12th May 2022
Another new fixture for this season as the Vets added
to the singles match against the RAC Pall Mall with a
doubles fixture played in the glorious setting of the
RAC country club at Woodcote Park. The squash facilities
at Woodcote Park include two full size doubles courts
and the game is very popular among the RAC members with
a full season of matches being played against other
clubs. Before the match the advice given by a member was
“The RAC are very good at doubles, for any team winning
a game off them is a miracle and winning a match is
unheard of” – we were well and truly warned! Forewarned
is forearmed and the vets duly arrived at the courts
ready for a tough challenge – which was a god thing as
the evening turned out to be an extremely tough
challenge but with a high standard of doubles squash
played by both teams.
Steve Jackson & John Lane lost to
Ross Greer & Neil Percival 0-3 (8/15, 9/15, 16/17)
Steve and John were up against a very experienced
pair – the RAC Captain, Ross Greer, has never lost a
doubles match for them. Neil made life extremely tricky
for John on the right side of the court by showing at
least as much hold as a 1970’s hairspray on every shot
and the RAC pair had just that bit of extra
understanding of where the spaces were opening on court
to place the ball.
Nick Sheppard & Fergus Burnett
lost to Dewi Banks & Oliver Briault 0-3 (9/15, 14/15,
6/15)
Nick and Fergus have successfully partnered each
other at the Festival of Squash and were looking forward
to a close match. Their opponents however were young (28
and 20 respectively), fit and extremely fast around the
court. With both pairs retrieving the ball well the
rallies were extended right from the start. A few errors
cost the Vets in the first game but they came out strong
in the second which turned into a real tussle. The RAC
pair just made it to 14 first which crucially let them
choose to set, Dewi looking somewhat shocked when Oliver
loudly declared they would set to 1. It proved an
inspired call as the game was theirs after another long
rally and they were able to pull away comfortably in the
next for the win.
James Dubois & Keeley Johnson
lost to Tim Abbott & Luke Edgcumbe 2-3 ( 17/16, 14/15,
15/12, 12/15, 12/15)
What a match! James has been in excellent form this
season (rewarded with an England captaincy and as an RAC
member was familiar with the opponents. Keeley has not
been playing much squash recently but she definitely
brought her top game to this match, dominating play on
the left side of the court. Very unlucky for them not to
be able to close out the match
David Parker & Peter Culver lost
to Gath Harbison & Tom Gilbert 2-3 (8/15, 15/10, 13/15,
15/10, 11/15)
Another epic match. David is a wily doubles player
with an array of teasing shots who, atypically for a
right hander, much prefers to play on the left of the
court. Peter has to restrict how much he plays these
days but, as with Keeley, he was definitely up for the
match on the evening. An extremely close encounter all
the way through, reminiscent of a classic boxing match.
Both pairs were just about out on their feet at the
closing end of the fifth and it was harsh that only a
couple of unforced errors gave the RAC pair the gap they
needed to reach the finish line.
Philip Godden & Kim Ricks lost to
David Briault & Phil Borton 0-3 (13/15, 15/17, 5/15)
Philip and Kim play as a pair at Colets and this
showed in the first two games as they stretched the RAC
players. After some long rallies and a lot of hard work
though, a few errors started to creep in in the third
which ran away from them. A harsh finish to what was a
very entertaining and close match
So, 5-0 to the RAC but every match was hard fought and
both the James/Keeley and David/Peter pairings were
extremely unlucky not to have picked up a win. The match
standard was very high against opponents who really do
understand how to play doubles and use ball placement
and shot angles on the full size court. After the last
match finished, the players repaired to the 19th Hole
bar for an excellent meal and speeches from the
captains. This was an excellent evening of squash and we
very much hope we can repeat this fixture next season.
Many thanks go to Paul Ventham, who organises the
doubles season for the RAC, James Dubois, who helped
enormously with setting up the fixture, Tim Abbott and
his players who gave us such a hospitable welcome and to
all the staff at Woodcote Park whose work made the
evening possible.
Nick Sheppard
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