Sobell’s first match of 2018 was away at Westway. Up first was Rohan at no.3 against a player with a lot of winners (like Rohan) and not a lot of running (like Rohan). The result was two players who appeared evenly matched (until you realised Rohan was taking it easy). Happily Rohan managed to just about run out a 3-0 winner 19-17, 15-13, 16-14. Richard was on the other court against a guy he was much better than. Unusually for Richard this did not result in lots of errors and a close defeat, Richard winning 3-1: 16-14, 10-15, 15-10, 15-9. I was on next at number one against a guy who had some running but not many shots – resulting in an easy 3-0: 15-9, 15-6, 15-9. Tim followed Richard, playing at no.5 playing against a player with good shots and fair movement (probably the best 5 we saw all season). Despite putting up a good effort, Tim’s opponent had too much for him and Tim lost 3-0: 13-15, 9-15, 10-15.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Crouch End, a confident Adam (our erstwhile no.4) was laughing to himself. He had seen Richard’s message to the team that he was running late and thought “what an idiot, the game is tomorrow!” Time passed and it slowly began to dawn on Adam that the reason we had all turned up to Westway on a Tuesday (and the reason the email had said the game is on Tuesday) was that Tuesday was the day of the match. A panicked cycle ride later and Adam was on court (not really) ready to play. Unfortunately, his opponent was very much ready to play and while Adam got a game, he couldn’t do much more, losing 3-1: 16-18, 15-9, 15-9, 15-6. However, despite dropping two matches, the result was a handy 3-2 victory for Sobell.
Home v Finsbury Outplay – won 18-4
Our next game was at home against Finsbury Outplay on 24 January. Phil was back at no.1 and played a player who could run, but didn’t have the best shots. Despite this, Phil still managed to let him win a game,winning 3-1: 15-5, 15-12, 13-15, 15-4. I was at no.2 against Murray, a former Sobell player with good shots but limited movement. The result was a fairly routine 3-0: 15-10, 15-12, 15-11. Up at no.3 was Richard “lose to a squash shoe” Bangay. Unfortunately, Richard’s opponent was even better than a squash shoe – with the result that Richard had no chance, going down in four 3-1: 12-15, 17-15, 13-15, 4-15. At four was Rohan “tiebreak” Plunkett, playing a guy that he was miles better than. The difference in ability didn’t prevent Rohan from taking the first game to a tiebreak, but after that it was plain sailing, 3-0: 16-14, 15-6, 15-6. Finally, Adam was at five. Adam had adopted a rigorous preparation regime of actually remembering what day that match was (I hear it's what some of the pros do) and so was in peak condition. While the away player somehow managed to stay with Adam on the scoreboard, there was only going to be one winner and Adam won out 3-0: 15-13, 15-10, 15-13. An excellent 4-1 victory for Sobell.
Home v Wembley and Sudbury – won 20-0
By the time that the home visit of Wembley and Sudbury came around, Sobell’s reputation was fearsome. So much so that Wembley and Sudbury decided not to turn up and we got a 20-0 walkover. Poor showing by Wembley and Sudbury who only forfeited in the afternoon that the game was supposed to be played.
Home v Stormont – won 15-8
After some time off, Sobell’s next game was against Stormont, one of the league’s better teams. Up first was Richard at no.2 against a plyer who hits the ball very very hard. Richard countered by trying to hit it harder rather than playing tight squash, which was not very effective. After Richard took the first, it was one-way traffic with the Stormont player winning 3-1: 15-11, 11-15, 7-15, 7-15. Up on the other court was Adam against a youngster. Adam won the warm up so easily that he then managed somehow to lose the first game. Thankfully, Adam then started trying and after that it was plain sailing, with Adam winning 3-1: 10-15, 15-6, 15-4, 15-9. I was up next at no.1 against a handy player who had beaten Phil in the home leg. Happily, their no.1 wasn’t able to cope with a high-paced game and I won out 3-1: 15-9, 15-13, 8-15, 17-15. Up at no.5 was a wily veteran by the name of Brendon whose opponent looked shell-shocked during the warm up! The gulf in class showed and Brendon won 3-0: 15-5, 15-8, 15-7. Finally, Rohan was up at no.3 against a guy that Richard had beaten in the home leg. Rohan got off to a fast start winning the first game 15-4. However, taking his foot off the gas proved fatal as Rohan’s opponent pushed hard and managed somehow to eke out a 3-2 victory: 15-4, 12-15, 15-8, 10-15, 13-15. No matter, another 4-1 victory for Sobell.
Away v Finchley Manor – Won 17-6
The first week of March saw Sobell head across North London to Finchley Manor. This match followed hot on the heels of a successful (for some) Sobell tournament that had seen Rohan reach the final. Some other members of the team (mentioning no names, but who may or may not have been the captain) needed to buck their ideas up. I was up first at no.1 against a player who hit the ball very hard on a warm and lively court. After a round of “who can hit the ball the hardest” he took the first game 16-14. After a talking to from Tim “Malcolm Willstrop” Denis, I started playing better and won 3-1: 16-14, 2-15, 13-15, 7-15. At the same time Paul was up at no.5 against a handy player. Paul clearly was more used to the frozen tundra of the Sobell Centre and wasn’t able to get going, losing 3-0: 15-5, 15-8, 15-8. Following me on court 1 was Tim playing a man who proved that, despite the nursery rhyme, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men actually had some decent DIY skills – unfortunately, despite having good shots, Tim’s heavyweight opponent didn’t have the movement. Tim played excellent simple squash to win 3-0: 9-15, 10-15, 14-16. Adam followed Paul on Court 2 against a player who steadfastly refused to play anything we would recognise as proper squash and whose bread and butter shot appeared to be the reverse boast! Adam was put off a bit in the first, losing 15-10, but after a talking to and a tactical adjustment roared back to win 3-1: 15-10, 9-15, 8-15, 9-15. Finally, Rohan was up at no.2 playing a player who, despite looking the part, rivalled Rohan for fitness (but without the shots). An easy-going start saw Rohan lose the first, but he soon found his rhythm and won 3-1: 15-11, 11-15, 12-15, 7-15 giving us an overall 4-1 win.
Home v Finsbury Leisure – won 20-2
Next up was a home game against Finsbury Leisure. With our talismanic no.1 out having surgery, this looked like it could be a difficult encounter. However, looks can be deceiving. Richard played their coach at no.2 and won 3-0: 15-4, 15-6, 15-11 (which makes the game, if anything, look closer than it was). I played at no.1 and won 3-0: 15-9, 15-5, 15-5 (it was exactly as close as it looks). Despite a wobble in the middle, Rohan won easily at no.3, 3-0: 15-7, 15-13, 15-9. Up at no.4 was new recruit Lawrence. Despite only just coming into the team, Lawrence is playing a kind of squash that will have a few team players looking over their shoulders and had far too much for his opponent, winning 3-0: 15-4, 15-5, 15-5. Finally, at no.5 Paul made it worth their while turning up as he had an epic battle with their no.5. After some excellent rallies (and one or two controversies) Paul won out 3-2: 15-10, 17-15, 6-15, 9-15, 15-13. The outcome was an excellent 5-0 win.
Home v Oakleigh Park – won 18-6
Oakleigh Park were the next visitors to Sobell, like so many they arrived with high hopes of victory, like so many their hopes were dashed by the imperious Sobell team. At no.5, Lawrence played like he had somewhere else to be in a hurry, rattling through his games en route to a 3-0 victory: 15-6, 15-7, 15-11. In contrast, Richard playing a young player with coached squash, played like his mind was already somewhere else. Despite managing to take the second by upping the pace, Richard was uncharacteristically passive in his play, allowing his opponent to attack and win out 3-1: 9-15, 15-13, 8-15, 13-15. I was up at no.1 against an opponent who did very little and so was able to knock it around and rally a bit on my way to a 3-0 victory: 15-4, 15-5, 15-13. Adam was at no.4 playing a player he was much better than. Despite somehow letting his opponent get a game, Adam was always going to win and did so 3-1: 15-8, 10-15, 15-11, 17-15. Finally, at no.3 was Rohan “Tiebreak” Plunkett, playing the Oakleigh Park Captain (who is deceptively tricky). Clearly expecting an easy win, Rohan lost the first playing loose squash. He won the second easily but then eased off again and surrendered the third pretty meekly. With his back to the wall, Rohan held his nerve in a fourth set tiebreak, winning 18-16. Unfortunately, by this stage Rohan’s fitness was catching up with him and he saw himself match ball down. However, his opponent choked and Rohan was able to live up to his name and force a tiebreak. Despite facing a total of five match balls, Rohan came through 20-18 in the decider, winning 3-2: 12-15, 15-7, 7-15, 18-16, 20-18 and giving us another 4-1 overall win.
Away v Britannia – won 15-8
An away game at Britannia saw Sobell in a top of the table clash which was the title decider. Sobell needed 2 points to be crowned champions with two games to spare but was up against a strong team, who had a number of players in the Sobell league (and had been inspired by a less than complementary match report for the previous game!). Britannia also seemed to have replaced the floors of the courts with an ice rink with the result that both players and the ball were sliding and skidding all over the place. Sobell, however, was bolstered by the return of Phil (who, despite his layoff, had loss none of his charm and diplomacy). Playing at no.2, Phil had clearly lost some fitness, but still had too much for his opponent, winning 3-1: 10-15, 15-12, 11-15, 14-16. Up at no.3 was Richard who won fairly comfortably 3-1: 8-15, 9-15, 15-9, 7-15. Paul was at 5 playing a player from the Sobell internal leagues who, despite a valiant effort from Paul had too much running and won 3-1: 15-10, 15-13, 13-15, 15-9. Adam was at no.4 playing another player from the Sobell leagues. From the outset this looked like a routine win and it was, Adam winning out 3-0: 9-15, 9-15, 14-16. Finally, I was up at no.1 against Ed, a player from the Sobell leagues who I had been told was “a steady player with few winners”. Reflecting on the game later, we all came to realise that perhaps Ed doesn’t put all his effort into league matches. After a game that was less enjoyable than dental treatment without anaesthetic (and just as enjoyable as most Man United games), I lost 3-0: 15-6, 15-8, 15-11. However, despite my best efforts, we won 4-1 which saw us win the division.
Home v Westway – won 20-3
Despite having already won the Division, there was still something to play for as Sobell sought to be the “invincibles” of Middlesex League Division 5. Westway were our next opponents. I was at no.1 and keen to make amends for my performance last time, my opponent was nice guy who didn’t run (or play many winners) with the outcome that it was an easy 3-0 win: 15-8, 15-3, 15-12. Phil was at no.2 against the guy who Rohan played in the away leg. Phil was far too strong for his opponent and spent most of the time keeping the rallies going. Despite the games being close, there was only one winner and Phil took it 3-0: 15-12, 16-14, 15-13. Richard was at no.3 against a guy who could run forever, but had very few shots. Richard managed to lose one, but was always going to win, taking it 3-1: 15-1, 12-15, 15-11, 15-9. Lawrence at five had no trouble with his opponent, winning 3-0 in double quick time: 15-4, 15-9, 15-12. Finally, Adam was at no.4 playing Tim’s opponent from the away leg. Adam struggled to get going in the first and struggled even more in the second. After a few words of advice, he then turned it round in the third and powered through to a 3-2 victory: 12-15, 8-15, 15-9, 15-9, 15-6. Another 5-0 win for Sobell and one game from a perfect season.
Away v Finsbury Outplay – won 20-7
This was it. The chance to go undefeated. In our way was a strong and motivated Finsbury Outplay team who pushed all the way to the end. Rohan was on first against Stuart, a player who has played in the Sobell leagues and whose movement caused Rohan real problems. Good squash is all about great shots, balletic movement, intelligent selection...and all of these would probably have helped both players in what was a grinding gritty end of season encounter. Rohan took the first 24-22 in an epic back and forth, before surrendering the second. “The tiebreaker” then won the third, only for his opponent to come back and take it to a decider. However, Rohan’s shots prevailed and he won 3-2: 22-24, 15-12, 15-17, 15-11, 11-15. On at no.5 was David playing his first game of the season. Despite starting brightly, the game soon became an arm wrestle in very hot conditions. At 2-1 down David looked as he may be down and out, but his experience shone through and he came back to win 3-2: 12-15, 15-11, 15-10, 6-15, 11-15. I was at no.1 at the same time as Phil was on at no.2. Neither of us played well but had enough to beat our opponents winning 3-1: 11-15, 15-12, 9-15, 6-15 (me) and 13-15, 15-13, 7-15, 8-15 (Phil). Finally, as the match drew to a close, Adam saw out the win against a player who retrieved (nearly) everything Adam played. This just caused Adam to play tighter shots and he won 3-1: 13-15, 16-14, 11-15, 10-15.
Conclusion
So that’s it – Sobell win the division with 16 out of 16 wins and 218 points, forty ahead of their nearest rivals. Of course, no successful season would be complete without some end of season awards:
The “Mariah Carey Award” for Biggest Diva goes to…Kevin “I’m not paying ten pounds for a game of squash” Jackson.
The “Mike Campbell Award” for Excellence as a Referee goes to…no one at Sobell…obviously…
The “Barry Hill Award” for Effort, Persistence and Determination goes to…whoever has managed to get to the end of this email.
On a serious note: thanks very much to everyone who has played or supported the team during the season (particular Richard and Adam for ordering the food, everyone who responds to the emails and our erstwhile cheerleader/coach Barry for his words of wisdom) - it has made captaining the team much easier and is very much appreciated.