Reigate Squash Club’s Internal Team League (known to its close friends as the ITL) kicked off a fourth season on Friday night, as colours were unfurled once again. Over eighty club members have answered the annual rallying call to sign up for one of the four teams, and in this first skirmish thirty eight troops took to the battlefield.
The Rhythm & Blues team aligned their forces on the brow of the hill to take on the current ITL champions, the Rediculous 5, whilst the Mellow Yellows, desperate to seize the ITL crown for the first time, lined up against the formidable Green Machine.
First on court was Mike Parsons for the Blues, taking on the fast improving Coleen Cloherty, resplendent in his well fitting red shirt. These two had crossed racketball paths recently, and Mike did him again in straight games. First strike to the Blues! Richard Allum redressed the balance for the Reds by taking out Chris Lucas in straight games. James Mace, the man with the metal hip (there should be a song…and a film), kicked off proceedings for the Yellows by taking on Mike Pinggera the elder in a bruising encounter, which Mike eventually took three games to two. Meanwhile, Ruth recrossed swords with Yellow’s Alfie Champion, and came back from two games down, but Alfie eventually came out the winner. First round done, and each team had one victory. Is this a taste of the season to come?
Busy boy Richard Allum was back on court, covering for a late injury withdrawal, but he came a cropper against our favourite corporate ringer Colin Woods, who took the tie for the Blues in straight games. Two ITL debutants took to the court, with Steve Cobby playing for the Reds, and brand new club member Andrew Leaver for the Blues, the latter showing the promise of matches to come, winning the tie 3-1. Sylvia van Oevern, another late replacement, tested out Andy Catford’s backhand, winning yet another tie for the Blues three games to two. Andrew Loftus showed the returning Guy Huddleston no favours, clocking up a straight games win for the Greens. Blue stalwart Christian Harding despatched Simon Chatfield in straight games, and Richard English usurped Reigate Squash royalty Danny Lee three games to one, keeping the Yellows well in the hunt. Half way through, and the Blues are looking very strong, whilst the Greens and Yellows are neck and neck.
Ruth returned on court for the Greens, and in a blistering display beat Alan Ellerbeck three games to one. In an entertaining showcourt match, Yellow’s Peter Knee took on and beat Iain Briggs, also three games to one. Mike Parsons swapped to racketball, but Colin Waite was too canny in manipulating the bigger ball, and won a rare victory for the Reds 3-1. Blue boy Darren Mackay took his revenge on Roy Taylor for a recent painful league loss, winning a tight and exhausting grudge match three games to two. Four players took to the court for a racketball doubles match (with at least one of them knowing the rules…) Mike Pinggera and Andrew Loftus beat James May and Alan Ellerbeck in straight games, really helping out the Green cause. ITL debutant Julian Griffiths hammered the Blue nail into the Red coffin, beating Maggie May in straight games. Hubby James May then moved onto squash and entertained another new club member Ed Chapman, a match which the latter took for the Greens with some surprise.
Down to the last knockings. On the showcourt, Wayne Beglan, talisman of the Blues, played out a highly skilled and high paced encounter with welcome returnee Paul Rawden, heading up the Red team. Wayne took the tie three games to two. In the other first string match ITL debutant Matt Jones struck a blow for the Yellows in defeating Green’s Ollie Dredge. Simon Fredericks, employed his wicked boast shot to great effect, going two games up against Cliff Enslin; was this a ray of light for the Red team? But Cliff had other ideas, and hauled the match back from the brink to the Blue cause, winning three games to two. And in the distant backwaters of court D, Guy Stedman struck the final blow of the evening in taking a straight games win for the Yellows against Brandon Bratton.
We were also thrilled to welcome Peter from The Planet Reigate Podcast! Peter chatted with club members to capture the spirit of RSC and the ITL. We’ll let everyone know as soon as the episode is live.
So it’s all down to the bar to partake of some delicious sponsor’s Giggling Squid curry, accompanied by Laughing Lisa’s salads, Sniggering Sarah’s cheeseboard, and Roaring Roger’s beer. The Blues have struck a significant first blow of the season by taking out current title holders Rediculous Reds 28 points to 15, whilst the Green Machine manufactured a closely contested win over Mellow Yellows 20 points to 18. Thanks to Snappy Sylvia Van Oevern for the pictures!
What happens next; who will make the next decisive move in the heat of battle? Find out in the next exciting skirmish of this year’s ITL, on Friday 15th November.