Fairness And Etiquette To The Fore In Squash And Racketball Finals

Months of qualifying matches culminated in an excellent 2011 Finals Night at the Beverley Squash and Racketball Club last Friday.

Chairman Jonathan Rollison was delighted with the “excellent court etiquette and fairness” on display at their Norwood Recreation Park home courts, and congratulated the winners – who started their qualifying campaigns in January – on their achievements

There were eight finals played on the night, and the results and reports are as follows:

1. Junior Squash Plate – Robert Johnson beat Matthew Johnson.

Robert and Matthew are brothers who train on Saturday mornings at the club. Both earned their place in the plate final after losing their first round matches in the Championship knockout, then beating the other first round losers in the following matches.

The final was played with good-natured sibling rivalry and hard playing. Coach Jonathan Rollison marked the match. Fiona Moverley, new coach to the club, presented the plate and medals.

2. Junior Squash Championship – Jack Trowsdale beat Nick Rogers.

Both players have been attending Saturday morning coaching for many years and Nick has played in previous finals.

In this match Nick slowed down the fast style preferred by Jack and this nearly paid off in the second game when Nick came within three points of taking the game.

Jack was penalised repeatedly for foot faulting but managed to overcome this by powering the ball to the back of the court and away from his opponent

Both players showed good court movement, and again coach Rollison marked the match and Moverley presented the plate and medals.

3. Veterans Championship – Steve Flanigan beat Mike Straw.

If you think squash is not the game for the older generation . . think again! With a combined age of the opponents on the wrong side of 100 you’d think the pace would be more stately not so!

These “gentlemen” covered the court at speed, hit the ball with speed and never let up. Steve takes the grey hair accolade again this year.

4. Squash Plate – Graham Carver beat Jackie Langley. The squash first round losers play for the Plate and this is the first final for Graham at club.

A mixed bag of points in the five games played, with Jackie easily taking the first and third, and Graham just taking the second and fourth to send the match into the fifth.

Graham’s determination pushed the points along to take the fifth 15-9 and the match.

5. Squash Championship – Scott Manterfield beat Dave Harris.

Dave elected to play this match before the Racketball final – he knew the younger player was going to test him to the limit, and Scott didn’t disappoint.

This was probably the best match of the season between two elite players. Scott landed the first surprise by taking the first game 15-8 and then the second game 15-11.

Dave had to pull something good out of the bag and came back with interest to snatch the third and fourth games convincingly.

The gallery was keen for the younger player to take the fifth all the way and again Scott did not disappoint.

Both players were looking tired, Scott more than Dave. Then at match ball 14-11, Dave put the ball down and let Scott back in to level it 14 all and force a tie break.

At 16-17 Dave had the serve but Scott won the rally to draw level. This was a captivating match and the gallery erupted in cheers and applause when Scott won the final point to take the last game of the match 19-17.

6. Squash Handicap – beat Ben Robinson.

The handicap scoring worked out by was spot on again this year and we were treated to a gripping and lengthy David and Goliath type match with Phil conceding a serve to Ben.

Phil had to keep focussed and not let the second serve, or the age thing eat into his mind. Ben, at 12 years old, was the youngest player in the all of the finals – including the Juniors.

That gives an indication of this youngster’s potential. As in the final last year, Phil played some of his best squash – he had to against the coached style of Ben, who is undoubtedly a future club champion.

Another match that went all the way to five games and was great entertainment for the Gallery. Ben was a formidable opponent and very gracious in defeat – an exemplary sportsman.

7. Racketball Plate – Jackie Langley beat . This match brought together two players who both play for the club in the summer and often play against each other in training and mini-leagues.

The match went to five games with Phil taking the first and fourth to force the fifth game, but by this time had run out of steam and ideas allowing Jackie to seize 10 points to his one, before finishing 11-3 to win the match.

8. Racketball Championship – Dave Harris beat Steve Flanigan. A repeat of the final last year, the two players had recovered a bit from their earlier matches and soon got the big bouncy ball flying at high speed around the court.

Dave took control of the court and moved Steve around well taking the match in three games: 11-7, 11-8, 11-6.

Rollison said after the event: “The senior presentations took place in the club house with a few drinks to quench the thirst.

“The whole evening was very entertaining and was conducted with excellent court etiquette and fairness. Congratulations to the organisers for another brilliant tournament and finals event.”

To see what else the club is doing visit www.beverleysquash.co.uk.



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