PAIGNTON Squash Club arrived for the second half of the season match with only four players so Tavistock number 5 Bob Cowan was awarded a walkover, leaving his team requiring only two wins to take the match.
Stuart Cox, playing at number 4, made a good start by winning the first two games 9-2 and 9-0. Having been given a few tips by former team captain Colin Grice on the areas 'to tighten up on', Stuart struggled to win the third game 10-8.
Tim Wallis's accurate and varied style of play combined with his speed around court was too much for his opponent to handle and he took the first two games 9-1. Malcolm became increasingly unhappy with his inability to deal with the difference in court conditions — Paignton is very hot — and squandered his opportunity to stay in the match even though he led for much of the third game. Tim won 10-8.
Colin Grice made a flying start and took the first game 9-1, playing more drop shots in that game than he had the rest of the season put together, because of his opponent's reluctance to run to the ball.
The standard of play improved during the second game which saw Graham in the lead at one point. However, a return to drop shots won Colin the game 10-9.
Graham led the third game at one point by 6-1 but after a determined effort by Colin he drew level, at which point the Paignton player decided to concede the match, apparently unhappy at some marking decisions, the court and his lack of mobility.
Andy Gauler, playing at number one in the absence of Steve Tripp, played well, finding some of the good form that had deserted him in previous matches. His opponent worked hard to win the first game 9-4 but slowly fell away under increasing pressure from Andy who took the next three games 9-6, 9-5 and 9-4.
This 20 points to 1 win keeps Tavistock in a strong position contesting the second league place with only two matches to play this season.