LDSC first bounce back with comprehensive win

In the Hertfordshire League, the seconds continued their great start to the season with an even more emphatic 20-1 win against Nuffield IIIs, while the Beds League seconds suffered the narrowest of defeats to Cleat Hill as LDSC missed out on a clean sweep of victories.

The second round of matches in the Beds League saw LDSC ease to victory over the OU.

Fourth string Scot Adam played a familiar face in Dave Pugh, who was part of the LDSC squad last season.

A close contest throughout went to the full five games as the players’ contrasting styles resulted in the momentum shifting regularly.

Pugh took the first and fourth games after Adam had fought back to lead 2-1, but the LDSC man took control of the deciding set to win it 15-9.

Second string Matt Mulara battled to a 15-12 first set win before cruising to a 3-0 victory over Simon Percival.

Top seed Marc Woolhead picked up where Mulara left off as, after a close-fought first set, he comfortably won the next to beat James Barlow 3-0 and seal the tie.

The second court proved to be a lucky one for LDSC as third string Craig Basham had enough guile to beat Steve Eyles 3-1.

The last match also went the distance as LDSC’s Matt Carey took the first and fourth sets in-between Dan Jacob’s fightback.

Having narrowly won the fourth, the fifth was also close. Both players tired as Carey edge it 17-15 to triumph.

The seconds lost a tight contest 15-8 to Cleat Hill.

Paul Main continued his good form but, having led 2-1, he eventually went down 3-2 to nemesis Phil Hales.

Captain Steve Wells went down 3-0 to the very strong Lee Bartlett, although each game was tight for the first half, while Amy Rigby lost 3-0 to experienced campaigner Juliet Johnson, but will surely compete more after gaining more experience of team squash.

Steve Davies triumphed 3-0 after a tight first, while 14-year-old Sam McCoy showed his outstanding potential again by winning 3-0 in an entertaining match against Will Johnson.

However, he did not have it all his own way as he had to fight back from 14-11 down in the first game to eventually win it 20-18.

Team captain Steve Wells said: “It was a slightly disappointing result and one that can be reversed later in the season.”

The Herts League second team continued their fine start to the season by demolishing Nuffield IIIs, with only Craig Basham dropping a game in a 20-1 rout.

LDSC I 18 Open Univerity II 5: Marc Woolhead 3 James Barlow 0; Matt Mulara 3 Simon Percival 0; Craig Basham 3 Steve Eyles 1; Scot Adam 3 David Pugh 2; Matt Carey 3 Dan Jacob 2.

LDSC II 8 Cleat Hill 15: Steve Davies 3 Steve Barlow 0; Sam McCoy 3 Will Johnson 0; Steve Wells 0 Lee Bartlet 3; Paul Main 2 Phil Hales 3; Amy Rigby 0 Juliet Johnson 3.

LDSC II 20 Nuffield III 1: Joe Elfasi 3 Chris Keating 0; Matt Mulara 3 John Miles 0; Craig Basham 3 Andrew James 1; Gary Milner 3 Julian Craxton 0; Steve Wells 3 Mark Castle 0.