Squash round-up

MELBOURN Squash Club Ladies recorded an 18-4 against Fenland recently, in a match that doubled-up as both a Division One encounter and the quarter-final of the Portway Perpetual Cup.

Melbourn were set on their way by a walkover win at fifth string. Roberta Griggs (four) dropped the opening two games before rallying to claim the third on a tie-break. However, the effort took its toll on Griggs as she lost 3-1. Frances Smith (three) won 3-1 while Lynne Hays (two) eased her way to a 3-0 victory. Kate Bradshaw (one) also performed excellently in her 3-0 success.

Meanwhile, a makeshift Melbourn First Team, with key players absent, eked out a 14-8 victory at Comberton IIs.

Two of the replacements, 15-year-old Joe Weavers (four) and Colin Taylor (five), contributed important 3-0 wins. Jan Brynjolffssen (two) kept his cool despite falling 2-1 behind, fighting back to triumph 3-2.

Skipper Paul Heath (three) was unable to make significant inroads in his match, going down 3-0, while Ian Blows, promoted to first-string, couldn’t maintain the form or accuracy needed to trouble his opposite number, also losing 3-0.

Heath said afterwards: “Missing our regular numbers one, three and four was always going to make it tough, but it shows we have good strength in depth. Joe seems to be improving all the time, which bodes well for the future.”

Elswhere, Division Four leaders Melbourn IIs gave themselves a significant boost by beating promotion rivals Abbotsley IIIs 20-2.

Joe Weavers (five) and captain Matt Walker (four) claimed routine 3-0 successes in the first matches on court, Weavers conceding just two points in the process. Next on was Jan Brynjolffssen (one), who gained revenge for a defeat in the reverse fixture, controlling the front of the court to win 3-0.

Les Stockley (three) wasn’t unduly concerned about losing his opening game and came back to win 3-1. The second-string match saw the welcome Melbourn debut of Aidan Hird, who had been out with a knee injury since October. Apart from a third game wobble with the winning post in sight, Hird’s combination of thumping power and deceptive boasts dominated play as he won 3-1.

Walker said afterwards: “Abbotsley were one of the two teams to beat us in the first half of the season, so to have won the rematch is a good confidence boost. The margin of victory was unexpected, but the team produced some really good squash on the night. If we can carry this form through the next few weeks, we should be well placed at the end of season.”