ESSA Leagues

2009/2010 Fixture #2 : Dunbar -v- Watsonians 3 : 29.10.09

After Dunbar’s win at Abercorn on the opening week of the 2009/10 season, a small crowd had turned out to lend their support as Watsonians 3 were welcomed to Halhill for the opening home fixture.

Unfortunately for Graeme Jones, Watsonians had only been able to muster four players for the match, and he therefore received a Walk-over at 5^th string. Graeme was of course gutted, but it’s fair to say that if his rate of improvement continues he won’t suffer the same fate again as he’ll be occupying a playing spot much higher up the team.

Birthday Boy David Legge then played the 1^st string match (opponent wanting to get back to Edinburgh ). Whether too much cake had already been consumed it may never be known, but something was clearly not right with Dunbar ’s No.1 from the off. It’s fair to say that David was ‘at one with the court’ but unfortunately it was the 19 inches at the bottom of the front wall that he was particularly interested in. “Tintin” as he is now known repeatedly whacked the ‘bottom board’ with laser like accuracy, and on far too regular a basis, normally when in a position of winning a rally. Within 15 minutes it was 2-0 to his opponent – clearly enjoying the prospect of getting up the road to Edinburgh even quicker than anticipated. A very strange match took a twist when David won game 3 by 9-0, but any hopes of a comeback were short lived as his now 45 year old legs tired in the fourth to end one of his most disappointing outings in Dunbar colours.

On court two meanwhile – the ‘Flashing Blade’ himself, Philip Revell, was playing his first competitive match having missed the Abercorn encounter. Philip hit his usual array of unique shots, winners from everywhere and errors from nowhere. With more court-time behind him Philip would have been confident of beating an opponent who possessed fewer shots in his armory, but the greater consistency of his opponent on the night led to a 3-1 defeat for Phil, and Dunbar were now 2-1 behind and looking down the barrel!

Good old Mr. Dependable – Alistair Nichol, and Dunbar ’s Zimbabwean squash maestro Evan Green then set about trying to reverse the tide. Evan played Ally Carruth in a repeat of last years match, and Ally played every bit as well as he had in the previous encounter. The score was again 3-0 with Ally displaying a conventional, but quality squash game with an easy languid style. Evan never stopped trying or running, but having watched Dave Legge earlier he also seemed to have temporarily caught the tin habit, and was never steady enough to get a real foothold in any of the games.  

All this time Alistair was having another protracted  ‘squash war’. Whether he feels that the journey from Berwick demands a five game thriller I don’t know, but there certainly aren’t many early nights with Al around.  In a match that could be held up as the perfect embodiment of the phrase ‘clash of styles’, Basher Nichol was constantly outwitted by the guile of his 57 year old opponent – Scottish over 55 Champion Jim Dougal.  Almost every shot Jim Dougal hit was either a winner, or ‘down’, but critically he hit more of the former than the latter. Alistair ran and ran as always, and having lost game 3 in a tie break, he saved a match ball in the 4^th before winning it 10-9. We were into a decider, but unfortunately for Alistair Jim’s experience and composure kept him in front all the way and he took the match with a 9-6 win in game five.

So a disappointing night for Dunbar , a 17-9 defeat against a team who had no superstars but who batted well down the order. Thanks go to Murphy and Dave Weissgerber for their support, and hopefully a few more might make it down to future fixtures.

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