The Hart Squash teams are enjoying much success this year. Following promotion for both teams at the end of the Winter League in March, we entered a single team into the knockout shield, which was organised over 4 rounds and culminating in the final at Wellington Squash Club on June 9th.
Hart SC had beaten Bounty Squash 3~2 in the first round, then Torquay Squash 5~0, Reading University 3~2 in the semi-final and were pitted against Wellington 2 in the final. It was a humdinger of an encounter with all the matches being very closely fought. Warren Swannell won 3~0 at 4, but the first game was won 20~18 and both the 2nd and 3rd games were similarly competitive but Warren just had the edge each time.
On the other court, Paul Barker at 2 was having a titanic battle which went one way, then the other, but Wellington came out on top in 5 games, just. Carl Page followed Warren on court and after a nervy start against an experienced opponent and losing the first, he upped his game and won the next 3, without too much trouble. 2~1 up in matches.
Garreth Sutton at 3 had another compelling battle, after Pauls match, with some long rallies and at 2~1 up it looked good, but some inconsistency crept into his game and the Wellington player came back to win the last 2. So it was down to the first string match to decide the fate of the shield.
It was not a good start for Rod Shephard as he lost the first, but he then tightened up his game and won the next 2. Looking good! Back came his opponent to take the 4th – down to the wire! A one game shoot-out, and fortunately Rod started well, gained momentum and reached match ball – but then lost a succession of points, before closing out the match with a winning rally. Never in doubt!!!
It was an enjoyable and close encounter – and a first ever victory in the competition for Hart SC. A memorable night for everyone.
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