Melbourn 2nds hosted Ickleford 2nds in the 3^rd round of the Hertfordshire Squash Summer league.

First on court, Ickleford’s Siobhan Wilkins and Melbourn’s Colm O’Gorman. Siobhan’s higher level was apparent in the first game as she took an early lead with very accurate drives and drops. Colm, however was competing and managed to recover to 4:6 down. Siobhan upped the pace however and took control of the game, showing her ability to get into position quickly, patiently waiting for the opportunity to win the rallies. Siobhan took the game 7:15 and carried the momentum into the second game. Forging ahead, Siobhan played flawless squash, Colm managing to take 4 points later in the game as he tried to play his way back into the match.

Siobhan continued in the 3^rd, however Colm upped his game and kept the score closer, finding better position and varying his game, staying in touch up to 6:10, but he couldn’t sustain it and Siobhan was able to close out the game 8:15 and the match 0:3.

Next up, Sean Hamilton took on Ickleford’s Andy Moody. This was a close battle with 2 evenly matched players. Sean took a little while to settle into his rhythm, not having played much squash in the lead-up. This match was notable for many long rallies, both players determined to push the opponent to the back of the court, before seizing the opportunity to take the point.

Sean’s forehand drives in the first game were very effective and combined with the occasional drop, he was keeping his opponent honest. At 10:10 the first game was anyone’s however Sean dropped the pace and concentration marginally to let Andy off the hook and take the game 11:15.

Sean was playing well, and in a very similar second game, Sean reversed it, digging in this time at 9:9 and taking it 15:10.

Sean was feeling the effects of recent exertions (including a 2-day run across the north of England) and while he stayed competitive, he couldn’t sustain the energy level and let Andy take the third game 6:15.

Sean was determined to do better in the fourth game, introduced more variation including drops and boast, and kept it very close. At 13:13 it could have gone either way, both players looking very leg weary. Andy nicked it 13:15 and the match 1:3.

Meanwhile Matt Walker has started on the other court against Ickleford’s William Van Den Aardweg. Similar to the string 1 match, Melbourn were up against a much higher level player.

Matt stormed out of the blocks, applying huge energy, and established an early lead in the first game, but was pegged back at 6:6. William’s fitness and accuracy began to tell and he squeezed out an extra few points compared to Matt and got ahead at 10:13, finally taking it 11:15.

Again Matt was competing really well early in the second game, showing how he could push William to the back corners and taking his chances to drop accurately, putting William under pressure. However his accuracy failed him repeatedly throughout the rest of the game as he handed William the initiative, end 4:15.

Matt recovered well in the third, again competing strongly in the rallies and going for winners when the opportunity arose. In the middle of the game, William increased the pace and intensity to take the score from 4:4 to 6:13, getting into a match winning position. Matt dug in and went for it, taking the next few scores but slipped up with another error to cough up a match point. William ultimately taking it 9:15 and the match 0:3.

Captain, Colm noted how well Melbourn played against a very strong Ickelford team.