Ian McKenzie reports on the semi-final second leg at Broxbourne ...
Broxbourne, on the end of a 4-1 first leg loss, faced a task even the most optimistic would have thought improbable in the second leg of the National League semi-finals.
BROXBOURNE TAKE EARLY LEAD
In an effort to turn that result around Natalie Pohrer, gave them the best start in the one match they were sure of, by outclassing Jane Fletcher.
Even while that match was rushing by the upstairs gallery could hear the cheers rocking the building as Broxbourne fans urged on an unbelievably focused Alex Stait making amends for his loss in the first leg, where he had matchballs. This night he played some of the best squash they had seen of him at Broxbourne, to take out the Frenchman Renan Lavigne 9-7, 9-6, 9-3. Broxbourne two up.
Danny Meddings was not played in the first leg. With a fast ball, in an explosive start, he fell behind 8-3 to old rival Jason Nicolle but came back brilliantly and virtually error free attacked with a precision that sets him apart as a class act. His racket held still and then the strings sung across the ball as he cut down nick after nick 10-8, 9-5, 9-3 until Nicolle was quite demoralised. Broxbourne three up.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE BECOMES POSSIBLE
It was then that the improbable seemed possible. Upstairs in the bar the main match on glass back court was projected onto a big screen. Downstairs the seats, stairs and floor were crammed full of spectators. Geoff Long the Broxbourne manager had done the sums and announced that all Broxbourne needed was just one more match for a win.
So far for the night Broxbourne were ahead 9/0 on games, and a match and the three games from that would put them clear on count back.
PARKE KEEPS NOTTINGHAM ALIVE
Rodney Durbach, focused and strong, won the rallies but almost lost it with crucial errors on the final points before successive straight kills exploded from his racket to gave him the first game 9-6. It was all at a frantic pace with Durbach's strength giving him the edge.
Parke was in deep trouble and midway through the second his new Dunlop racket smashed across the court, the door opened and he explained to the referee that he was not too happy with the decision.
"You are ruining the night, you are ruining the game," he screamed then rearranged the glasswork at the back of the court and went back on to expel steam for a few more moments to no censure. He was still aroused when he slammed the return of serve dead into the nick, clenched his fist, screamed and glared at the referee.
At 8-5 you felt Durbach had the game won when he played his winner and that Parke was the luckiest man of the night to get a let. Durbach strewed, strangled his frustration and a tin let Parke to 8 all. Parke's length was better now the hot ball had settled. A powerful crosscourt flick from Durbach off Parke's forehand trickle boast gave him another chance for the game at 9-8, but the ball then jawed out of the frontwall nick to let Parke level again.
Parke desperately flicked his backswing back and twice collected Durbach in the face. Perhaps that just disrupted the South African a little for at 10-all he mis-hit off serve and Parke escaped 10-8.
From then on Durbach played with a burden, the explosive edge he had in he first was gone and the rallies were now under Parke's control as he used the cooler ball for a medium paced length. The third was won by Parke 9-4 and he went ahead 8-5 in the fourth. Matchball down, every Durbach point was greeted with exhalation, and although he got to 7-8 an overeager boast hit the tin and Nottingham had a match back.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
As if scripted it was all down to the last match, and would go to the last game.
Mark Chaloner was away chasing, in fast play with the new ball to 4-0 before White's big hitting shots ricocheted in to level the scores at 7-all where a punitive no-let upset White.
"I called the ball on the first bounce after the interference," said White to explain why he had just moved on to show he could have got to the ball, and with that in mind conceded a stroke to give the first to the scampering Chaloner 9-7.
White was the playmaker here with Chaloner chasing, responding to the fiercely hit ball, thrashing, tripping, firing in miss hit winners and urged on by constant cheers.
"Chip" they call him, perhaps it should be "Mr Chips", a modern day Dan Tucker, of comic book fame. He went two up 9-5 in frantic activity and bedlam was in the air and the marker struggled to be heard.
White came back to control the rallies, took the third 9-4, and it was close in the fourth at 6 all with Chaloner all over the court chasing before White finished it with a forehand nick dead to win game ball and then take the game 9-7.
White was dominant now but Chaloner was not giving points away. There was pandemonium in the last game as White went ahead with his devastating shots but a punitive stroke was jeered in disbelief before Notts went through 9-6 as White was mobbed by Parke, Nicolle and Lavigne.
SWEET REVENGE FOR PHIL
It would be a few minutes before Nottingham manager Phil Songhurst could breath a sigh of relief.
"Three years ago we congratulated you on getting to the final," he said to the Broxbourne fans on a long remembered loss that also went down to the final game in the semi-final. "We look forward to renewing the challenge next season."
Nottingham were off to the final.
