January’s ITL Report

Rhythm & Blues feel the pressure as all three rival teams jockey into position!

Seismic forces were at play at Reigate Squash Club last Friday night in the latest iteration of the Internal Team League.  The Mellow Yellows were given an immediate opportunity to avenge their December basting at the hands of the undefeated Rhythm & Blues, whilst resurgent Rediculous 5’s looked to pile the pressure onto the Green Machine.  Fifty two club members participated, making it the biggest ever ITL evening – let’s banish those January blues!

Arguably the loneliest place on planet squash is ‘first up on court D’, but Coleen Cloherty and Stephen Lewis did a fine job overcoming the testing conditions as they resumed their ITL rivalry.  Coleen turned the tables on his opponent this time out, taking the tie for the Reds 3-1.  Freddie Jenkins struck an early blow for the Yellows by beating Chris Lucas in straight games.  Meanwhile old father Tom Jenkins showed no mercy to club Royalty Danny Lee, committing regicide in three straight but tight games, another win for the Reds.

Mark Wilmshurst did a good job of despatching Ruth Lewis, hand maiden of a recent culinary catastrophe, three games to one – this was a strong start indeed for the Reds.  Mark Peters (together with Harry, making another ITL family combo debut), took out Andrew Leaver in straight games, also extending Yellow’s early advantage.  Yet another ITL debutant, Martin Wallbank, was powerless to hold back Yellow’s onslaught, as Matt Jones beat him 3-1.  And Freddie Jenkins was back on court to secure even more points for the Yellows, beating Julian Griffiths in straight games.

Green Machine’s Mike Pinggera ran Mark Skinner ragged around court, taking him out in three games.  Brandon Bratton took some precious win points for the Blues in defeating Alfie Champion 3-1.  Richard Allum the White ghosted around court and beat John Miles in straight games.  Favourite corporate ringer Colin Woods did what he does best, upsetting the establishment applecart and surprising his opponent, beating Yellow’s latest young debutant Harry Peters in three tight games.

Kevin Uphill, determined to put Greens back on track, put in a power display to overcome Maggie May’s trickery in straight games.  Robert Essex, finally making his ITL debut for the Yellows after a three month enforced layoff (what dislocated shoulder?), defeated ITL regular Ian Drummond, freshly down from the north, in three games, but it was a tight contest.  In what can best be described as a bruising and hard hitting marathon of a match, Green’s Callum Carmichael defeated the pirouetting Roy Taylor 3-1.  Cliff Enslin came in from the cold and straight on court to secure another precious win for the Blues in a clash of the tall trees, overcoming Richard English 3-1.  Red’s George Stoyle put his speed and vigour to good effect, despatching the venerable and venerated Godfrey Jordan 3-1.   Paul McKay stepped out of the bar and up to the plate for the Reds, defeating Chris Cable 3-1.

High time for the big rackets; two racketball doubles matches, featuring some of our near tennis club neighbours, ably assisted by some old lags, took to the courts.  Janet Kenny and Andy Catford took on and defeated Sue Denman and Guy Huddleston 3-1.  And in the other match, Alison Newman and Roger Crabb, the latter having also crossed the bar, despatched energetic debutant Thomas Dalton and James May 3-0.  More points racked up for both the Greens and the Reds from these skirmishes.

Welcome back to Ollie Dredge, heading up the Green challenge this month, as he overcame the grit, drip and determination of Simon Fredericks, but not before the latter took the first game for the Reds.  Colin Waite avenged his recent bloody nose encounter with Connell Grogan, winning this tie for the Reds 3-1.  Peter Yates, back from self imposed exile from the Red’s whatsapp group, took the first game of his match, but Gus Garcia then took the wheel, and secured the tie for the Greens.   Andy Catford, who had seemingly been playing at the club for most of the day, finally ran out of steam, as Ed Chapman took a close match 3-2 for the Greens.  Peter Knee recovered from a slow start and 2-0 down to force Joe Ales into a gruelling five setter, which Joe finally took for the Blues.  And in the showcase match, Nick Benson, making his ITL debut for the Blues, came up against an in-form ITL returnee Richard Campbell, who politely and firmly showed the young buck all corners of the court, taking the final tie of the evening for the Yellows in a match of high skill.

Rediculous 5 put on a very strong team performance, taking victory against the Green Machine, who also managed to secure a hatful of points; both teams are handily placed.  But it’s the Mellow Yellows who have blown this year’s competition wide open by inflicting Rhythm & Blues first defeat of the season.  The Blues still head the table, but only 12 points separate the four teams; with two rounds to go, this could well be the closest contested ITL yet!!

To view the brilliant pictures, follow this link and scroll down.