ESSA Leagues

2009/2010 Fixture #12 : Dunbar -v- Linlithgow : 28.01.10

The few days leading up to this match had seen a flurry of e-mails between team members stressing the perilous position we were in after a couple of games in the 2^nd half of the season. With three teams being demoted, we had to pick up points against Linlithgow who were just above us in the table, to avoid slipping into an automatic relegation position. Were the boys up to the challenge – read on……

David Weissgerber -v- I. F. Noturnedup

Dave played a blinder in the 5^th string match. His opponent was quite literally nowhere in this encounter, was never in the match etc etc. He really needn’t have bothered showing up – which was ironic, as he hadn’t.  And so Dave sat back with a pint of isotonic drink in his hand wearing the satisfied grin of a player who had already secured three points for the team!

 Philip Revell -v-Keith Barrett

Phil took to the court still looking for his first win of the season. I have refereed a number of his matches and he has played well in patches without displaying the consistency to win. He’s always picked up points but made too many unforced errors. Tonight was different! His opponent was the one who initially showed nerves, hitting the tin with an uncanny regularity, and this visibly made Phil play more relaxed squash. The tin count from the Dunbar man was markedly lower than in previous weeks, and he simply never let Keith get a foothold in any of the games. In particular Phil’s serve put Keith under huge pressure, and many of the rallies were three shot affairs – serve – loose return – winner!  The first win of the season was clinched in emphatic fashion – 9-1, 9-3, 9-2. Well played Phil!

Alistair Nichol -v- Dougie Raeburn

I must say that I feel a bit offended to have taken so much stick for my infamous ‘Steffi look’ a couple of matches ago – particularly when I see the kind of garb Mr Nichol regularly dons to play squash.  The tucked-in football shorts, the long socks – very odd, and although I don’t have the best legs, they can’t possibly be worse than Alistair’s – can they? 

Anyway, Al then took to the court in his accustomed position of number 3, but playing behind Graeme Jones for the first time following a ladder challenge loss to Dunbar ’s young pup! Alistair was up against the wily old fox himself – 64 year old Dougie Raeburn. Dougie still hits a very good ball indeed, and this match was a pleasure to watch. Good clean hitting from both players, with the difference really being age. Alistair simply got more balls back than Dougie, and turned his man well when given the opportunity, which led to a comfortable 3-0 in the end, 9-5, 9-7, 9-5. Alistair back on the winning trail!

Graeme Jones -v- Ian Forshaw

So Graeme played his first match in the lofty position of No.2 for the team. How long before he’s at the top of the order?  He did look a little ‘leaner’ than usual for this match, but this was explained by the fact that Montezuma had been wreaking revenge on Graeme’s stomach for the previous 48 hours or so. Not much had gone in to the system – but plenty had been coming out as they say. He was playing Ian Forshaw, who knows his way around a squash court. Graeme’s normal physical advantage was clearly ‘compromised’, and so this was going to be more of a test of his skill. He also didn’t want a long grueling game, and having taken the first 9-3, he was hugely relieved to nick the second on the tiebreak 10-8. That 2-0 cushion was even more valuable when Graeme started badly in the third. He possibly did the sensible thing in not chasing every ball too hard in that game – losing it 9-4, and saving something for an extra push in game 4. A good start was important, and that’s exactly what he got. Despite a determined Ian making it uncomfortable for Graeme, he managed to take the fourth 9-5 and was glad to get off court and straight to the toilet – sorry showers…..

David Legge -v- Robert Purdie

So – a 4-0 scoreline for the home team, could the Captain and No1 make it a whitewash? I had lost my previous two matches since Christmas 3-2 and 3-1 (losing 3 tiebreaks) and so was desperate for a win. I knew my opponent, and that it would be a very hard match against a young guy who will chase the ball into every corner all night long, and has a very impressive – if inconsistent – game.

That inconsistency was very much in evidence in game one. Robert was all over the place, struggling with his first experience of Dunbar ’s courts I think. It was very quickly over in a couple of ‘hands’ 9-0. I knew that was unlikely to continue, and sure enough a different Robert came on court in game 2, and he took it 9-6. He continued in much the same vein in the third, with particular success in the front of the court (I’m not getting any quicker – unsurprisingly), and he took that one too – 9-7. The fourth started like the first, all tins from Robert and a 5-0 lead for me. The see-sawing continued as Robert came all the way back to lead 6-5, before I dug in and took the next few points to win it 9-6. And so it was down to a decider. By now I was pretty exhausted if I’m honest, but the game was very close to 5-5. Although it remained tight, I ‘gave’ my opponent a stroke at 7-5. I regretted this later because over the course of the match we probably had an even share of dodgy decisions. However at the time I did think he’d had a bad decision there on an obvious stroke and so that led to match ball – which he promptly took at the first opportunity. Another loss – 9-0, 6-9, 7-9, 9-6, 5-9.

And so despite another loss for the Captain, a great night for the Team – 19-4 overall and we’re now just ahead of Linlithgow 130 – 128 in total. The league remains frighteningly tight though. One thing needs to be said  – we still have to play ALL THREE teams that we hope to finish above, and so our fate is in our own hands!!

Next match is away at ESC3 next Friday – one of out must win matches!

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