Hi readers.
One might have anticipated a slight reluctance to pitch up with the distraction of some excellent footy on the box [Brazil v Germany - Ed]. The dream team are better men than that and stuck to their task helped with regular and incredulous updates from various i-phones [about the football - Ed].
I am very pleased to report that Knole 1 did rather better than Brazil and posted a 17/9 win over our nearest top league rivals although at the final knockings it felt very like a penalty shoot-out!
I was fortunate to mark the game at 1st string. I would like to show a game like this on video to all aspiring markers. There was clear mutual respect between two talented performers who called their own shots down if I was in doubt and made EVERY attempt to hit the ball despite (somewhat more than) minor interference in a few cases. One now expects extreme physicality, movement and application at this level but Pete managed to make the court seem so much smaller than when others play. "Wings" was certainly flying on Tuesday and Jack effectively capitulated in the fourth game. (win 3/1)
The idea in competitive squash is that you do things the other chap doesn’t like and take him out of his comfort zone. David played a talented young chap who clearly wanted to belt three barrels do-do all over the court and run all night. Short rallies, sharp intercepts and loads of drops were definitely on this menu. "Socks" ran out a deserving winner 3/0 with a 9 zip third game that nicely rounded off his opponent’s frustration.
James is still going through a lean patch and needed a rather less accomplished oppo on Tuesday to help bolster his confidence. After a tight first game that James nicked, Kieran took control and just had a bit too much of everything. Frustrating yes but still infinitely better than not playing at all with that sore paw that now appears as good as new!
Mike played an amply proportioned warhorse with no knee cartilages and buckets of experience and tactical nous. Rob looked like he was going for broke to win in three but Mike hauled himself into contention in the third and Rob virtually conceded the fourth. My take on this situation was that "there was only one winner". What do I know?! [Not a lot – Ed]
After his ‘rest’ Rob came out and remarkably took control to win 3/2. Mr Creek’s misguided comment from the balcony, before a rally was properly over [It just slipped out – Ed], caused some exchange of ideas between Rob and David [maring] but I am assured by our erstwhile Knole coach Keith Palmer, that this situation was correctly marked as a let not a stroke even if Rob saw it rather differently!
I left the number two slot till last since it was the final game and indeed it felt like that penalty shoot out to which I alluded earlier. I guess you would have to call Ben, Pete’s ‘wing man’ and he covered for Niall being away.
This was a night when I wonder if I have any ‘reading’ of the game at all. At 3/0 in the second and one game down I was consigned to this becoming a loss - but Ben won that game 9/3! Went 4/2 up in the third - looking good - and lost that one 9/4! The final cliff-hanger after many twists and turns was 8/1 up in the fifth dragged back to 8/7 with a straight run of points. Finally winning 3/2 and the match (i..e that last game was worth 6 points to the team).
In my entire squash career I have never seen any player - particularly one as good as this - have such marked variations in focus. My old man had a saying that fits the bill nicely - Ben was in and out of this match like a ‘fiddler’s elbow’. Fortunately he was more ‘in’ than ‘out’ and defied the perverse attraction of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory with some quite scintillating squash. I reckon there are easier ways of winning squash matches Ben and you certainly have the talent to do so. We therefore look forward with keen anticipation for the next time that "Goose" can join us for a home game (for those who get this one, be aware that double Nectar Points are available when you
next buy Mr Creek a drink).
As league leaders by a stretch now, I guess we should enthusiastically embrace the moment, but remember to thank Ben and particularly Pete for their commitment. A future without their input may prove a trifle too ‘interesting’ but we shall worry about that later I think!
Well played all. This continues to be something of a golden period for the now mature melding of Knole and Wildernesse and long may it continue. Beckenham away next week looks like a full team again with Niall back. They are languishing down the bottom of the table so it may prove another points fest (but what do I know?!) [Yep, Pete should get at least 3 from Mr Olby - Ed]
(PS - if it is sunny next week you won’t be getting a tome like this!)
Stay healthy . MJ
