AFTER a strong start to the new season Tavistock Squash Club expected a win on home turf against a strong Torquay side. First on was Stuart Cox against Pete Hamlett of Torquay in a third string encounter. The first and second games were dominated by a strong service from Peter, who took them 9-4 and 9-5, giving Torquay a 2-0 lead.

But in the third game Stuart changed tactics and was able to move a less mobile Peter round well. Stuart took the game 9-3. In the fourth game Peter managed to put together a string of services from which Stuart could only manage weak returns. Peter took the game and match 3-1.

Andy Gauler, Tavistock?s captain, played at number 2 against Nick of Torquay. Andy took the first two games with relative ease. After a good start in the third he seemed to lose concentration and allowed his opponent to win the game 9-6. Andy felt aggrieved with a couple of decisions made against him in that game and came out all guns blazing, taking the fourth game and the match 3-1.

Steve Tripp No 1 for Tavistock met Jim Nicholas of Torquay. Although the match contained long rallies most of them finished with a top class boast from Steve, allowing him to take the majority of points. This was reflected in the score for the first game which he won 9-0. The second and the third games were much the same ? Steve won them 9-7, 9-7 and the match 3-0, a strong start at number 1.

Pete Middleton, No 4 for Tavistock, met Mike Haywood. Pete struggled to find form in the first game, which his opponent took 9-4. Pete rallied his way back with strong forehands, which allowed him to take the second game 9-4.

The third game was a tight affair, with Pete making some fundamental errors, but still winning 10-8. In the fourth he again found some form and executed strong drives down his opponent?s forehand and backhand, allowing him to take the game and match 3-1.

The fifth string match saw Mike Gray against Stuart Lunsden of Torquay.

Stuart got off to a good start in both his first two games, opening out a 6-1, 8-4 lead in each. But in both games Mike clawed his way back in and won them 9-7, 10-8.

This left Stuart wondering what he had to do to win a game, but in the third he managed to do just that with strong ground play, which left Mike floundering at the back of the court.

Stuart came back with similar play in the fourth to equal the match two-all and set it up for a fifth game. Both players came out with the bit between their teeth and there was nothing to separate them up to six-all. Stuart overcame the nerves which had haunted him in the earlier games and played three excellent drives which Mike failed to retrieve.

Tavistock were outright winners taking the match three ties to two and extend their unbeaten record to three matches.