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22/01/2004
FED UP? YOU BET
But at least a new record is set, says Chichester's Peter Crabtree ...
FED UP? YOU BET!
BUT ANOTHER NEW RECORD IS SET
This was a match that looked to be a banker, but threatened an upset if anyone came away with a poor result, and that is what happened. Clear at 2nd in the Division unless we got stuffed, it all got off to a predictable start with Linda Charman fresh from her excellent result against Natalie Grainger cruising to a comfortable 3-0 against Sarah Kippax.
One of the results that we hoped might sneak our way looked to be a pipe-dream after the first 2 games of Tim Garner’s match against Stacey Ross, with “the Boss” fairly rattling through the nicks to a 9-4 9-4 lead. In the 4th, Tim exclaimed that some days you know it isn’t going your way – he could have said that after the first rally when a Stacey cross-court to nothing special hit the nick and rolled! The next got a bit closer, with Garnish edging to a 11-9 win to make it look interesting, but the new standards of Stacey saw him through to a 3-1 win to even things up.
Now I’ve seen Stacey play a few times over the years, but having missed the first encounter this season, I only have his results to go by, some of which have been good. So you can imagine my bemusement when we got through to the second game without a let! Don’t you find that when something strange happens, you often don’t realise what it was until much later, and this was one of those days. The whole match totalled 6 lets, some of them Timmy G’s, but it wasn’t just that – Stacey actually No! I can’t break it like this – you’ll have to prepare for it. Make a cup of Bovril, and come back in a minute.
Tom Richards never really threatened Jocky Frankland, which left us needing the old reliables Vole and Jelly to come up with the goods. Vole looked as though he had been out on the p*** all day, and gave Tony Hands plenty of opportunity to put the ball away – he may be semi-retired but he still knows where the nick is, and some of his drops were exquisite. A couple of slaps from the Vole predictably rolled from the nick, but then the radar went off line, and the tin was screaming in agony from the assault. Took the first game though, but Tony realised that he had a bit of a chance, and started going for his shots a bit to level the match. A bollocking from the No.1 sorted things out a bit, and despite some huffing and puffing, and a few more tins, Vole edged away to set up the traditional clash between Meadsy and Jelly.
Pete set off at a lick – good pace, good movement and no hesitation in putting the ball away, even a roller which received the now customary conduct warning. Never really letting Steve get in front, Jelly continued to step up the court and volley hard, and looked to be cruising at 2-0. But then, you guessed, the re-juvenated retiree, who claims to be “training harder than ever” now he is freed from the travelling of the World Tour, started to get his second wind, and did his usual trick of squeezing points out of nothing and ended up winning 3-2. Boogger!
So still 2nd, but shouldn’t be that close really. Still, SWSA in 2 weeks with a strong side so hopeful of maintaining or extending the gap as UniS play Lee. Oh, the Stacey thing? Well, believe it or not, the lets were outnumbered by Stacey’s grins and smiles, which has to be a record. He looked to be thoroughly enjoying his squash, although obviously winning helps, and it was a pleasure to watch.
Keep it up Stacey – you always had the talent, now do the rest of it – in style!
Contributor: Peter Crabtree
Club: Chichester
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