Windscale Squash Double, Friday 27th March 2009

Cumbria Squash award for junior player. (Read report)

Hannah Crichton

Make that a DOUBLE! (Read report)

L-R - Lara Cooper, Sarah Frain, Jessica Winder, Linda Winder, Hannah Crichton

Monday 10th November will go down in history as the day the Windscale Squash Club Ladies Team was reborn. Having relied for many seasons on an enthusiastic band of ladies, this evening has seen the dawn of a new beginning. The club fielded 5 junior girls in their team, aged from 12 to 16, and performed creditably against an experienced Penrith team, who themselves included a county junior girl in their line up. Windscale running out the winners by 4 ties to 1. Luisa Mc Gregor was first on court, making her Windscale debut, and after getting a few nervous shots out of her system won the first game 9/3 against her fellow County u.15 player Victoria Watson. Luisa settled much easier to the task in the second, and apart from a mid game rally by Victoria, secured the second game without losing a point, 9/0. The third was a much tighter affair as Victoria found her shots coming back to her, and after sharing the first ten points between them, it was anybody's game. Luisa crucially opened up a lead and the game was clinched 9/5, and the match 3-0. Hannah Crichton was meanwhile involved in her own tussle against Gemma Stalker. With the early points shared it was only late on in the first that Hannah pulled away for a 9/5 win. Hannah was much more dominant in the second with some accurate serving, causing Gemma to attempt difficult volleys and back court boasts. Consequently Hannah controlled the rallies and won the second 9/2. Gemma turned the tables on Hannah in the third with her own front court dominance, as Hannah lost the width from her game, and Gemma won the game 9/3. Into the fourth game both girls were looking for the opportunity to attack where possible, and the game was tight until Hannah had a great run of points from two four down, to serve the game out and secure the match win 9/4, 3-1. Jessica Winder had a tough five sets with Kerry Newton. When Kerry was given the opportunity she put Jessica under pressure in the first, and was good value for the 9/6 opening game. Jessica doesn't like being behind and quickly showed her promise in the second with better control and shot selection. Chasing down anything loose and putting it away, meant that before long it was one game all as Jessica won 9/1. Kerry tightened up her game in the third, and a tight encounter was evident, with neither girl holding back. Kerry managed to get clear by a couple of points, and as the game came to a close, added to her lead for a 9/5 win. Penrith were now leading this game two games to one. Once again Jessica blasted out of the blocks and quickly amassed an unassailable lead, and before Kerry could do anything about the score, it was all square 2-2, as Jessica won the fourth 9/1. Into the decider and again Jessica was the early aggressor, taking the first four points to open a good lead, Kerry struggled to rein Jessica in, and as Jessica scored regularly it was only a short while until Jessica had match ball, and duly won the game and match 9/2, 3-2. Sarah Frain was also making her debut, and a tough encounter against Kath Gray was on the cards. Sarah got up an early head of steam and punished Kath's mistakes, making it an early game lead 9/2. Kath settled into the second and punished Sarah's lack of width on the ball, turning the first game score round with a 9/1 result. All level at one all, it was Sarah who led the third game along, with five early points, and increased the advantage to be serving for the game for the loss of just three points. Kath's renowned fighting qualities came out and she dug in to retrieve the score up to six points; however Sarah won the game 9/6, and led again in the match. The fourth game was very tight with neither player able to dominate for any period of time. The points were shared out evenly and only at game ball, and it was Kath who got there first, was either player two points clear in the game, Kath's game 9/7, two games all. Into the deciding game and it was all to play for. Both players' were pushing hard for the victory with neither prepared to take a backward step, and a carbon copy of the fourth game ensued. Again the two protagonists shared all the points between them all the way to the wire, and it was again Kath who reached the finishing line first with a 9/7 game win, to take a thrilling encounter 3-2. A disappointed Sarah can reflect on having played her part in a titanic match, which had the audience captivated with its tightness. The final pair on court was Lara Cooper and Vera Jackson for Penrith. As in many of the evenings games, the early points were shared between the players and it was only late on that Vera pulled clear, as Lara made a few unforced errors, allowing Vera to claim the first game 9/6. The second saw Lara dominate the court more, and it was now Vera's turn to chase and retrieve. A comfortable 9/3 game levelling up the match, one all. The third was Lara's as well, as accurate drives and good touch at the front, had Vera chasing shadows for the majority of the game. The comfortable 9/1 score line, a reflection of Lara's dominance. Two one up in games, Lara pressed on. It was to Vera's credit that she dug deep, to force her younger opponent to keep playing another shot to win the rallies. Lara gained a comfortable lead, and despite Vera pulling back a few late points, the damage was done, and Lara wound up the game 9/2, for a 3-1 match score, and the final tie of the night saw the Windscale girls home by 4 ties to 1.

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