OKEHAMPTON Squash first team experienced mixed fortunes over two matches. Early in the week they travelled to play Exeter University 4 and enjoyed a solid win.

Dan Yeoman at string 5 won 3-0, having enough variety of shot and experience to outplay his opponent. Justin Gliddon at string 4 had another close match, just losing 2-3 against a technically strong opponent who used the court spaces well. Simon Ramsay at string 3 had a close match just losing 2-3 - his opponent covering the court well retrieving almost everything.

Phil Allin at string 2 was comfortable, hitting good width and depth to win 3-0. Phil Kemsley at string one won 3-1 - playing in conditions which suited his game. The cold and damp courts lead to effective use of his drop shot. 

So a 3-2 win to Okehampton, winning 18-7 points. Later in the week, the first team played Sidmouth and suffered a reversal of fortunes. Again, Dan Yeoman hit good width, and effective drops to come away with a 3-0 victory. Justin Gliddon lost another close encounter 1-3, with his opponent hitting with good accurate power and depth. 

Simon Ramsay went 2-0 up, but his opponent altered his game and came back to win 2-3. Phil Allin — despite wrist issues — played an effective short game to win 3-0. Phil Kemsley did not quite have enough in his locker to take chances in the deciding match- eventually losing 0-3. So a 2-3 loss, losing 9-14 in points.

The second team took the long journey to Fort Stamford in Plymouth and put in a battling performance, going down to a narrow loss. At string 5 the returning Pete Twort lost a close encounter 2-3, just not making it over the finishing line despite using his short game well. Jack Barkwell at string 4 came out on top of another close match 3-2 to continue his winning ways.

At string 3 Stuart Lord, could not recover from a slow start despite gradually getting back into the match — going down 0-3.

At strings 2 and 1 both Shane Vallance and Shawn Jones lost tight encounters 2-3. Going down in three tight matches proved the difference between coming away with a victory and a 1-4 loss. The games were all played against well-matched opponents, and nine points away from home was reward for a battling display by the team.