 group winners and 4 highest scoring runners up going through to the knock out stage.
Didn’t matter. There was some great squash with the usual suspects providing great entertainment.
In Group1-both Andy Lawrence and Paul Blakely kept their nerve while playing Paul Leedham who started with +8, Paul (Leedham) was always in with a shout but faded as 21 came closer.
Andy’s (-10) match with the fireman (-2) looked a tight game and so it was. 21-20 in the third doesn’t come any closer. Andy won the group by a single point. Must have got the handicaps about right !
On paper the second Group had a similar look 1 with one of the players, Nick Humphrey having a positive handicap (+4)
Peter Irlam and Peter Archbold had their work cut out. Mr Irlam (-3) played Nick first and seemed to be comfortable throughout, until the end of the 2nd that is. 21-14 in the first speaks for itself, 21-19 in the second also. Nick was just starting to take it early and kill with good effect however Mr Irlam just about hung on.
Unlucky Mr Archbold (-10) then played Nick. Despite good steady hard working squash from Archie, Nick kept the pressure on and gradually got into the grove killing anything loose. Peter took the first 21-14 but the next 2 went Nicks way 21-20 and 21-17. Peter definitely needed to take that close 2nd game because he still had Peter Irlam to play. This was one hell of a battle, mental as well as physical, the scores fluctuated and you could actually map out the mental re-application as each won 4 or 5 points on the trot before conceding the same amount. Honours even first two, 21-15, 15-21 leaving the 2 Peters to take it to the wire. 21-20 to Irlam says it all.
Great squash.
Handicap wise Group 3 was evenly matched, Dan the man (-5) up against Peter Edney (-3) another Peter, and Steve Lavery (-5)
So it proved to be. All 3 in the group won one/lost one.
It was all about how they lost with both Dan and Peter only dropping
5 pts from the max’ between them. (Dan 81pts, Peter 82pts)
Steve Lavery’s first game where he lost heavily to Mr Edney’s accurate finishing cost him dearly, impossible to recover from and relying on the others to loose in similar fashion. Didn’t happen.
Dan and Peter’s epic struggle went to the wire in the 3rd, 21-19 to Dan.
Group 4 saw 3 players who all know each others game so so well.
All 3 could, on the right night, beat each other, it was all about their current form. Rob Owen stole the show with maximum points.
Once again the group runner up was all about how heavily they lost and it was close. Martin Davison beat Mark Knott to take 42pts but lost heavily to Rob (12 + 14) Mark who didn’t win either game still took good points.
21 + 19 against Martin but he also lost heavily to Rob (16 + 10)
So Martin totalled 68pts and Mark 66pts.
The top 8 go through although Peter Irlam who would have qualified had to withdraw.
Andy Lawrence 84pts
Rob Owen 84pts
Paul Blakely 83pts
Peter Edney 82pts
Dan Cusack 81pts
Peter Archbold 79pts
Nick Humphrey 75pts
Martin Davison 68 pts.
Despite the smaller turn out the night was a good one, thank you to Jonnie Woodhouse who stayed back and marked some games, also thank you to Keith Grey who also turned out to support the event and mark. We wish Keith a speedy recovery from his injury, it is he who usually provides much on court entertainment on these nights !
Bill Johnson, always turning out, needs a special mention for his continued support.
The knock out stage will be played on Monday 20th January, 6.40pm
start, please come along and watch some good squash.
Ian Mc
Competition but this has proved not to be the case. Unavailability, mainly work related and an unprecedented number of injuries meant a small turn out. I had 12 entries which meant 4 groups of three in the round robin stage with 4 group winners and 4 highest scoring runners up going through to the knock out stage.
Didn’t matter. There was some great squash with the usual suspects providing great entertainment.
In Group1-both Andy Lawrence and Paul Blakely kept their nerve while playing Paul Leedham who started with +8, Paul (Leedham) was always in with a shout but faded as 21 came closer.
Andy’s (-10) match with the fireman (-2) looked a tight game and so it was. 21-20 in the third doesn’t come any closer. Andy won the group by a single point. Must have got the handicaps about right !
On paper the second Group had a similar look 1 with one of the players, Nick Humphrey having a positive handicap (+4)
Peter Irlam and Peter Archbold had their work cut out. Mr Irlam (-3) played Nick first and seemed to be comfortable throughout, until the end of the 2nd that is. 21-14 in the first speaks for itself, 21-19 in the second also. Nick was just starting to take it early and kill with good effect however Mr Irlam just about hung on.
Unlucky Mr Archbold (-10) then played Nick. Despite good steady hard working squash from Archie, Nick kept the pressure on and gradually got into the grove killing anything loose. Peter took the first 21-14 but the next 2 went Nicks way 21-20 and 21-17. Peter definitely needed to take that close 2nd game because he still had Peter Irlam to play. This was one hell of a battle, mental as well as physical, the scores fluctuated and you could actually map out the mental re-application as each won 4 or 5 points on the trot before conceding the same amount. Honours even first two, 21-15, 15-21 leaving the 2 Peters to take it to the wire. 21-20 to Irlam says it all.
Great squash.
Handicap wise Group 3 was evenly matched, Dan the man (-5) up against Peter Edney (-3) another Peter, and Steve Lavery (-5)
So it proved to be. All 3 in the group won one/lost one.
It was all about how they lost with both Dan and Peter only dropping
5 pts from the max’ between them. (Dan 81pts, Peter 82pts)
Steve Lavery’s first game where he lost heavily to Mr Edney’s accurate finishing cost him dearly, impossible to recover from and relying on the others to loose in similar fashion. Didn’t happen.
Dan and Peter’s epic struggle went to the wire in the 3rd, 21-19 to Dan.
Group 4 saw 3 players who all know each others game so so well.
All 3 could, on the right night, beat each other, it was all about their current form. Rob Owen stole the show with maximum points.
Once again the group runner up was all about how heavily they lost and it was close. Martin Davison beat Mark Knott to take 42pts but lost heavily to Rob (12 + 14) Mark who didn’t win either game still took good points.
21 + 19 against Martin but he also lost heavily to Rob (16 + 10)
So Martin totalled 68pts and Mark 66pts.
The top 8 go through although Peter Irlam who would have qualified had to withdraw.
Andy Lawrence 84pts
Rob Owen 84pts
Paul Blakely 83pts
Peter Edney 82pts
Dan Cusack 81pts
Peter Archbold 79pts
Nick Humphrey 75pts
Martin Davison 68 pts.
Despite the smaller turn out the night was a good one, thank you to Jonnie Woodhouse who stayed back and marked some games, also thank you to Keith Grey who also turned out to support the event and mark. We wish Keith a speedy recovery from his injury, it is he who usually provides much on court entertainment on these nights !
Bill Johnson, always turning out, needs a special mention for his continued support.
The knock out stage will be played on Monday 20th January, 6.40pm
start, please come along and watch some good squash.
Ian Mc
RSS Feed