Tavistock 3
Clifton Hill 2
TAVISTOCK Squash Club came back from a 2-0 deficit to take the spoils.
Mike Gray, playing at number five, had a night he will soon want to forget against Clifton Hill?s Colin Newman. Colin dominated from the outset and won 9-3. 9-3. 9-4.
Stuart Cox was next, playing the experienced Pat May. Pat won the first two games as Stuart struggled to find any consistency. During the third the Tavistock man started hitting some decent lengths which forced Pat to chase the game.
Stuart was rewarded with victory in the third and fourth games to level the game at two each. Pat raised his game in the deciding leg, which turned into a ding-dong battle with both players serving for the match.
However it was the Clifton Hill man who took the spoils 9-6, 9-4, 3-9, 7-9, 9-8.
Losing by two games to nil it was down to Tavistock?s Colin Grice to start the home side?s comeback.
Colin was in fine form, dominating from the start. Stuart Pavey, the Clifton Hill number three, was expertly manoeuvred around the court by Colin?s powerful drives and deft drop shops. Colin won 9-4, 9-1, 9-5.
Next on court was Tavistock skipper Andy Gauler who was paired against Martin Alford. Andy outclassed Martin from start to finish. Andy won by three games to nil, 9-2, 9-3, 9-0 to level the match at two games apiece.
The evening?s result was settled by the number ones, Steve Tripp from Tavistock and the visitors? skipper, Paul Doran. The game turned into a game of cat and mouse with both players mixing some fine squash with a number of unforced errors.
Steve was losing the first by 8-4 before somehow rescuing the game 10-8. Steve won the second with ease and was looking good in the third before Paul strung a number of winners together to draw level at 8-8 and serve for the match.
Steve held his nerve and it was Paul who made the error that allowed Steve to win the game and the match for Tavistock.
Anyone interested in playing squash, at whatever level, please contact Malcolm Tripp on 01822 615239 or Andy Gauler on 01822 617714.