U15
ENGLAND
SQUASH
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Congratulations to the Boys Under 15
team led by Ray Waller becoming National Inter-County
Champions for the 1st time beating Yorkshire in the Final.
1. Phil Waller (Potters Bar) Jason Foster |
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Full Report
U15 Inter County - National Final
Having won through the preliminary rounds with relative
ease the Hertfordshire U15 Boys team now faced a much
bigger challenge in the national final.
The format is different to the earlier rounds with the
league format being dropped in favour of a winner takes
all with a semi final on the Saturday and a final or 3/4th
play off on the Sunday.
We were first on and facing the ‘on paper’ favourites
Gloucester we set about the task with gusto.
Tim Dixon led the charge with a superb 3-2 victory over
Tom Ford who is ranked number 10 in England. The games
see-sawed with Tim taking the first and third 9/6 with the
5th being a very tight affair with Tim coming out
victorious at 9/7.
This victory was swiftly followed by a demolition job by
Louis Drakes on the Gloucester number 5 – 9/2, 9/0, 92.
Needing only one more for victory Nicholas Mulvey made it
secure the Gloucester boy retiring with a twisted knee
although Nick looked in control from the start.
The other games were not material but we ran out 4-1
victors with Philip Waller winning a good 3/2 victory
whilst Nathan Derrick saved himself for the next day.
The other semi final was between Yorkshire and Essex and
the former ran out the winners setting up a North v South
final.
Staying in the same hotel as the Yorkshire mob it was soon
evident that they fancied there chances having the number
one in England, the number 12 in England and the number 23
in England all lined up. Accosted by their team manager he
felt it would be close and it would be decided by the
lower order.
The order of the Yorkshire team was somewhat topsy-turvy
as the number 12 ranked player, played at number 3 whilst
the 23 ranked played at 2. Maybe something fishy going on
to secure the lower order wins or maybe just a loss of
form for the number 12? The latter was most probably the
reason!
Tim once again kicked off and played out of his skin
taking a 2/0 lead against the number 12 in England. Having
disposed of the number 10 in England the previous day
anything was possible. Tim went on to have match ball in
the third but was not quite able to put it away and a
fighting recovery from George Wileman gave him a 3/2
victory. The effort given by Tim was an example to all and
whilst he lost the match the team were buoyed by his
endeavours.
Louis Drakes at number 5 once again was unstoppable with a
straight 3/0 victory although this time after a whirlwind
9/0 in the first, the second game went to 10/8 before he
took the win 9/4 in the 3rd.
Nick Mulvey was the next to go on at number 4 and this was
one we had to win. After winning the first game 9/4 in
relative ease he lost concentration and lost the second
0/9!! The team manager had some work to do and simple
advise soon got him back in his winning ways. The advice
was to hit the back hand corner of his opponent on as many
shots as possible. Fancy stuff was out the window it was a
discipline he must stick to for the majority of the shots.
Nick was able to execute this instruction as he feared for
his life and he won the next two 9/1, 10/8 to give us a
2-1 lead.
As expected the England number one from Yorkshire beat
Philip Waller (ranked 4) leaving the number two’s to
settle the match.
As you can imagine the crowd grew as the game progressed
especially as the encouragement from the balcony become
more and more vocal. The instructions of the team manager
were simple. This is the game of your life, you stick in
there, run everything down and exhaust your opponent into
submission.
Nathan carried this out to perfection and whilst at times
it was not the prettiest squash it was executed with heart
and determination.
The first game was the real make or break and Nathan edged
it 10/9 having run everything down making his opponent
wonder what to do next. Already the Yorkshire boy looked
tired so it was more of the same and a 9/7 victory in the
2nd.
Nathan was now in danger of overheating and pumped up for
the 3rd. The advice of the team manager – more of the same
BUT do not argue with the ref, accept the decision and
stop giving the opponent a rest whilst you discuss
something you will not win. He took it on board.
Nathan duly went on to win the last 9/1 the Yorkshire lad
having run out of ideas and energy.
As you can imagine the Hertfordshire contingent was not
reserved in its celebrations with the parents on the
balcony probably embarrassing their offspring’s with
whoops of joy and congratulations.
It was a great weekend hopefully enjoyed by all and
certainly as team manager I felt proud of all the boys.
The way they approached every match and represented their
County was a credit to them and of course their parents.
I would also like to thank Joe Richards for coming along
as reserve and note that he thrashed the Yorkshire reserve
giving us a moral 4/2 victory!
I think this might be the first Hertfordshire Boys team to
win a National Final so WELL DONE to everybody
Ray Waller
Team Manager & Chairman Herts Junior Squash