In a match which saw two unusually weaker than normal sides, TVS Broxbourne took advantage of the home tie to inflict 'the double' over a struggling Connaught team. With Squad captain, Mark Chaloner, resting, Alex Stait injured & Rod Durbach making way for the French magician, Greg Gaultier, the TVS team looked like it may not have the depth required against the team who boast the World No.1 in their squad.

 

First on court for Broxbourne was Alison Waters against Lauren Briggs. A clinical display by the newly turned professional, Waters, bought a hasty end to the opening rubber 3-0 in only 22 minutes.

 

Meanwhile, on the showcourt, Wycliffe College squash coach, Dave Morrish, made his debut in a Broxbourne shirt against Jason Friend. He quickly found himself 2-0 down but settled into a rhythm to work his way back into the match and take the next two games to level at 2-2. This was at a price. Fitness was to tell & the Connaught No.4 secured a point on his first National League match at Broxbourne.

 

With the match at 1-1, Broxbourne's 3rd string, Alistair Walker took on Mathew Bolt. Ali promptly lost the first 6/9, but after a good talking too, mainly by himself, re-emerged to rattle off the next three games in quick succession, to win 3-1.

With only one more tie needed to secure the points, Danny Meddings who has been an inspiration to all at Broxbourne, took on the irrepressible Stuart Cowie. In a match so evenly poised with the advantage swinging back and forth like a metronome Danny took the first 9/7 only to loose the second 9/11. Back he came to take the third 9/2, and with Cowie leading and holding game ball 6/8 in the forth, a fifth set look inevitable. Enter the referee! With three decisions all going against Cowie, much to his obvious annoyance, the balance of the game changed and so did the match. Meddings stepped forward and needed only one chance to secure the game 10/8 and the match for a 3-1 victory.

 

In the dead rubber, and at first string, the Connaught captain, Tim Garner, faced Broxbourne's own French magician, Greg Gaultier, who set out to entertain the crowd from the start. His total dominance of the court was at times breath taking. Time and time again he had Garner chasing the ball into the back corners, punishing rallies with no let up, until he decided when the rally should end. Mercifully for Tim it was all over in 3 sets, 9/4, 9/3, 9/5, and Broxbourne therefore won the tie 4-1.

 

Broxbourne spokesman, Andy Booth commented "It was some of the best squash I have seen Greg play. He is extremely confident of his own ability. Tim is no slouch, but he really was outclassed on the night" "With Chichester beating near rivals Lexden, who appear to have pressed the self destruct button, we now have a realistic chance of making the play off stages of the National League. We need only 8 points from a possible 14 against the two teams team's at the bottom of the League. It then becomes much harder as we possibly face some of the teams in the Northern Division who have very strong line up's"