Melbourn 1sts slipped to a 9-5 defeat against Harpenden 1sts in their latest Herts Summer League Division 1 match.

Melbourn were a match up before the start as Harpenden forfeited the third string. However it was quickly level as Aidan Hird (2) initially struggled with his timing, falling two games down. Hird found his range in the third, playing good line and length to make it much closer, but lost 3-0. That left the match resting on skipper Mark Oppen’s match at first string. It was an up and down affair as Oppen won the first, lost the second and then split two tie-break games in the third and fourth. The decider was close, but despite Oppen claiming six consecutive points during it he went down 11-8 to give the visitors the overall win.

Oppen commented “An interesting night of Squash and the doubles social game afterwards was good fun”

Melbourn 2nds made it two wins from two in Division 4 play, as they beat Bishop’s Stortford side Chantry Squash Club 11-3.

Michael Easton (3) looked to be on his way to victory as he built a two-love lead. He had match points in both the third and fourth games, but lost both on tie-breaks and with it the momentum as he fell 3-2. Melbourn struck back through skipper Jan Brynjolffssen (2), who won his opening game after an extended tie-break, saving a couple of game balls along the way. Thereafter he took charge to win 3-0. Aidan Hird (1) completed the comeback success with another 3-0 victory that was a mirror of Brynjolffssen’s; Hird dominated the opener but then had to battle hard to win the next two.

Brynjolffssen commented “This was closer than the final score would indicate. Both Aidan and I were rather flattered by 3-0 scorelines. Both of us were pretty glad to get it done in three, though.”