Date: Mon 17th November
Venue: O&C Club
Result: Swans 4 – Jesters 3
Match Manager: Andrew Clark
Dear Swans and Jesters,
What a wonderful evening of squash. First on Clark vs Carlisle. Clark’s first proper game since straining a ligament practicing with Simpson…what a surprise! Clark had watched Carlisle effortlessly gliding round the court against the Argentines; Carlisle continued in that vein. Clark took the first 4 points only to promptly lose the first game 9/4. Any weak length invited a dribbled attacking boast or drop. Drop volleys were also featured. Clark soon learnt that a counter-drop off the boast was “not recommended” as it had Carlisle waiting in anticipation. Thankfully, Clark improved his length, got Carlisle into the back corners and managed to eke out at 3/1 win. However, at no stage did Clark feel in control, in fact the opposite. Clark needs to learn to glide like Carlise. Meanwhile, Chohan went 2 up vs Wall. As now seems typical of Wall, he dug in and apparently won another slugfest 3/2. Phey vs Ng saw some real quality on display at times with numerous tight rallies down the sidewalls. Ng wisely cross-courted deep to Phey’s backhand but each time she forgot to do so Phey’s searing forehand taught her a lesson. Phey combined this with a series of excellent attacking boasts and deserved the win but it was a well contested match.
I don’t think I have ever played Husband and based on what I saw last night I think it is best I don’t. Husband literally belted the ball very hard and low but also combined this with attacking boasts and drops. Warner bided his time, did not get dragged into Husband’s belting but stuck to his own style. It looked like Warner may do alright but the first game went narrowly to Husband 12/10 from memory. After that Husband maintained his power play, Warner did not manage to find an antidote and Husband won 3/0.
Going back to gliding, Price vs Sibley saw Sibley also gliding effortlessly round the court. It seems to me that the problem of playing Sibley is that it is very difficult to win any points. However, Price used his extra 30 years of experience to the full. In fact, I thought Price played extremely well. He varied pace, height and direction. This was combined with reverse angles, trickle boasts, delayed drops and lobs. It would have been difficult for Price to play any better. A great effort to take the younger, relentless man to 5.
Similarly, Winter vs Simpson was another tough contest. Winter used all his guile, variety and touch but some of the rallies were so gruelling and both players so athletic that I feared Winter’s extra 25 years might result in injury. Often it seemed that Winter had to hit not 1 but 4 absolute winners to get a single point. In the end, Simpson stuck to his guns and won in 5 but both players had played a blinder.
I hope Duncan’s hamstring recovers soon.
Please see scores below and correct me if any wrong. It looks like a narrow 4/3 win for the Swans. Also, if any non-Jesters would like to become Jesters then please say and I shall be happy to propose you.
Swans 4 Jesters 3
- Sibley vs Price 3/2
- Simpson vs Winter 3/2
- Kynoch vs Curtis 1/1 Kynoch retired
- Warner vs Husband 0/3
- Wall vs Chohan 3/2
- NG vs Phey 1/3
- Clark vs Carlisle 3/1
