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08/10/2003
UNISPORT START IN STYLE
Ian Robinson reports on a a morale-boosting start for UniS Guildford ...
UniSport Guildford started the season in fine style with a morale boosting 4 - 1 win over newcomers to the league SWSA Bicester. Admirably led by Stephen Meads, who is in fine fettle, the home team played efficiently to deal with the Sue Wright Squash Academy sponsored Bicester team. As the name and sponsor implies the emphasis in the Bicester ranks is on young player development, but on this occasion experience got the upper hand. Ably led by the in form Scott Handley and Sue Wright who is making a comeback after the birth of her son, Bicester were nobody's fools and fought hard.
Sue Wright made her comeback against Fiona Geaves for the home team. Fiona is having a wretched time at present trying to make her way back from a freak on court accident which may well necessitate some rather nasty dental work. She launched her comeback at the British Open where she won the over 35 title before losing in the main event to the eventual winner. Sue Wright is not the sort of player to run into after losing this sort of confidence. Despite taking a 2 - 0 lead Fiona was never convincing. She looked the better player when she remembered to play her game but too often drifted out of it and the visitor took full and ruthless advantage. On game point in the third game Sue hit the winner to keep herself in the match and to add insult to injury caught Fiona accidentally in the face with her racket, leading Fiona to believe that there was not much more that could go wrong. An already tentative Geaves, now looked shell shocked. Despite this reverse Fiona stormed to match ball in the fourth only to fritter it away in the most dismal circumstances. In the fifth, Sue romped home with Fiona not really in the contest. ! - 0 Bicester.
While Fiona was confronting her demons, on the outside court Neil Frankland was efficiently dealing with the youthful challenge of Kristen Johnson. Neil has been training hard for the World Team Championships where he is representing Scotland. There were no real problems for the Guildford player here, having too much experience and too much variation for his opponent. It is a pleasure to see Neil making such a strong start to the season. Match score 1 - 1.
New boy in the UniSport Guildford ranks is Tony Hands and he set to work against Mike Elford. The Bicester player is young, fit and fast around the court, but did not trouble Tony to any great degree. The vast experience of being a top 10 player in the world at his best and the racket skill that comes with that was too much for the youngster to deal with at this stage of his development. Only a lapse in concentration let Elford into to take the third game, which to his credit he took with style. But then good order was restored in the fourth as Tony became more accurate and hit more winners to finish his first win of the season and that in his new colours. The local supporters are in for a treat especially when Tony plays at his best like this. He looked in good physical condition as well, clear evidence that there has been some hard work going into his game in the off season. Guildford 2 - 1.
After the hard work had been done on the outside court, Stacey Ross's appearance on the show court was eagerly anticipated. He looks full of confidence at the moment and is hitting the ball beautifully . Clive Ewins of Bicester is no beginner, but this was not a night that he will want to remember. He found Stacey moving around the court like a gazelle and no matter where the visitor hit the ball Stacey was seemingly there early and hitting the ball back with interest. It was a sparkling display of accuracy, speed and winners. Ewins had no answer. There will be greater challenges ahead for Stacey, but he is in the right sort of form to meet them right now. Guildford 3 - 1.
Last but by no means least on the show court was Stephen Meads and he was determined to lead from the front especially as points count back has proved so important at the end of the season in the past. Scott Handley however recently made the final of the recent Barcelona world circuit tournament and has been in good form, which caused some concern in the Meads household. On the night a very motivated Stephen charged around the court hitting good balls deep and wide and never allowed the visitor to settle and was equally miserly in his error count. Stephen ran out a comfortable winner by 3 - 0 only conceding 9 points thereby claiming the man of the match award.
This was a solid start by the university side who looked in rare good form for this point in the season and it will be interesting to see how the form goes as we prepare to visit perennial rivals Chichester for the next match away from home on the 28th October.
Contributor: Ian Robinson
Club: Guildford
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