David Lloyd Renfrew Match Reports (25/11/09)

Sorry for the long report, but what a night – what a match – what a game at the No.1 string!

I have to say that the team was magnificent this week; everyone turned in a great performance (even I reached the dizzy heights of average!) and we ended up beating the 3rd ranked team in Division 1 !!!!!!!

First up was Sean v Graham “The Mugger” McAinsh at No.4. I was on court at the same time so missed the first 2 games, which is just as well as Sean was 2-0 down, but what a comeback! Giffnock are very strong down the order and it was an excellent effort from Sean to pull the match back to 2-1 and then 2-2. Whilst I was on court I’d heard Sean remonstrating with the umpire and so naturally I assumed that the receptionist or some passer-by was doing the marking. As I came off court I saw Lyall with the clipboard and had to laugh as Sean was telling him he didn’t know what he was talking about – despite being Scotland’s No.4! Anyway by 2-2 Lyall was delighted to hand over the marking duties to a Giffnock player and get ready for his match and so to the final game. Sean was always behind in this game, but at 8-10 game ball down he took a couple of risks and they came off and he clawed his way back to 11-10 (match ball up). There were some excellent rallies at this point, but unfortunately Sean was on the wrong end of them, which included a very cruel ‘no let’ decision at match ball that finished the tie in favour of Giffnock. But an excellent 2 points from Sean.

I was on at the same time and when I earlier predicted a 3-2 match result I thought this may be where it would be decided (I was wrong). My opponent, Mikey Rodgerson, won the first game and I was far from happy with my performance. In the second game Mikey seemed to over-stretch for a ball and hurt his thigh. I tried to keep the ball away from him at this point, but anyone who was watching the game would be forgiven for thinking that I was trying to do the complete opposite! I did my best to mess the second game up, but at 9-9 I managed to hold my nerve and just squeezed home.
In between the games Kev told me to play the ball early as Mikey seemed to be not moving well, which was advice that I wasn’t able to put into practice as I kept hitting the ball Mikey’s way and he kept putting the ball away! I was very lucky in the third game as I re-doubled my efforts at 10-10 and snuck home 12-10. Kev reminded me that my opponent wasn’t moving at all and it suddenly dawned on me that the leg injury may be worse than it seemed. And so it proved in the 4th game as I played the ball earlier (just like Kev said) and won the game 11-2 and the match 3-1.

Next up was Lyall v Jamie. I was buoyed by the players not shouting at my marking decisions last week, so I actually volunteered to referee this one and I’m so glad I did. What a match! What fantastic rallies! What speed and athleticism! It was probably the best fought match I’ve ever seen. Lyall looked in control in the first game and pushed Jamie (Macaluay – Scotland’s No.7) around the court quite easily to win 11-7. But then the fireworks started at around 6-6 in the second game, as there were some unbelievable rallies; Lyall attacked brilliantly and Jamie defended amazingly, both players were moving at breathtaking speed and I was convinced that this game would be where the match was decided, as they were both taking so much out of each other physically. Jamie won this second game 11-9 and then he also took a lead in the third game which he never surrendered, despite having to fling his body around the court after everything Lyall could throw at him. In the fourth game the pace had taken it’s toll on Jamie as Lyall took complete control of the match. He sent him the wrong way again and again and managed to get his front court drives past Jamie’s despairing volley to win 11-3. And so to the fifth game. The tempo of the game was once again phenomenal to watch and the reactions were amazing! Both players didn’t give an inch, there was one amazing rally after another and all I could do was applaud after the sheer physical effort of some of the rallies……………………………. and then give a let as I remembered that I was marking! In the 5th at 8-7 up Lyall’s shoe gave way and he had to change his right gutty (Jamie complained that he was playing for time, Lyall said he was only just getting going!). Anyway the changed proved to be a disaster as the new shoe caused him to slip all over the court and two short rallies later he was 9-8 down. At this point Lyall just threw his racket at the next point and managed to get an easy winner – Jamie then realised that Lyall’s shoes were so bad that he was just going to go for it and so he decided to do the same. This was a mistake and Lyall pounced on the last few points and won the match 11-9 in around and hour of brilliant squash (this was where tonight’s match was won – MOTM to both players, no question).

While all this was going on Steve Wodjosezasizzzisakkkski was on court and having a fantastic start to his match as he took the first game from Garry Blanchflower 11-7. I was busy marking the other game at the time so didn’t see Steve’s, but I heard that after this Steve began to tire and and Garry came back at him. The next two games appear to have been tough as well with Steve getting to 8-9 in each game, but Garry taking both. All of this toil took it’s toll and the last was all one way traffic to Garry.

And so (once again) the match was poised at 2-2 and Kev went on last against Owen Hadden at No.2. Owen is a very tricky player and Kev had lost to him last time so it was going to take a real effort to turn things round. Again I was still marking during the first string match, so all I saw was Kev looking moody but content after the first followed by moody and annoyed after the second!!! I concluded that it must be 1-1 and this was confirmed as his racket was thrown on the floor (I winced as it was one of my Harrow rackets as well!!!). Anyway what I didn’t know was what a tremendous effort Owen had put in to just compete in the first, let alone win the second. I began watching around this time and Owen was trying every little trick he had to get a point (and he has plenty believe me!) but Kev was looking determined (and moody) and was making life very difficult for every single point. Kev won the 3rd reasonably easily and now the tide had well and truly turned; which was more obvious if you compared the small sweat patch on Kev’s top to Owen’s, who looked like he’d been swimming! The words ‘burst baw’ came to mind in the 4th as Kev had his man exactly where he wanted him and finished him off reasonably easily to win his game 3-1 and the match 3-2. Kev looked delighted and moody as he came off the court.

Magnificent night and a great team effort to win 15-10.

cheers

Jason

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2nd Team Report

The seconds with a somewhat weakened team, were away to Whitecraigs LTC 2. No Steven, Brian or Gordon. John Findlay made another guest appearance and Morgan came in at 5.

Colin was first on at no 3 against Bob Buchanan and he must have felt as though he was playing himself as they had almost identical games. Nevertheless, it was a very competitive and close encounter. Colin took the first game and at 16-16 in the second, was close to taking a 2 game lead. Bob managed to edge it and from then on, kept himself ahead to win the match 3-1.

Next on was Morgan. She was playing Graham Reid and in the process smashed the West of Scotland age difference record for a league match. He is not called “Old Lobber” for nothing as he doesn’t rally and the ball never gets warm. He lobs at every opportunity with a drop the only alternative. He was frustrating Morgan at every turn. She kept thinking she had come to terms with it only to find the ball going in the opposite direction she anticipated. She threatened to get into the match on a few occasions only for Graham to take control again. In the second game, the ball burst, an event Graham claims never to have happened to him before. He intends to have it mounted. The new ball didn’t help Morgan and she lost 3-0. We were now 6-1 down for the second week running.

I was next on at 4 against Alistair. I took the first game, coming from behind with a run of 8 straight points. In the second, after a misunderstanding over a let call went against me, I lost concentration and tamely let the game slip. I took control of the third to go 2-1 up but determined play by Alistair combined with my slackness led to him squaring it at 2-2. I felt that this was a match I should be winning and only had to screw the nut in the final game to see it through. That normally means I proceed to get humped. This time however, I kept the pressure on him and only allowed him a handful of points. A 3-2 win and we were still alive in the contest.

Scott was next to take to the court against the very experienced Peter Lewis. This turned out to be the match of the night. With the court being very lively, neither player was able to play many killer shots and the rallies went on and on. No matter how hard or low Scott hit his drives, Peter was there to retrieve it. The majority of Peter’s points came from Scott hitting the tin. Scott’s winners were mostly very tight drives which Peter just failed to reach. Scott won the first but then found himself 2-1 down. In the fourth, Scott was dictating the rallies but Peter’s defence was immense and Scott found himself 13-11 down. There didn’t look any way back for Scott as he could not conjure up winning shots. All of a sudden, he produced a sublime volley into the backhand nick. Another 2 followed. Incredible!! Peter could only watch and admire. Game point. Peter tinned a shot and they were level at 2-2. Scott stepped up the pace in the fifth but Peter was equal to it. He showed no signs of tiring and matched Scott all the way. Peter got to 14-13 match ball but Scott saved it. Peter chose 1. My money was on Scott. Unfortunately, he put a shot down and the match was lost.

John completed the night by lining up against the veteran Alex Everingham at 1. Alex took the first game but John came back to win the second. John stormed ahead in the third and looked to be heading for victory. Alex had other ideas and came back strongly to take it. John faded in the fourth and Alex ran out a comfortable winner.

Overall, a 17-7 defeat. It might have been different if we had all our players available.

Robert.