Having slipped up last week at Village Cheadle, last night’s away fixture was a must win if the team were to stay on course for the Division title,with their opponents Bowdon (playing at home) confident that maybe this would finally be their year.

But Grove Park upped their level and secured a hard fought 3-2 victory claiming the extra points that should see them hopefully retain their ‘Champion’ status.

Hilary Kenyon, returning from illness, pulled off the most impressive victory of the night, with a difficult 3-0 win against Di Parums, the first and all important game clinched by 19-17. Hilary was very focused in the second and took it convincingly 11-3. But anyone who knows Di will know she will not go down with out a fight and the 3rd game went to the wire with Hilary clinching it 11-9. At 2-0 down in the tie, this was a much needed win for the team and a first for Hilary (she doesn’t ever recall getting the better of her County counterpart). WELL DONE HILS.

As Hilary’s match drew to a climax, Helen was just finishing her match, unfortunately losing to a much improved Annie Openshaw 3-2. Helen was unlucky in her match but credit must go to her young opponent who kept on going and just about snuck a victory in a very hard fought match.

Liz’s opponent Polly Woodward had played at no.4 all season and this was her first match in the number 5 position. Liz played well, but Polly’s extra little bit of trickery and match play saw a 3-0 win for Bowdon but with all games closely contested.

Kirsty (Captain) then went on against a much improved Cathriona Burrows. After a slow start Kirsty moved up a gear and took control of the match with her opponent sent from corner to corner of the court. Meanwhile on the adjacent court Laura played some controlled squash and had a comfortable 3-0 victory against an improving and hard working youngster, Jess Davis. With the tie now at 2-2, and Kirsty leading 2-1, it was just a matter of the Grove captain maintaining her focus. She did this well and finished the match off convincingly to seal the all important win for Grove 3-2.

Victory of the night goes to Hilary Kenyon.

The ladies now only have three matches remaining, with their final home fixture next Monday 27th February (due to team withdrawing from the league for the 12th March Fixture). Why not come down and support the ladies as they aim to gain maximum points.

Fixtures to follow are away at Alderley Edge on Monday 5th March – again so close to home, supporters please join us! And finally away to Brooklands on 19th March where we hope to retain our Division 1 Trophy.

By Laura Mylotte

Yawar just missed out on the Over 45 title, going down 3-2 against Murray Scott (Derbyshire). The final was timed at a staggering 87 minutes which was the longest match of all in the week long championships.

Rod Boswell was just squeezed out 10-9 in the fifth of the semi-final of the Over 65 competition which he won last year.
Other Grove Parkers competing: Morgan & Ky Hibberd, Alex Cutts, Joe Edwards and Liam Foster who all lost in the qualifying of the Main Draw. Kirsty West and Laura both made it to the final round of qualifying of the Main Women’s Draw. Paul Vale (O60), Hilary Kenyon (O45) and Dudley Bostock (O70) also competed in the Masters events.

It started slowly with Robbie going down in straight games to James Pickles and Alex Cutts strolling to victory against Northern’s No.4, Paul Runciman. It soon burst into life with Yawar going the distance with Mike Pearson, who is the nephew of David Pearson, the England National Coach and one of the first professionals at Grove Park in the 80′s. From 2-0 up, Yawar couldn’t quite finish it off in the 3rd or the 4th, but capitalised on a few unforced errors by Pearson to scrape home 12-10 in the decider. Next it was the turn of Morgan Hibberd to go 2-0 up, before being pegged back. Morgan was probably lacking court time with studying for Uni exams and ultimately the full time player, Sean Hunter, was just too strong on the day. You couldn’t have scripted it better, with all the other matches completed, the No.1′s walked onto the court with the tie absolutely level at 2 matches apiece and 8 points apiece.

The long awaited match between Andy Whipp and Laurence Delasaux was all that we hoped for. Incredibly tense throughout, with some thrilling squash. It was a game of contrast with Whipp’s power, relentless attacking shots and unbelievable pick-ups. Delasaux using his reach and exquisite racket skills to manoeuvre Whipp all around the court but seemingly having to hit 5 winners just to win a rally. Delasaux sneaked the first game 12-10 before Whipp started to dominate to take the next two games. Delasaux really dug in well to win the forth game 12-10 and force the game into a decider. They traded point right up to 7-7 before Whipp’s strength eventually told, taking the game 11-7 and the match for Northern 16-10.

Despite losing, the First Team moved to the top of the table but Northern and this week’s opponents, East Lancs, are close behind and both have a game in hand. East Lancs have lost just one match this season and that was to Grove Park in the first half. They don’t have a big name No.1 but do have formidable strength right down the order. They mix the experience of Nigel Willis and Danny Massaro and the youth of the very talented 16 and 17 year olds Bradley Smith and Matt Siddaway. The women’s World No.4, Laura Massaro may even make an appearance. If it is half as good as last week it will be well worth coming down for.

Please come down and support the team.

So that’s just £80  for a full membership or only £40 if you are U21 or Students!

Your membership will be valid until 31st August 2012.

First on court was Rod. The 3/4 seed from Lancashire David Sturlock, who had knocked out the World Champion in 5 games the day before, had the better of the early exchanges. Sturlock’s clever use of the boast helped him take a one game lead. However, as the match progressed Rod took control of more rallies and started stepping forward to cut out the crosscourts on the volley. He earned himself a 2-1 lead but the fourth was tight all the way. At match point, under pressure, Sturlock played the ball back at himself. Rod was poised right behind him: an easy stroke to win the match …… no, Rod wrapped his racket around his opponent and played the shot anyway and promptly lost the point. However, Rod made no mistake at the second time of asking to claim the British Over 65 Title to go with the British Over 60 title he won five years ago.  5-9, 9-6, 9-4, 9-7 {40m}

Yawar was looking to win his third National Over 40 Title against the second seed, Graeme Stewart, from Northern Ireland. Yawar allowed the talkative Ulsterman to open a big lead in the first game but came storming back at him to take the first game. He did the same in the second, going well behind before fighting his way back, but this time was forced into a tie break. After two easy boasts clipped the top of the tin, the game was levelled at 1-1. After this, the already physical match became even more scrappy as almost every rally ended with an appeal to the marker. Yawar uncharacteristically started to let his frustration show as the match and the title slowly slipped away from him .  9-11, 13-11, 11-7,11-7 {50m}
Hear interviews with Yawar and Graeme on the Kevin T Sport website which also includes match reports & interviews with the main draw finalists, Nick Matthew, Daryl Selby, Laura Massaro & Jenny Duncalf. 

Laura was in the Over 35 Final against the former World No.16 Senga Macfie. Senga, the 42 year old Scot had won the Over 40 title earlier in the day. Laura didn’t start well (maybe affected by the MC introducing her as Fiona Mylotte from Northern Ireland!). Senga’s tight, looping shots to the back of the extremely slow all-glass showcourt were causing Laura all sorts of problems. The first game was over all to fast, but the next three games were much tighter. The momentum of the match kept shifting depending on whether Laura could break out from Senga’s long, slow backhand rallies. Whenever the ball strayed mid-court or to the front, Laura used her superior power to great effect. Laura just managed to force the match in to a decider. The fifth match couldn’t have start better as Laura raced to a 7-0 lead. Perhaps Laura’s greater stamina and Senga’s previous match were having an effect. Senga did start to fight back but Laura held out to claim the British Title –  3-9, 9-7, 6-9, 9-7, 9-4 {50m}

See more photos  of the Nationals(by squashsite’s Steve Cubbins) in the gallery.

Two weeks ago the big hitting, Gareth Lumsden, did well to force his match against Alderley’s Austrian No.1 into a deciding game after going two down, but couldn’t quite sustain the effort in the fifth. All the other matches were closed out in straight games.

New signing, Tom Pashley, who is currently ranked World No.105 was earmarked to replace Laurence Delasaux when he is away. However Tom has been diagnosed with glandular fever and is set to be out until the New Year at least. This meant the team faced the trip to Heswall with Yawar at No.1 and with young Yorkshireman, Alex Cutts, filling in lower down the order. Any concerns about the strength of the team quickly evaporated as Heswall turned out a team depleted of their top two players. The comfortable 5-0 victory that followed was in marked contrast to the last time they made the trip to the Wirral club. It was the final match of last season and a tough Heswall side made them fight for every game until they finally earned the points that secured them the league title.

The same line-up, lead by Yawar, must now face New Brighton this Tuesday. This time they won’t be let off so lightly with New Brighton lying joint fourth in the table just 12 points behind. They will be tough to beat at the top of the order so if the first team are to retain their position at the top of the table, the middle and lower order must step up and produce big performances.

We have pretty much been able to keep the squad together from last season, which is great news. The one change is that as cover for our number 1, Lawrence Delasuax, we have secured Tom Pashley. Originally from Sussex Tom is now based in Yorkshire and has just won his first PSA tour event – in Peru! Tom replaces Dave Barnett who had a very consistent season for us last year – a lot to live up to. There should be some great squash on Tuesday nights and your support is a big factor in keeping the squad together.