Gareth Russell was the star on his last Melbourn Squash Club appearance, recording the decisive victory in the 2nd team’s 11-4 win over Harpenden III.

Melbourn fell behind as Kate Bradshaw (3) lost a see-saw match, dropping two-love down, finding her drop-shots to claw her way back to two-all, but then seeing her young opponent reach everything in the decider as she was defeated 3-2. Jan Brynjolffssen (2) drew the sides level as he adapted the better to an oddly lifeless ball, utilising the low bounce by putting the ball into the corners as he won 3-0.

That set the stage for Russell, whose year sabbatical from his academic career in the USA is coming to an end. He put on a typically patient and hard-running display, winning the opening two games on tie-breaks but then losing the third. Despite being pegged back, that game had done the damage as his opponent’s energy reserves were exhausted and he won game four 15-2.

Skipper Brynjolffssen said: “Professor Gareth is a great bloke and a very handy squash player. He is been a real addition to our club this year, and will be missed now he is returning to New Jersey.”

Melbourn 1sts game at Bishop’s Stortford 1sts was postponed due injury problems for Stortford.