U17 Inter-County

Date:               2^nd & 3^rd February 2002
Venue:            Herts Country Club, Welwyn Garden City, Herts
Counties:       Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, South East Wales

Herts Team:1. Adam Fuller
                        2. Neil Waller
                        3. Nick Ridgeway
                        4. Alex Page
                        5. Toby Morris
                        6. Jonathan Fuller (Reserve)

1^st Match: HERTS against SOUTH EAST WALES

1. Adam Fuller beat Rob Sutherland                   9/4  6/9  9/3  10/9
2. Neil Waller lost to Lewys Hurst                        1/9  4/9  1/9
3. Nick Ridgeway lost to Peter Creed                 4/9  1/9  0/9
4. Alex Page lost to Matthew Welsby                   8/10  3/9  8/10
5. Toby Morris lost to Christian Gonzales            1/9  3/9  0/9

South East Wales brought out a very strong side with their number 1 and 2 being part of the Welsh National team which competes on the European circuit. Rob Sutherland has a European ranking of No. 9 so this was a very satisfying win for Adam.  Although, Lewys Hurst won the Under 15 British Championship last year, Neil (age 14) was not overwhelmed by his reputation and made him work for every point.  All matches were well fought but it was only Alex Page who had the chance of taking any further games. 

 Team result, a 4-1 loss but at least the hardest tie was now out of the way.

2^nd Match (afternoon): HERTS against GLOUCESTER 

1. Adam Fuller beat Robbie Temple             7/9  9/6  9/5  9/6
2. Neil Waller lost to David Naish                  1/9  9/6  6/9  3/9
3. Nick Ridgeway lost to Robert Wilkins        2/9  3/9  5/9
4. Alex Page beat Russell Butland                 9/5  9/0  9/1
5. Toby Morris beat Tom Stephenson            9/7  9/2  9/3

 Toby Morris clocked up our first win in the afternoon session in convincing style emulated a short while later by Alex Page. Unfortunately, Nick Ridgeway went down in 3 to a very strong Gloucester No.3 to make the match score 2-1 in Herts favour.  Adam Fuller was able to secure the winning tie in an exciting match against Robbie Temple: a Wycliffe College schoolboy who has daily coaching with their resident coach, and former coach at Cannons in St Albans, Dave Morrish.

 Team result 3 – 2 win and at the end of day 1 we were in 3^rd position with the team scores  as follows:
 

1. South East Wales       38       
2. Gloucester                   27       
3. Herts                            18          
4. Bucks                             1

This meant there was no chance of us finishing in first position but the battle for second place was very much on.  We needed to beat Bucks and also see Wales beat Gloucester. There was no room for complacency but with Bucks only able to field a 4-man team against us tomorrow we had a good start. 

 Match 3: HERTS against BUCKS

1. Adam Fuller beat Nic Clarke              9/1  9/4  9/4
2. Neil Waller beat Tom Power              9/3  9/5  9/3
3. Nick Ridgeway beat Alex Hartley       9/3  9/4  9/3
4. Alex Page beat Ross Baker               9/3  9/3  9/2
5. Toby Morris - No player fielded           Walkover

 Without too much partying the night before, the Herts team made swift work of Bucks and gained maximum points to put us on 38.  Wales seemed to be well in control and with 3 matches already won at positions 1, 4 and 5 without a game dropped, it meant we could not be dislodged from finishing in second place.

 Both the final matches were won by Wales and the final points and positions were:

1. South East Wales      58       
2. Herts                           38       
3. Gloucester                   30          
4. Bucks                           1

 As only the top county is promoted to the Premier Division the Herts Under 17 team will remain in Division 1 South next season.

 A very enjoyable weekend witnessed some excellent squash. 

 A final thank-you goes to Dean Clayton and his team of marker/referees who helped the weekend go so smoothly.