Sidmouth in running to be top at Christmas

lee.glanville@archant.co.uk
20 November 2009

Exeter Golf & Country Club 4ths 1 (7 points),

Sidmouth 4 (18 points).

Dukes sponsored Sidmouth Squash Club made it three wins out of four away fixtures with a fairly comfortable 4-1 victory over Exeter Golf & CC 4th team.

The opening rubbers resulted in the same 3-1 score lines but both victories came about in completely different circumstances.

Chris Marriott, returning to the team this week, produced an excellent victory over GCC second string Steve Dickson.

Having lost 3-0 to the same player last season, Chris was determined not to let it happen again and, despite losing the opening game, he dominated from the second game onwards, leaving Steve frustrated and on the wrong side of the 13-15; 15-7; 15-9; 15-6 score line.

Alick Russell, on the other hand, had a tough battle with fellow fourth string Paul Randle.

Alick's 15-11, 15-13, 13-15, 15-8 win was based on solid all-court squash and much improved matchplay tactics.

GCC secured their only victory of the evening when home player Jerry Kent won the battle of the captains over Rob Cann.

The opening game went Rob's way, with ease, and he had his chances in the remaining games but lack of composure and poor shot selection let him down. Jerry was the eventual winner 7-15, 15-13, 15-14, 15-9.

Despite losing the opening game, top string Nigel Desousa always looked the likely victor in his match with Robin Turl. Having beaten the same player on three previous occasions, Nigel can be forgiven the lethargy that cost him the opening game. From then on, Nigel dominated to secure a routine 9-15, 15-11, 15-12, 15-9 victory.

Finally, Paul Symington, sporting his previous week's battle scars, did well to overcome GCC new boy Dominic Hakes.

In a scrappy rubber, Paul's weight of shot and cross-court accuracy proved the deciding factors as he ran out the 13-15, 15-9, 15-14, 15-9 winner

This win, and the fact leaders Okehampton lost badly at Newton Abbot, means the fixture the week after next between Sidmouth and Newton will decide who will be league leaders at Christmas.