A difficult start to the new year
All the latest news form the Grove Squash Club.
First Team
A depleted First Team missing several key players including number one seed Richard Speed played two matches in Division 1 of the Nott’s League in January losing both. Against Grantham 3 Steve Brown and Paul Burrell won 3-2 at seeds 1 & 2 respectively and Mark Chester & Paul Breffitt both lost 3-2 at 3 & 4 seeds so valuable points were picked up. Against David Lloyd it was a different matter with only Paul Allen playing up from the second team picking up any points. They currently sit one place off the bottom of the league but do have a couple of games in hand on the teams above them.
Second Team
In Division 2 of the Second Team sit in a similar position to the First’s, one off the bottom having only played one game during January against Sutton Bonnington. Missing their number one string Mark Chester resulted in everyone playing up but Christian Cardenas, Andy Sayers & Paul Breffitt did manage to pick up useful points.
Third Team
In Division 3 a run of 3 defeats during the month for the 3rd team hasn’t helped their climb up the table which they experienced before Christmas and which now sees them in sixth place. Two were very narrow 3-2 affairs, the first against Sutton with Tom Breffitt and Richard Wilson winning their respective rubbers and the second against Park Pinks with Tom Breffitt and Paul Drury picking points up. The third game was a different story resulting in a 4-1 defeat against David Lloyd with Paul Breffitt pulling out a fine performance winning at number 1 string. A run of winnable games in February could still see them push up the table.
Forth Team
The forth team still sit at the top of Division 4 having won two matches in January and picking up points heavily. The first was against Trent University Students 3 who could not raise a team resulting in maximum points and the second a 4-1 victory over Nottingham University Students with Jamie Groden, Dave Grant, Adam Whitney and Greg Rhodes on debut putting in fine performances. The crucial games against the teams immediately below them come in March and with a couple of winnable games in February it can be hoped that they are still clear moving into the critical phase of the season.
