There are occasions in sport when the unexpected
happens. Ireland’s win at Twickenham last weekend and longer ago, the
crazy gang of Wimbledon winning the FA Cup. Well history has repeated
itself (to some extent) with Hertfordshire’s own crazy gang of over 45
squash players (although one of them has been spreading a rumour that he’s
only 37) being crowned County Champions at the recent finals event at
Nottingham Squash Club.
The captain’s instructions and advice going into
the weekend was "enjoy the hammering you are going to get on Saturday in
the semi-finals, enjoy getting hammered on the Saturday night and make
sure you get at least one point in the third and fourth play-offs on the
Sunday morning." How wrong can you be?
Travelling with not the strongest of sides but
boosted by a coach-load of supporters (well 4 actually but it was a small
coach) and the promise of a ‘county shirt’ to replace the one we received
to commemorate the signing of the Doomsday Book, we made our way to
Nottingham. Four of the side comprising Peter Leary (St. Albans), Derek
Thorpe (Radlett), Dave Cooper (Broxbourne), Phil Collins (Radlett), and
Julian Craxton (Radlett) could have qualified for the over 50’s tournament
(if there was one) but what was lacking in youth was more than made up by
experience.
Lancashire were the opponents on Saturday
morning in the semi-finals and obviously both Julian Craxton and Dave
Cooper had forgotten the script – even though Dave had written it! Both
proceeded to play as though they thought they could win – and both did!
Playing some great squash that defied our underdog status and put
Hertfordshire 2-0 up. However normal service was quickly resumed when both
Peter and Phil were overturned by their classy opponents. Two all and it
was up to Derek to ensure we could enjoy a good curry, a few beers and any
other delights Nottingham had to offer. Not a chance! Typically Derek’s
only thought was victory and against a former over 45’s national champion
(who had flown in from Nice especially for the occasion) Derek proceeded
to do what Derek always does. He won and Hertfordshire were in the county
finals.
A team bonding session then took place which
paradoxically excluded the two losers for some reason but the majority
view was that the strong Yorkshire side who had defeated Surrey in the
other semi-final was going to a bridge too far for little Hertfordshire in
the final. Consequently Plan A was re-instated with a promise of a good
night in Nottingham being back on the cards. Derek went mad and was seen
to consume at least a pint and a half of shandy and the other team
members, whilst circumspect in their consumption by normal standards, did
ensure the brewery trade in Nottingham will be safe for another year.
Sunday arrived and noting Surrey’s ‘hollow’
victory in the 3rd/4th play off (only three
Lancashire players remained to contest the match – shame on you,
Lancashire), the Herts lads stretched out to rid themselves of the
previous day’s exploits on the court and in the bar and would you believe
it – déjà vu! Julian and Dave proceeded to give Herts a 2-0 lead by
playing like men possessed and like men far below their respective ages.
However, Collins did his best to maintain good inter-county cordial
relationships by allowing his opponent a 3-0 win but, arguably, the
performance of the weekend came next on the show court. Peter Leary, not
only playing some of his best squash in an age and rolling back the years
in terms of mobility around the court, dug-in to come back from 7-5 down
in the fifth to snatch victory and the tie for Hertfordshire. Derek’s
usual meticulous and professional approach ensured yet another county
victory for him and a 4-1 aggregate victory for Herts.
A couple of celebratory ‘halves’ and it was back
on the road for the trip back to the homeland. A gold medal around the
necks of the victorious team members, a gleaming cup in the back of the
skipper’s car and a smug grin on both the players and spectators’ faces. A
weekend to remember, when ‘David’ (and I don’t just mean Cooper) beat not
only one but two ‘Goliaths’. Thanks must go to players, partners and other
spectators, the SRA and Nottingham Squash Club. But most of all,
Well done the old squash men of Hertfordshire!
Confident emails from our intrepid Captain
(before & after the event)
