First up was Philip who looked off the pace in the opening two games and was struggling with a leg injury. He dug deep and in a gutsy performance hung in there to take the third game narrowly, the fourth more easily, and the fifth game to nil against an out-thought and now demoralised opponent.
Ben worked hard against a nippy little player and was unlucky to lose the first game 7-9. He never stopped trying but the Gloucs number 5 ran out a 3-0 winner.
Ollie was locked in a titanic battle with a very good player in Anthony Graham. The Gloucs man played some really skilful shots, taking the pace off the ball beautifully on occasions. Both players showed some incredible retrieving. At 2-1 games down, Ollie managed to fight back and take the fourth 10-9 with a Herculean effort. It took a lot out of him and the Gloucs man closed out the match in the fifth game.
Ryan came up against a very strong Gloucs number 4 and went down in straight games.
Rhys was last on court but by now the semi-final was lost. He struggled to get into his normal game of control and patience against a good opponent who never looked threatened.
So we all trooped off to the Village Hotel at Cheadle to drown our sorrows and watch the highlights of Wales clinching the six nations grand slam against the French in Cardiff----fantastic!!


RESULT: HERTS LOST TO GLOUCS 1-4
 

3-4 play-off, Sunday 16th March, 10am

CAMBS v. HERTS

3.Robert Dadds lost to Philip Waller 2-3:(5-9, 9-6, 6-9, 9-1, 2-9)
5.Ahmed El Refee beat Ben Richards 3-0:(9-0, 9-3, 9-1)
1.Sammy Chambers lost to Oliver Dixon 0-3:(2-9, retired injured)
4.Peter Dickinson beat Ryan Mays 3-0:(9-0, 9-2, 9-3)
2.Daniel McGinn lost to Rhys Thomas 1-3:(9-2, 5-9, 3-9, 7-9)

RESULT: CAMBS LOST TO HERTS 2-3

Once again Philip was determined to maximise his time on court. Philip won the first, Robert Dadds levelled. Philip won the third, the Cambs man levelled again but had failed to spot that Philip was not moving around the court as much as he would have liked. His superior shot making won the day and we were off to a good start.
On the other court, Ben came up a very skilful Cambs number 5 and went down in straight games.
The battle of the number 1’s was eagerly awaited and got off to a good start with Ollie playing some great squash to take the first game 9-2. Unfortunately, Sammy Chambers was unable to play on because of badly blistered feet and Ollie took the match 3-0.
Next up, Ryan played Peter Dickinson who has formerly played at number 2 for Cambs. He was too strong for Ryan, who never stopped trying, but went down in straight games.
So the tie was to be decided on the last match. Rhys was to play Daniel McGinn again----they always have closely fought games. Rhys lost the first game but his superior fitness, control, and patience paid off as he ran out a 3-1 winner and we clinched the third spot in the national intercounty competition for 2008.

A special mention and thank you goes to Tim Dixon, our number 6, who was unable to play due to injury but still made the trip to Manchester to support the team.

Thanks also go to Antony Mays, John and Jane Dixon for their help and support over the course of the weekend.

Chris Thomas, U-19s Herts County Team Manager