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'Our Racketball Championship Winners!'

'Dan Has the edge in top quality Junior Final'

Hertford Squash and Racketball Club closed the current season with their Junior Racketball Championship this year benefiting from sponsorship by major sporting goods supplier, Wilson. Wilson's involvement is a great compliment to the work developing the sport of Racketball being carried out at Hertford.

The Plate final was contested between Liam Evans and Henry Bedford. Whilst being one of the most improved juniors at the club this season Bedford took time to settle in to the match and allowed his opponent to take the first game 15-9. In only a best of 3 games contest the first game is a crucial one. However, Bedford started the second game with renewed confidence in his own ability and with the help of some powerful and accurate serves he took the second game 15-4. The final game settled to a very evenly contested one with Bedford narrowly wining 15-13 to take his first Club trophy.

The main final was between the two dominant juniors at the Club, Dan Fuller and the current defending title holder Jonathon Ilett. Again, in a best of three game final the first game was all important. This turned out to be a great game of attacking play from both players, Fuller's strength and speed around the court matched by Ilett's accuracy and variety of shot play. With never more than 2 points separating the scores until the last few exchanges, Fuller's continued power play allowed him to edge a first game score of 15-12. The effort of maintaining the pace set by Fuller proved too much for Ilett as Fuller took the second game 15-7 and the title

2-0.

All the players were congratulated afterwards by Club Junior coach Eddie Hillion and presented with their trophies and Wilson sponsored rackets and kit bags.

Picture shows L to R: Jonathon Ilett, Dan Fuller, Henry Bedford and Liam Evans

'Coffey retains title after five set thriller'

Wow, what a finals night at Hertford Squash & Racketball Club, Hoe Lane Ware!

With great expectation ahead of a Championship Final that matched up our Club No.1 and 2, the guest visit of Mark Williams from England Squash added to the hope for some competitive Racketball.

The evening commenced with the Plate Final between Colin Morgan and Khim Sng. After some early close exchanges it became clear that Morgan's fitness and agility around the court would be the telling factor. Morgan never let his opponent get in to his game and dominated the match to win 15-9, 15-6 and 15-6 for a title winning 3-0 match score.

The eagerly awaited Championship Final did not disappoint! Defending Champion Mark Coffey(Club No.1) was up against Martin Richards who, in his first Club Final, many of the watching gallery thought had the ability to take Coffey's title.

Richards started the match playing some of his most accurate and explosive Racketball which clearly unsettled Coffey and it took all his experience not to get completely overrun. With no more than two points separating the players through the first game Richards won 17-15 to take a 1-0 lead. Richards was clearly the more up-beat of the two and continued his form to win the next game 15-7. At this point Richards was looking good for his first Title win. However, Coffey regained some composure and seemed to have renewed confidence in his game. At 11-9 up in the third, Richards started to rush his shots looking for winners to finish the match and started to make unforced errors, this turned the third game advantage to Coffey as he won 15-12 to pull a game back.

The fourth game went in similar fashion 15-12 as Coffey levelled the match and what looked a certain win result for Richards was now in the balance.

The fifth and final game started with Richards looking drained after the exertion of the previous four games. Coffey's experience and fitness told as he won the deciding game 15-7 to win the match 3-2 and retain his title. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that it will not be too long before Richards wins his first Club title after this great final. Trophies were presented by Mark Williams of England Squash.

Picture: L to R: Colin Morgan, Mark Coffey, Mark Williams(England Squash), Martin Richards and Khim Sng.