Melbourn lost 4-11

The start of June brought with it a new adventure for Melbourn as we entered the Cambs Summer League for the first time. This was the second season of the league as it started in 2024, but we skipped that one due to our Herts commitments. Rather than dipping a toe in though, the decision was to go the whole hog and enter ourselves in Division 1! We will see how that pans out…

The opening game was a home one, against Cambridge 2s. The match started at the top, with Mike Herd (1) taking on Andrew Armstrong, who is himself a new face to the Cambs Squash scene. And from his display here, a very good addition to the local Squash community.
Mike hung with Andew for two-thirds of the opening game, but then lost his way temporarily as the last few points went past in a string. Thereafter, however, Mike put on a superb display, in-keeping with his recent strong form. Game two just eluded him, but a fast start to the third, taking the ball in early when possible, built a big enough lead to see him over the line in that one.
The fourth was tight as anything, with never more than a couple of points between the players. Andrew got to 10 first, Mike saving a match ball and then earning himself a game ball chance at 11-10. However Andrew saved this well and two rallies later the match was over, Mike going down 5-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-13.

Next on was Matt Walker (3) against Andrew Stott. The pair had played before in the 2024 Hereward Cup Final. That one went to five – this would do the same.
Matt initially seemed a bit discombobulated at playing PAR-11, rushing things after dropping a couple of points behind early in the game. He also seemed to be trying to outhit Andrew, which wasn’t a wise choice when the Cambridge player feeds off power and is more threatened by finesse. A cooler head and a little pace off the ball really worked for Matt in the next two as he seemed the stronger player, moving to the brink of victory. The line being in sight proved a bit too tempting and encouraged an upping of intensity… and again, this didn’t work: two-all. However by this stage Andrew was clearly blowing hard, Matt taking advantage to rattle off the points in game five to wrap up a 5-11, 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3 victory.

That meant Jan Brynjolffssen (2) vs Daniyal Jafree was a deciding rubber. Unfortunately for Melbourn, Jan found Daniyal’s style, especially his lateral pace and ability to stretch to hold the service line, very difficult to cope with. Attempts to go lower and harder, or higher and wider didn’t really work, with the pressure also contributing to an atypical string of backhand drops finding the top of the tin. Once the pattern was established Jan just couldn’t break it, and went down 4-11, 4-11, 5-11 as Daniyal handed victory to his team.