As the both team were depleted due to the Canadian Open, Edgbaston were hoping that the new signings were going to shine and put in as much as they could!
Edgbaston Priory 4 - 1 the Northern
Phil Barker Vs Adam Stevenson 7/9, 4, 9, 9, 11
The opening match of the evening was between the Edgbaston new signing and a former Edgbaston player. Both players played a patient testing opening game with some probing squash, neither player giving much away. The match went point for point with both players working the back corners before Stevenson took control and stepped up the court to move Barker and create the openings to take the first.
Stevenson clearly settled into a dominating rhythm and worked the ball well to create openings with which he took, winning a comfortable second. In the third Barker clearly rattle by the referee upped the pace to take a 5-3 lead before Stevenson regained control and once again moved his opponent over the whole court taking a 9-8 match ball lead. Barker levelled at 9-9, let after let followed with neither player giving much away. Seven decisions later and Stevenson had the nerve to work the front court rewarding himself with another match ball. Another long rally unfortunately ended with the ball going into Barker’s leg, stroke and match to Edgbaston.
Jenny Tranfield Vs Isabelle Stoehr 2/9 9/7 4/9 5/9
This was a big match! Jenny is a great player, she puts in 120% every time with no excuses. Tonight was to be Isabelle’s night as she showed real determination in the first plus she was positive. Jenny was a bit sluggish (unusual for Jenny) and Isabelle took advantage of this in the winning the first comfortably 9/2. Then we saw a different Jenny as she came out firing showing why she in ten in the world, but a fight back began from Isabelle which rocked Jenny a bit 7-7 and Jenny held her nerve to take the match to 1-1all. Game on as the third started and Isabelle took the lead with some very confident shots to the front which Jenny couldn’t get to. Isabelle became more confident with her shots to the front as Jenny seemed to slow up that bit more every time she had to go forwards 9/4 and 2-1 up Isabelle. The third was hard fought as the players matched each other until Isabelle just push up that bit more to control the front of the court and take the match 9/5 in the fourth great result for Isabelle and Edgbaston.
Peter Billson Vs Peter Barker 4/9, 3/9, 5/9
Time for the other brother to take to the court, after watching his older relation go down it was time for Peter to show him how it is done, but for Edgbaston! Peter lengthened the first game with a clear intension of working his opponent hard, a clever strategy by the young star. His execution of each shot was faultless with tight balls hit from an extremely dictative game, there was only one outcome, 1-0 to Edgbaston. The second followed the same pattern and soon it was 2-0.
Peter had worn his opponent out and in the third he was at his mercy, a fantastic yet simple performance by another new Edgbaston signing. Watch out for this name, he is going to be around for a long time…at the top!
Lauren Anjema Vs Hadrian Stiff 1/9 9/5 9/6 9/4
Hadrian was up for this match after his win in the first round and everyone could see this as he hit 7 dead nick’s in the first and was playing brilliantly (he surprised himself!) Lauren had no answers and looked worried 9/1 Stiff. Complete change of events, it was Lauren’s time to shine as he went 7/0 up before Hadrian got into the game but it was all too late 9/5 to Lauren 1-1all. Hadrian looked unsettled as Lauren worked the ball well around the court putting pressure on Hadrian to leave a loose ball for Lauren to put away, Hadrian was a changed player from confident to questioning every shot he played. It is very hard to get confidence back when the pressure is on and Lauren managed to keep Hadrian pressurised winning the next two and the match 9/6 9/4.
Martin Heath Vs Del Harris 5/9, 5/9, 9/2, 5/9
The match already won by Edgbaston, but neither player played like it was over, both players knowing how important each point is in this North group. The opening four rallies were dominated by Heath who hit tight working shots repeatedly forcing Harris to defend, 4-0 to Heath, what happened next was awesome. Harris was relaxed, sharper and more confident than round one, he didn’t miss a shot, when this guy is on fire there is no player who can stop him! Heath got one point from the next ten!
The second continued in the same fashion with some fantastically high paced, extreme angled entertaining squash. Heath played well but Harris played better, at 6-5 to Harris when he played what were the three most outrageous shots that we’ve ever witnessed. A seemingly winning perfectly tight backhand drive from Heath with which Harris somehow ‘chopped’ straight and short for an irretrievable winner. The next rally was fairly short and finished on a high forehand volley straight nick, again irretrievable, 8-5 game ball and Heath regained control, Harris clearly under pressure in the backhand deep corner he played a pure wrist sliced lob boast which dropped perfecting into the nick, Heath left watching, well worth the ticket price.
At 2-0 Heath came out like lightening and didn’t give Harris a look in, what a game, 2-1 and Heath was back in. A similar start in the fourth saw Heath take a commanding 5-3 lead and what seemed like a match going to five was phenomenally halted by the Edgbaston player with some perfectly hit shots, Harris taking the next 6 consecutive points and the match 3-1, a true captain’s performance gaining that extra point for a 4-1 team win.
Overall Edgbaston were delighted with the performances from all the players as each pulled off great wins for themselves and for Edgbaston. Next week seems like another massive test for the Edgbaston players against Manchester Pontefract, hopefully our players can stand up and give there all again and pulls another result out of the bag!
Matt and Nick
