Hertford Squash and Racketball Club 'Handicap Squash Finals'

 

The Hoe Lane based Club's recent Squash Finals night proved to be one of their most entertaining and dramatic, certainly from the packed gallery's point of view.

 

The evening commenced with the Plate final between Ivor Davey and Richard Roomans. Roomans started the match with a 6 point handicap over his more experienced opponent and after only a few minutes play Roomans sustained a calf strain that then hampered him for the rest of the match. Losing the first game 5 - 9 Roomans levelled the match by winning the next game 9-7, however, the injury continued to affect his game and ability to get to the front of the court. Davey's greater experience took full advantage and gave him a winners trophy with a 3-1 match win 9-5, 7-0, 9-3 and 9-1.

 The Main Final was eagerly awaited between Garry Pound and Club Squash and Racketball Champion Mark Coffey. Coffey was starting the match with a 7 point handicap and was up against an opponent in good club form. Pound started the match at a terrific pace constantly attacking the ball and not letting his opponent settle in to the game. Coffey was clearly rattled and Pound stormed to a 9-1 game win. The second game equally went in a similar fashion as Pound took a 2-0 lead winning the game 9-5. The watching gallery clearly felt Coffey was on his way to a first final defeat in two years. The match took a dramatic twist early in the third game as Pound sustained a calf strain that allowed his opponent to take the third game 9-5. Pound was clearly struggling and it looked as though he would now slip to a match defeat. Pound, having left court between games, returned with a heavily strapped calf which allowed him to continue with a little more confidence. The fourth game really was a battle that went to 7-7 only for Pound to lose two match balls as Coffey took this game in a dramatic 10-8 score and level the match 2-2. The watching gallery felt that might have been Pound's last chance of victory carrying such an injury. he obviously felt otherwise. Some excellent squash from Pound in the final game frustrated his opponent who could have been forgiven for thinking the final game to be a mere formality against an injured opponent. Pound took the final game 9-2 and the match 3-2! All players contributed to a truly memorable evenings entertainment.

 

Attached picture shows both winning finalists congratulating each other on a 'job well done'. Ivor Davey on the left with Garry Pound on the right.