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 | Fixture Details | |  | | |
Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 1 | J.Tatsfield | 1 | L.Ryall | 3 | 0 | 9/9 9/7 10/8 | | 3 | P.Buckner | 4 | I.Mc'Meckan | 3 | 0 | 10/9 9/2 9/5 | | 5 | S.Johnson | 5 | M.Van Ooscht | 0 | 3 | 4/9 5/9 0/9 | | 8 | C.Thain | 9A | D.Stacey | 3 | 0 | 9/4 9/1 9/0 | | 10 | L.Riley | 11 | A.Brackstone | 3 | 2 | 9/7 2/9 9/1 5/9 9/7 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 12 | 5 | |
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| | | Bonus: | 5 | 0 | |
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| | | Result: | 17 | 5 | |
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| Report: | Tunbridge thrash lacklustre Bromley 4 - 1
Bromley made the long trip down into Tunbridge Wells hoping to re create the amazing win they recorded here last year. With only 4 players, and each of the top 3 going 2 - 0 down, they fought back to win the match 3 - 2 overall, and all but secure their status in the top flight for another
season.
Would this match be any different?
The match got underway with Number 2's Paul Buckner vs Ian McMeckan and Number 5's Lance Riley vs Andy Brackstone.
In the first game between Paul and Ian, the pace was frenetic. Hard hitting and deep crosscourts saw Ian take an early lead in the game, only for Paul to counter with some scrambling squash. Paul took an 8 - 5 lead in the first, and despite a brave fightback from Ian, held on to win the game 10 - 9.
The second game was in stark contrast to the first. Paul completely changed his tactics and slowed it down. Ian had no answer, and found himself 9 - 2 down in no time, and left him 2 - 0 down for the second consecutive week. Unlike last week, Ian couldn't fight his way back into the game, and despite a tense finish in the third lost out 3 - 0.
Note to Ian - Stay off the booze. (Take nothing away from Paul, I doubt he would have beaten him anyway).
Andy Brackstone turned up with no trainers, so had to borrow Michels'. This turned out to be an inspiration as he shared the opening 4 games with Lance.
Andy was red hot at the start of the fifth, and Lance had no answer to Andys' consistency. He raced into a 5 - 0 lead, but then slowly started to lose concentration. Some strong gamesmanship saw Lance turn the deficit around, and he held on to win the fifth 9 - 7. This was hard luck on Andy who played some of his best squash for a while.
For the second consecutive week Bromley were 2 - 0 down, but then some astonishing news emerged. Tunbridge Wells number 1 James, was injured. Could lighting strike twice?
Number 3's Steve and Michel went on at the same time as Number 4's Chris and Dave.
When asked to mark the Number 3's match, James said that he couldn't as he needed to warm up for his match vs Lewis. When it was explained to him that he wouldn't be going on for a good half hour, he replied with one of the worst excuses ever.
" I can't mark, I'm injured!" It was unclear what his real injury was, as he was able to play Lewis later on.
After finding two fully fit markers, (although Andy did have a slight knock on his index finger), the next two matches got underway.
Michel had spent the previous weekend at an Aberdeen Squash training camp. His hard work clearly paid off as he took an early lead against Steve. Although Steve was suffering from a calf problem, Michel was too good for him. His speed and fitness helped him record a comprehensive win 3 - 0. With more impressive performances like this Michel will be making a strong claim for the number 2 position.
On the other court Dave took on Tunbridge captain Chris. Whereas Michel had been at squash training camp, Dave had been down the local uni bar at lunchtime, killing all the spare time that students get. His lunchtime drinking clearly showed as he was thrashed by Chris 3 - 0, gaining only 5 points.
I don't think he will mind me saying but this was probably his worst performance for Bromley CC. Next week he will be wearing a tag, so any trips to the bar will alert the manager.
Lastly the two unbeaten number 1's James and Lewis took on each other.
There was a 20 minute delay before this game though. No one was available to mark as everyone was injured. After strapping Chris' leg in bandages and the doctor giving him the all clear to mark, the match got underway.
The first game was extremely close. James wasn't making many errors and Lewis was scrambling around the court like a terrier. James held on to win the first 9 - 6. In the second game errors started to blight Lewis' game, but James was giving away too many strokes. Lewis looked to have the game in the bag, but James managed to somehow win the game 9 - 7.
Deflated from the second game Lewis quickly went behind 7 - 2. This seemed to ignite Lewis, and he started to play some of his best squash of the match. It looked like he was going to turn the match around, as he levelled the game at 8 - 8. Unfortunately all that effort seemed to take the wind out of Lewis and he lost the game 10 - 8 and the match 3 - 0.
After preaching to his team to stay off the booze at the weekend, only one player took note of the Managers' comments. Michel duly won. Dave when I say stay off the booze at the weekend, it doesn't give you license to drink on the actual day of the match.
Despite all the excuses under the sun, Tunbridge were worthy winners, and at present look like justifying their status as pre season favourites. Bromley need to stop the slide, otherwise they will be involved in a dog fight to avoid relegation.
We're all off to a training camp in Aberdeen for the weekend!
Ian McMeckan
Bromley CC 1 (Player Manager,Coach,Physio,Treasurer,Organiser)
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| Author: | Ian McMeckan |
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