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| Report: | Dulwich were at more or less full strength tonight whilst Park Langley were struggling to put out 5 so the outcome was stacked in Dulwich's favour from the start - also the Dulwich boys had been ordered to get some practice in after last weeks defeat.
1st up where Greg and Adam and this one looked like being competitive early on as Adam took an early 2-0 lead with Greg making a few mistakes. Greg grabbed it back to go 3-2 up only for Adam to switch it back and go 6-3 up. At this point Greg seemed to settle and he strung together a number of unanswered rallys to take the 1st game. The 2nd saw Greg feeling more confident and Adam struggling to get to anything at the front of the court. Greg was 3-0 up quickly and Adam got a handout now and then but he only managed to add a couple of points. Adam was miss firing a bit more as this game proceeded and Greg was playing well and took it to go 2 up. The 3rd was one way traffic after a couple of hand outs early on and only when Greg got to 7-0 up did Adam get back into it but by that time it was too late and Greg finished off to win 3-0
Next up where Olly and Andy - this one was full on fast drives, drops and boasts from both players with the ball fizzing around the court. The 1st was close all the way but Olly just had the edge and at 5-5 he made that edge count to take the last 4 points despite a number of hand outs. The 2nd saw Olly play more consistently forcing mistakes from Andy who only managed 1 point. The 3rd was close again and Andy managed an early 4-2 lead as he tried to force Olly to wilt. Olly would not wilt and he struck back with some solid play to push through to a 6-4 lead. Andy tried in vain to pull it back but Olly soon had it won 3-0.
Next up where Dave and Fergus and these two are well matched. Dave started well although Fergus is renowned for starting slowly and finishing slightly less slowly so this was no surprise. Dave held a lead which increased slightly as the 1st game wore on. Dave's short arm drives and drops where doing the trick and catching Fergus out and with a few mistakes from Fergus Dave managed to finish it with a few points to spare. The 2nd saw Fergus getting into his groove and he was making Dave miss fire a little. A 5-0 lead to Fergus was brought back to 4-5 by Dave but Fergus held his form and took it without dropping any more points to make it 1-1. The 3rd was the game of the match with both players now playing well. Both players took turns to lead and some tough rallies where making this likely to be the decider. Dave's short arm shots where again making the difference as he took a 5-3 lead. This went to 7-3 before Fergus rallied and brought it level at 7-7. Dave got to game point first only for Fergus to level. Fergus could not force another point however and Dave took it to go 2-1 up. The 4th saw Dave march off to an early lead as Fergus was struggling to recover his form of the previous game. Dave was now in confident and determined mood and he piled on the pressure to force more points and soon he had it won 9-2 to take he match 3-1.
Next up where Andrew and Anthony. Andrew has not played much of late but was said to be fit (this was a quote his wife!) and raring to go ( another quote from his wife!) - is another littleun on the way? Anthony was a late replacement so this was a step up for him tonight. Both players started off a bit loose but Andrew soon found his form and was in charge once he claimed the serve back.at 1-1. Andrew did not drop a point or let Anthony have any more handouts so it was 1 up to Andrew. The 2nd saw Anthony playing better and he made Andrew work hard early on but it was Andrew notching up the points each time had had the serve whilst Anthony got stuck on 1 so at 2 up it was not looking good for Anthony. The 3rd was the quickest of the 3 and Andrew was 8-0 up before Anthony got a handout but that was it and Andrew closed it out for a 3-0 win.
At this stage Park Langley 2 were probably looking at one of their worst defeats ever having just 1 point on the scoreboard - see the scoreboard picture on the Dulwich Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dulwich-Squash-Club/784092088325626?fref=nf)
Finally up it was Andy and Mark in the 1st string match which was eagerly watched by all the other players. Andy started off started off well with Mark struggling a little with the amount of running his little ole legs were having to do. Andy's athleticism was having the desired affect and he piled on the points to move to 3-1 then 6-1. Mark looked up at the gallery at this stage a little bemused and unsure whether he was up for the fight. But he did fight back and grabbed points where he could to get back to 4-6 then with a string of points levelled up at 7-7. A number of handouts at this stage may just have taken the edge off marks play as Andy regained the lead and won game point at the first opportunity to go 1 up. The 2nd saw Mark in charge and he controlled it preventing Andy from getting a look in. Andy was getting to most of what Mark was doing but giving Mark too many opportunities and Mark took the 2nd for the loss of just 2 points. The 3rd was a tough one and probably the decider. Mark took an early lead only for Andy to level at 3-3. Andy was now making his game pay and he pushed on to a 6-3 lead and looked like he may have taken control. Mark however showed all his experience and forced errors from Andy and again began to make Andy pay for not being tight enough. Mark moved back into the lead at 7-6 and despite Andy's best efforts he could not stop Mark getting to game point and taking it to go 2-1 up. The 3rd was another tight one with Mark just ahead all of the way at 2-1 and 4-2 and 7-3. Andy tried hard to force his way back into it but the closest he got was 7-5 before Mark finished off to rescue Park Langley from a very heavy defeat. Well played both players.
No Indian summer as yet for the food so it was Olleys fish and chips for the chaps tonight.
All the best to Ray - hope you are back on court soon. |
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| Author: | Ian Armstrong |
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