The 2nd team started the season with high hopes having gained promotion in their 1st season.
So they started off in Div 5 believing they could get back to back promotions – “ you have to have a sense of purpose”.
Things started well and they won their 1st two games – the sense of optimism was high at this point.
It all came back to reality on a Saturday night at Jesmond. Middle aged men have better things to do on Saturdayevenings and it showed as the “Jesmond Juniors” reminded them that focussing on the game and not the “pub” does help.
Next was Eldon Leisure and a tight game against evenly matched players, but another loss. The wheels had come off the “Promotion Fun Bus!!”
However back to back victories got the wheels rolling again and the belief was back.
It came crashing back down though in a poor night at Tynemouth. A double header match, both league and cup. Only Steve Goldie, Mr Reliable, was able to hold his head high. Notable highlight was Peter Archbold making his debut. Although we are not sure that he saw it as a highlight when he encountered his 1st experience of playing a lady. She was good!!
So they now had a sense of despondency, out of cup and promotion slipping away.
Back to back wins though lifted the mood but those boys atConsett and Jesmond were leading the way and did not look like slipping up.
Consett away proved to be the undoing with only Mark managing a win, albeit against an injured opponent. Points are points though. Michael Jones made his team squash debut and did himself justice against a very wily opponent, battle of the drop shots!
5 wins and 4 losses in the 2nd half of the season proved to be a bridge too far for the boys and a respectable 4th place was the final placing.
So another promotion was, in the end, aspirational but not quite a reality, looks like it will have to wait a season.
All in all, though, a very good campaign and a respectable placing.
One mention should go to Bruno Gaultier. Bruno, who seemed a little sceptical about Team Squash and the commitment required, stepped in to cover Dave Hall, who unfortunately got injured mid-season. Bruno then seemed to thrive on the challenge and won 7 out of the 8 games he played, a great performance.
Steve Goldie, lived up to his Mr Reliable tag, winning 13 of the 18 games he played, thanks Steve!
2nd team captain would like to thank Nick Fecitt, Dave Hall, Bruno Gaultier, Steve Goldie, Rory Whaling, for their time and commitment over the season.
Thanks also Peter Archbold and Michael Jones for covering at very short notice, greatly appreciated, and to Don Pattinson and Graeme Sneddon, who came to support and ended up scoring on more than one occasion, sure they enjoyed it really!!
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