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Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 2 | Stacey Ross | 1 | Martin Rintoul | 3 | 1 | 9/6 9/3 7/9 9/3 | | 4 | Obaid Khan | 2 | Lewis Ryall | 3 | 0 | 9/1 9/4 9/5 | | 8 | Ted Jeal | 3 | Sam Stabler | 3 | 2 | 9/6 7/9 1/9 9/8 9/8 | | 10 | Toby Mortimer | 4 | James McMeckan | 0 | 3 | 2/9 4/9 2/9 | | 12 | Gordon McManus | 8 | Ian McMeckan | 2 | 3 | 9/3 2/9 1/9 9/6 7/9 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 11 | 9 | |
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| | | Bonus: | 5 | 0 | |
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| | | Result: | 16 | 9 | |
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| Report: | League 1 ‘Whipping Boys’ push Biggin Hill to the wire!
After last weeks narrow defeat to Rodmersham, BCC were looking to bounce back with a win, however up against bank rolled Biggin Hill it was going to be a tough ask!
For the last couple of seasons, Biggin Hill have been paying world ranked players to bolster their chances of winning the prestigious Kent League title – this has created plenty of discussion and argument amongst the leagues top teams and on the squash forum, (although close sources tell me that it’s normally Mark Lennox replying to his own posts at 3am on a Sunday morning).
There’s no love lost between theses two sides, and along with some pre-season shenanigans, this tie was given some added spice.
It all came to a head in the off season, with Biggin Hill poaching BCC new #1 Ted Jeal. Now you can’t blame the kid for being tempted by dollar signs, after all he needs a new haircut and a new man bag to boot. However the fact that it’s come to the point where Biggin Hill are poaching Kent club players for the sake of winning every match 20-0 is pretty sad. It’s hardly in keeping with the ethics of the whole squash league.
No pre-game talk was needed, every one of the BCC players were up for this one.
BCC players arrived promptly ready to get on with the match, with poor Sam putting it in for the team, despite sporting a horrific neck injury. Whilst drying his hair before work, he pulled a verve (nerve) – how he managed to play ceases to amaze me – poor lad it was really sore – ah diddums!
Mark Lennox ex England international and Kent League manager of the year two years running had relinquished his captain duties to Toby, a more than capable captain whose commitment to the club over recent seasons justified his selection. Hence it was Toby’s’ job to round up the ringers from various stations around the south east.
A couple of their team turned up just after 8, and were then given a guided tour around the club; you know things like the squash court, bar, changing rooms etc.
On with the match I hear you shout – sorry so pumped from last night – just want to keep rambling on.
Toby (Committed and more than capable club captain) vs. James (tactician and ex England Spelling champion 1995)
With the heavy burden of captain duties on his mind, Toby looked off the pace for most of the match. James, determined to fight for every point rallied Toby around the court with peppered drops (felt like saying lightly salted then) and deep lengths, twisting and turning Toby’s’ substantial frame at all opportunities. Early exchanges in each game were tight, but James’ will to win for his club and shirt saw him pull through for an impressive straight sets win. 3-0
Obaid Khan Vs King Lewy
The editor missed the game as he was on marking duties, but from what I heard it was money well spent on Obaid. Lightening quick around the court and a fierce unorthodox backhand saw Obaid record a straight sets victory. Poor Lewy must have felt like his plums had crumbled. 3 – 0.
Gordon Vs El Capitano
El Capitano is good at the old match report and the general day to day running of the team; however it doesn’t always filter through into his squash. Tonight though you could see he was pumped and up for it. Up against Gordon, a player who had thrashed him every time they played, no-one gave El Capitano much of a chance.
The first went to form, however from then on, El Capitano raised his game. The 2nd and 3rd games were won with comparative ease – a string of volley winners and a dominant display on his backhand return of serve saw El Capitano go 2-1 up. Into the third and 5-0 up, a stitch suddenly appeared, and El Capitano looked f**ked. Gordon probably twice his age kept on running and running and battled back to force a decider. A quick telling off from James (tactician and ex England Spelling champion 1995) put El Capitano back in the right frame of mind. The fifth ebbed and flowed, with both players making errors and then playing winners, however it was El Capitano whose hard hitting towards the end of the game (and the odd backhand return of serve winner) saw him record what was arguably his best win of his career. Gordon was gracious in defeat, only using the 4 expletives to describe how bad he played as they shook hands. 3 – 2
Stacey vs. Martin
Missed all of this game unfortunately, but it would have been nice to see the World #40 playing against Martin. Again from sources it looked like Martin is getting his fitness and reactions back. He surprised all and sundry by taking a game off Stacey, but inevitably went down 3-1. Hope he doesn’t keep doing this well or he might ask for a pay rise, that’s if Biggin Hill don’t try and snap him up first.
Judas vs. Diddums
With the match all square, and two foes up against each other for the decider, the script couldn’t have been written any better (even if El Capitano had written it). Attempts to bribe Ted were unsuccessful, but on a more positive note, Sam seemed to have recovered from his horrific neck injury and was twisting and turning his neck all over the place.
Sam used all his tactics and was clearly getting to Ted as he went into a 2-1 lead. The next two games were tense affairs with both players questioning everything, some great rallies and some great retrieving. Sam held several match points in the fourth, and had a simple volley to win it, but choked – Ted went on to win the 4th and force a decider.
Into the fifth and there was one ‘Sam’ moment whereby the marker called one of his shots out. It clearly wasn’t and he argued his point and suggested asking the gallery who all knew it was in. Ted obviously thought differently and was suggesting we all thought it was out. ‘If you were honest Ted’ said Sam, ‘you would have called that one out’. ‘Alright it was out’ replied Ted. Sam eventually understood why we were all laughing.
Again Sam held several match points, but again could not close it out and it was Ted who held on to win 3-2 and give Biggin Hill the match 3-2, 16-9.
Credit has to be given to BCC who put up a great fight and were unlucky to lose 3-2 against such a strong Biggin Hill team. If we are the whipping boys, it’s going to be a very close season for everyone.
Credit to Toby for staying till the end despite all of his team leaving for the 11pm flight from Biggin Hill to the next PSA tour match, for putting up with the constant banter about nicking our players, paying players who have never been to Biggin Hill before, and getting thrashed 3-0.
Mark you may want to bring someone in to manage the 1st team, Juande Ramos may be in search of a job soon.
El Capitano
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| Author: | El Capitano |
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