Mens O/55 intercounty 27/28 Feb

MenO55Results 2nd Stage.xls

This was a premier relagation match host county being Middlesex other counties Warwickshire & Lancashire.

We arrived at Wimbledon Lakeside SC keen and ready for a hard weekend of squash. Our squad Phil Crane, Peter Willmor, Arthur Harvey, Ian Smith, Keith Hibberd with Alan Thatcher playing the Sunday morning game.

The playing order first on 3 & 5's with a start time of 1pm we had a problem no Arthur H could not contact him with calls going to voice mail finally manage to contact him at 12.50 he was having great trouble finding the club having mixed up the venue he was at Wembly. We had to make a change in the proposed playing order moving Arthur up to No 2 therefore going on last he made it with 20 minutes to spare.

We all had our Kent figure hugging shirts however Phil thought would give him an unfair advantage to show off his ripping stomach muscles so he wore his old looser fitting shirt.

First Match Warwickshire 3 Kent 2.

First on Peter & Keith. Solid start by Peter winning 3-1. Fighting performance by Keith but lost 3-2 to an old NW Priory league player Dave Dilnut (used to play for Met police). Next on Phil winning 3-1 playing his normal strong game. Ian lost 3-1 with the match all square it was down to Arthur but he went down 3-0.

2nd Match Lancashire 2 Kent 3.

Good start for Kent wins for Peter & Keith followed with a win for Ian. Phil was 2 up pulled a muscle in his back and lost 3-2, Arthur started slowly losing the first 2 games fought back well getting to 2 each but lost the last game.

Sunday morning matches will decide who will be relegated.

3rd Match Middlesex 3 Kent 2.

Very close match with Alan Thatcher playing his first ever county match for Kent winning 3-2 10-8 in the fifth saving a match point.Peter had a gruelling battle with Howard Cherlin 2-1 up and 6-3 but was not able to close the game and lost 3-2. Ian again shown a good level of fitness winning 3-1. Phil lost 3-0 no surprise playing Mark Cowley England No1. Arthur also lost 3-0.

Kent came 3rd and will be relegated next year I'm sure everyone had a good weekend of squash at a fine club our thanks to Howard Cherlin for a well run event.

Note.

If you feel you should be in the team or you will be reaching the tender age of 55 please contact me the next county matches will be toward the end of the year.