Bloodbath at Broxbourne
So much depended on this match that three players were involved in 'injury' breaks, whilst giving their all in last nights clash. Firstly the quiet and deceptively quick Greg Gaultier (billy wizz) cut his knuckle when retrieving a deep drive from John Russell in the third game. The match had started with Russell taking a 6-3 lead in the first game as both players settled after a long journey. Russell from Chichester & Gaultier via the US & France! Unfortunately for Russell the memory of being run ragged in their first encounter earlier in the season seemed to linger and Greg played out some tiring long rallies to firstly reduce the deficit & then go on to take the game 9-6. Gaultier took the second 9-5 and looked like being unstoppable, but at 2-2 in the third, he cut his hand, and the resultant break for the blood injury to be attended to, gave Russell time to re-group his thoughts. Gaultier returned suitably 'repaired', but still able to use his injured hand to devastating effect. Although Russell was able to stay in touch, at 8-8 Gaultier ended his misery with two outstanding winners to take the match 3-0. Gaultier then took time to speak to the spectators after the match thanking them for their support.
On the outside court, Alister Walker, Broxbourne's junior player was protecting a 7 match unbeaten run in National League this season. Walker sporting a new haircut, faced another junior player, Sam Miller, had designs of braking this run. But after some fast & frantic opening rallies it was clear to all that it was only time that would stop Walker adding another scalp to his belt. He won 3-0 in just 20 minutes on court.
With the match score at 2-0 to Broxbourne, another of Broxbourne's younger players, Alex Stait was playing Ben Garner, which on paper would seem to many to be one of the closest matched of the night. And they were not wrong. In a match lasting 49 minutes, the pair traded rallies with Stait wining the first 9-7 only to loose the second 7-9. He bounce back to take the third 9-3 only for another injury break, this time to Ben Garner, to interrupt the match. In a freak accident, Ben got a fraction too close to Alex on his backswing and walked into his racket cutting him by his left eye. After furious work by players & officials' alike, like second's in a boxing match, Ben returned on court to continue sporting a blob of Vaseline over the cut! With the smell of blood in his nostril's Stait moved in for the kill and the match, taking the forth game 9-4. Chichester were beaten.
Back on the show court, Sue Rose was playing Tania Bailey. Both had reasons for wanting to win this match. Sue had earlier in the season announced her 'retirement' from the International scene, but still wanted to show that she could mix it at the top, and Tania has just returned from a long layoff due to injury. The first game went to Tania, but Sue responded to take the second & third with Tania taking the forth. The match perfectly poised at 2-2. Sue drew into a 5-2 lead when chasing across court fell heavily on her left knee, and we saw the third injury break of the night as she took time to have some treatment by the club physio. Clearly in pain she returned to the court and after the next rally Tania knew she was on a winner. Unable to turn without stopping, a gallant Sue Rose conceded the lead then the game to her opponent, 3-2.
Broxbourne's captain, Mark Chaloner, looked in good form against Chichester's captain, Peter Genever, but still conceded the first game 7-9. A quick conversation with long term mentor & coach, John Milton, seemed to do the trick with Mark rattling out the next three games in quick succession to win 3-1.
The result of the match is that Triage Broxbourne are now 8 points clear in the Southern Division and can celebrate wining the Division with a match still to go. They travel to Lexden in Colchester the final round knowing that their opponents have to beat them to join them in the end of season play off stages. Anything less will allow either Connaught or Guildford to leap-frog them into the finals. Broxbourne's opponents in the semi final stages will come from either Wolverhampton or last years National Champions, Edgbaston, who play each other next week in a winner take all match!