West Herts vs Sobell I - Lost 0-5
We Lost 5-0
Jack 3-0 – I didn’t see it
Ben 3-0 – He played a Gavin type guy, super fit, tight and some decent kill shots
Kevin 3-1 – I played well in 2 of the 4 games, better player and a lot fitter.
Mike 3-0 /3-1 – Played well and Lost apparently
Adam – 3-2 – Guy just had too much for him, but he was happy that he lasted to the 5th.
Brunel vs Sobell I - won 5-0
The first team played Brunel University on Monday. They are bottom of the table and we did what we needed to win 20-0. Jack and Ben faced decent opponents at 1 and 2 and played well to win, Mike and I at 4 and 5 faced weaker opponents and won more easily. Kevin was playing a girl at number 3 and relaxed a little in the third. I think it got to 12 all. Despite strong support from the whole gallery she couldn't convert it and Kevin won.
Coolhurst vs Sobell I - Lost 1-4
Cottons vs Sobell I - Lost 2-3
Just a brief match report: The first team had a narrow 3-2 defeat to city boys Cottons on Wednesday night.
Up first at no.2 was Kevin, playing on court 5 against a wily pensioner who he had already beaten in the reverse fixture. Kevin started out by employing an interesting new tactic of playing solely drop shots and, while he took the first game, the snail’s pace suited his opponent who levelled at 1-1. After a quick pep talk (reminding him that the court has four corners) Kev stepped up the pace, started playing some good length, and won 3-1. Another win at no.2 and Kev maintained his 100% record against players over 65…
At the same time, on newly refurbished court 2, was Mike playing at no.4. I didn’t see too much of the game, but, from what I did see, Mike’s opponent looked pretty steady. While Mike had a few opportunities he ultimately went down in 3.
Subbing in at no.5 was Ian. Again, I didn’t see very much of the game but from what I’m told Ian’s opponent looked like a very handy player (their no.2 told me afterwards that they could have played their no.2 to no.5 in any order) and despite playing well Ian also went down in 3.
I was up next at no.1 against a guy who had clearly gotten out of bed on the wrong side and then forgotten to have his Weetabix. The guy spent most of the match swearing at himself or at Mike (who was a model of restraint for not calling a conduct game after the guy’s decision to throw his racket across the court and offer some choice words/hand gestures). Thankfully we managed to finish the game and I won 3-0.
Playing at the same time of me was Adam at no.3 against Tolu (who I’m told is a veteran of Lambs Squash Club) and a very solid mobile player. He played well and beat Adam in 3.
All in all, while it’s another defeat for Sobell (it’s not often that Kevin and I will win at no.2 and no.1 and the team will still lose!) it’s a case of onwards and upwards for the local derby at Coolhurst next week.
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30th january
Hazlewood vs Sobell I - Lost 1-34
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21st january
Hammersmith vs Sobell I - Lost 2-3
Harrow Liesure vs Sobell I - Lost 1-4
Sobell I vs West Herts - Won 3-2
Hein Lost 3-1, I left when he was 1-2 and 0-4 down. I was already late but felt the writing was on the wall.
The match was so close, Heins technique up against the other guys blistering speed and wonderful short game.
The short answer is that Hein ran out of juice. He built a lead in the first looking confident but WH wouldn't go away, saved two game balls to take it into a tie break, Hein eventually dragged himself over the line after saving one himself. In the second I kept expecting Hein to bring out the A game, instead it was nip and tuck all the way to 14 all. Hein had a game ball to take a 2-0 leave as I remember, which might have been decisive but WH held on to level at 1-1. In the 3rd Heins shot selection suffered a bit as he tired, I think also perhaps his confidence. He was starting to blow whilst WH looked fresh, scrambling around looking forward to the next chance to stick in a killer drop shot. Hein has a great deceptive game but as the match developed be wasn't able to use this to kill the ball and his opponent could match him rallying and then had the drop shot to win the point.
Jack beat the guy that likes to dress like Simon Cowell 3-1. I didn’t watch the match, but someone told me that he didn’t play very well, but as you know from playing him quite a lot that if you stick at it with him, you can get the job done.
Mike Campbell won 3-1 at 5. He played the Indian guy that you have played a few times. He is basically like you, very good on the ball, but to quote Tim, the turning circle of a tanker. Mike had way to much in the locker for him.
I played at 4 and won 3-0. However, my opponent wasn’t mobile or quick and after narrowly winning the first game narrowly, Jack came down and gave me a good talking too and I upped it and won it reasonably comfortably.
Ben Played against their usual number 1, who was a bit too wiley for Ben and won in 3.
Uxbridge Vs Sobell I - Lost 1-4
Jack went 2-1 up against the two times Middlesex Ladies champion. She fought back hard and won 3-2 in the end.
5th november
Sobell I Vs Coolhurst - Lost 1-4
The first team lost 4-1 to local rivals Coolhurst last night. Hanro destroyed his opponent in 3, Kevin's won his first game 28-26, but lost the next 3. The rest of us lost.
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22nd october
Sobell 2 Vs BA - Won 3-2
First on court was Rohan at Number 1:
His opponent was a steady player, good a gathering with a good up and down game. Rohan started to get into his game playing his familiar brand of tricky squash, however it soon became clear that his normally consistant tight game wasn't quite singing and his short boasts and nicks were picked up by a mobile opponent and the point put to the sword. In the absence of tight shots the game went to BA 3-0
Second on was me at number 4:
I played a mature seasoned player but felt confident that i could do the required job for the team. I picked up the first game and felt good, there were a couple of scoring issues in the 2nd and my usual road rage kicked in and i went down easily in the that game.
I came back in the 3rd securing it safely and i felt i was ahead of the curve. In the 4th my opponent started to play only drop shots which frustrasted me as it was a bit boring. Now i like a good drop shot as well as the next man, but i do like to play a little squash in between them. I couldn't really get going in this game and lost it, still at 2-2 i felt that there was no way i could loose.
In the last once again a couple of decisions went against me and instead of moving on my head went down and i lost easily ie 2-3.
Third on was Richard at number 3:
A solid captains performance
Playing a young pretender Richard played some very tight squash. I marked this one and it was how i like to see squash played. Both players clearing the ball once played and if possible playing the ball rather than calling a dodgy let or stroke ( i wish my game had gone like that) I don't think that i had to make one 50-50 decision. The rhythm of the game was soon set and Richard's opponent just couldn't cope with his tight squash and while both players were very quick and mobile the width and length of Richard's shots set them apart. A well earned 3-0 win
Fourth up was Robin at 5:
I didn't see this game as i was marking a game. From what i was advise Robin played out a hard fought 3-2 victory. Sorry for the briefness of this report
Last up with the game finely balanced at 2-2 was Tim at number 2:
Was this going to be Tim's finest hour or a dark day in hell. Again i only saw a little of this game. Tim started off brightly taking the first game and following up with the next two, get in there Tim. Well done, he held his nerve under pressure and brought the victory home.
2nd october
Southgate vs Sobell 2 - Won 3-2
Firstly myself (Rich Bo) at Number 4 in what can only be described as a bad day at the office. I knew I was in trouble in the warm up when the ball wasn't taking the line and I couldn't work out why (everyones nightmare)
I started by scrambling a win in the first game, more by drop shots as my line game was so poor however, as the game went on I tried and tried to get a tight line but it wasn't happening and my opponent kept picking the wide balls up and dropping them.
Although I believe I was the better player you can't win if your not hitting the line I went down 3-1.
Next up was Robin with his familiar tight power game at number 5, he was far too much for his opponent his consistency as always was spot on. His opponent was never going to have enough in his game to deal with it and Robin won I believe 3-0.
Next on was Tim at 3, playing a young runner. His opponent was extremely athletic and full of running, however did not have a particularly tight game. Tim picked him off by waiting for the loose ball (which came far to often) and punishing it in Tim's style with a tight low drive. It was like watching OB1 with a young skywalker.
The final result in this game was I think 3-0
Next on was Richard at number 2. His opponent was a seasoned player with lots of good shots and Richard set about chasing them down and wearing his opponent slowly out. With Richard 2-1 up his opponent appeared to get injured, this may have been to spare his blushes ( I normally blame the ref at this point) knowing that the end was nigh. Richard was ultimately to mobile for his opponent and always pushed him to play another shot. He won 3-1
Last but not least was Rohan at number 1, he started off at a canter hurrying around the court and attempting to play very tight shots, however he hurried a little too much and was not his clinical self, his opponent had a very consistent game and picked all the loose drops and flicks up, Rohan hit the tin far too many times, he in part blew himself out in the first game and struggled after that. His opponent was a very good and consistent player, Rohan would have needed to be right on his game to beat him and he wasn't he went down 3-0.
We won 3-2 on the night, so we are off to winning ways, the next game is on Wednesday at the Sobell
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1st october
Ealing vs Sobell 1 - Lost 2-3
At 7 o'clock yesterday I was feeling very pleased with the quality of our team. By 10 o'clock, I was still feeling pleased with our team, but I'd also remembered how hard winter squash is.