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Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 1 | Darren Heathfield | 2 | PJ Rutherford | 2 | 3 | 9/6 7/9 6/9 10/9 1/9 | | 3 | Bob Cowan | 4 | Gary Mitchell | 3 | 0 | 9/3 9/0 9/4 | | 4 | Marc Golding | 5 | Mark Fleming | 1 | 3 | 5/9 5/9 9/4 7/9 | | 6 | Mike Breen | 6 | Chris Morgan | 3 | 2 | 9/1 3/9 0/9 9/5 9/2 | | 5 | Andy McLean | 7 | John Creek | 3 | 2 | 8/10 9/3 9/2 1/9 9/2 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 12 | 10 | |
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| | | Bonus: | 5 | 0 | |
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| | | Result: | 17 | 10 | |
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| Report: | It had to happen!
Knole Park's wheels fell off their high horse in a big way this week.
Sayer - torn hamstring - did not show up, even to support his struggling teammates.
Rutherford - osteoarthritis in the left knee; external chest cyst, partially drained; antibiotics; badly bruised back from falling down stairs; flu; flyaway hair indiscriminately pushed over the top of his head - only a ghostly shadow of his already ascetic frame. But prepared heroically to put his unbeaten record on the line.
Mitchell - shoulder - dragged out of his convalescent armchair to put in a token appearance. Having been the sacrificial lamb already this season, a brave showing for another roasting.
Staffurth - a little overweight - but no trains running from Bristol this week. No show.
The rest of the squad still celebrating their giant-killing cup win from the week before - ill-prepared for the slaughter that was to follow.
So; no contest then. A pity for the gathered spectators, assembled for the showpiece game of the season. The Zimmer frames jammed the narrow staircase to the gallery, until their owners were reminded that the playing area was downstairs. Sick notes were exchanged between captains and verified by the visiting Priory Committee.
Who was playing for Acacia Hall? It matters not. But, for the record ...
First on, Chris Morgan - humiliated by Mike Breen (The Younger) in the cup, Chris was determined to do better. He did two games better, but could not hold on. 2-1 up and 5-0 in the fourth Chris lost 9 points in a row and faded in the last.
Andy McLean at 5, was eager for revenge against the ageing John Creek, who had used up all his tricks the week before. Andy squandered an 8-2 lead in the first, but the effort of clawing his way back was too much for John. A token effort in the fourth, which he took 9-1 to level the score, sapped the last ounce of strength from John and he surrendered meekly.
So, as in the cup, 0-2 down - for Knole was it to be 'déjà vu all over again'?
Mark Fleming is the David Gower of squash. Infuriating to watch when he flashes outside the off stump, then amazing as the same flash produces a silky cover drive sans pareil. On this occasion, Mark apparently put so many shots in the tin, that his opponent (Marc Golding again), decided to copy him. Mark won the battle of the 'f' words by three games to one. Knole back in the match.
Darren was back at 1 - his back not as badly broken as previously thought. Darren was ready by 7.45, but PJ kept him waiting an hour. PJ had ironed his Kent Squash Team shirt, which sagged as he hunched to receive, a forlorn figure, pausing only to cough into his sleeve and adjust his surgical dressing.
Two steady games went without major incident 1-1. The marker slowly established his dominance with a series of evenly balanced and firm decisions, which pleased only the supporters. By now the Priory Committee members had warmed to their task and murmured approvingly after each touch of class. PJ was beginning to turn on his array of tricks (one). For those who haven't seen it, he looks left and behind - then flicks the ball off the edge of the racket to the right.
Playing orthodox squash, Darren dug in to take the fourth 10-8. 2-2. But he was a spent force. Twice more, he fell for 'the only blanking shot he's got' and the clenched fist in the face salute from PJ at the end showed how much it meant to the old man.
Zap! Pow! Great gasps of anticlimax!!! Over on the other court, the sacrificial lamb had meanwhile done his job to perfection, giving the match to Acacia while the crowd was still enthralled with the drama of the 1s.
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| Author: | John Creek |
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