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It was a night to remember at the Radlett squash club on Monday night as two of the greats came to do battle.

Kinley, looking his ever fresh and keen, and just of a good run in the club Champs, while Raw had not played for the past 3 weeks with an ankle injury that has prevented him playing.

Kinley, playing with style and total concentration took the first two games, later during the post match analysis was put down to the new hand grip being employed to create even greater touch when playing those delicate drops and tight drives down the wall.
Kinley took the first game 9-1, Raw struggling with the pace of the game, new shoes, new racket and 3 weeks away from the court, combined to show a man out of touch and struggling to find his touch, a sad and below par performance. The 2nd game took the same course, but this time Raw manages to create a few rallies, Kinley maintained the furious pace with nice drops and good length, and went on to win 9-5 The money was riding high on a Kinley clean up for the first time this year.

During the interval Raw changes tack, removes a single layer of sock's to make the new shoes comfortable, changes the new heavier racket for his old favourite. These changes had obviously affects. Raw was revitalised, and moving well, Kinley , leading 2-0 relaxed and so the Great come back began, Raw took the 3rd 9-2, and the 4th 9-4, leaving the 5 and final game as the decide.

In previous encounters the two had failed to finish, but today was different, Raw was still moving well in the 5th, some would say remarkable well for his age, and the amount of time off court over the past 28-months. On the other hand Kinley look tiered and the fresh legs had dissipated over the previous 4 games, he was a spent man. Raw moved swiftly to 8-2, playing shots only seen at the highest level, a nick here, a perfect length there helped to drive home the advantage. The memorable shot of the night was the volley at mid court, forehand across court that died as it hit the nick perfectly.

. The game swayed at 8-2 for a number of rallies, eventually Raw put Kinley out of his misery, when Kinley attempted to lob the big man, only to see Raw in full flight drive the ball into the forehand front corner nick, the game was over...............

Final scores Raw/Kinley......1/9, 5/9, 9/2, 9/4, 9/2