Unbeaten Leeds surge into final

Men's Squash, Leeds Uni 1sts 4 - 1 York

By Simon Sandison

An afternoon of mixed success, however, should not obscure what has been a highly successful campaign for both branches of the university’s squash team.

The Women’s 1st team remains in the BUCS Premier league, and promotion is almost guaranteed for the Men, and a trophy may yet join this in the season’s striking achievements. Bristol ultimately proved too strong, and although Leeds’ Women pushed all the way - there was no match in which they did not look like they could have won - they were ultimately unable to ever assert control over the tie.

  Sarah Bowles had appeared to set the tone with a display of some character, coming from 2-1 behind to win 3-2 despite a lack of regular match play.  Club captain Hollingberry was left a little disappointed however, as elsewhere the Women’s 1st team lost their BUCS Cup quarter-final 3-1 match against a strong visiting team from the University of Bristol. Brickell, however, showed a fighting spirit to go alongside his good technique and his three victories of 12-10, 11-8, 12-10 reveal a remarkable ability to win under pressure.

  First year Rory Brickell, perhaps having anticipated an easier time, lost his first set, and had to come from behind in all of the remaining three sets in order to seal victory for the home side. His play was largely elegant and adventurous, but a reliance on using the back wall of the court to escape trouble, as well as a seeming blind spot in the bottom right corner of the court allowed York to maintain pressure.

Both Elliot Creek and his captain Ric Hollingberry won their matches without dropping a set, propelling Leeds to an early 2-0 lead. Creek in particular was well worth such a convincing victory. First on court, his control of the match was excellent, he dominated the Tee and rattled his opponent with several fine shots played along the court wall.   Hollingberry performed equally impressively, completing his responsibilities in little more than 15 minutes playing aggressively against albeit versus poor opposition. Victory in the first two of the five matches in the tie inevitably led to suspicions of inequality and the promise of a whitewash.

Former University of Leeds student Tom Lee, however, fought hard to beat Dan Gray by three sets to two, keeping the tie alive and saving his new team too many blushes. Gray looked as though he would edge the final set, and appeared to have more control and consistent shot play. Understandably tired though, he was he lost four match points before succumbing to a strong finish from Lee. By the time Karim Malik stepped onto court the tie was over and his match a dead rubber. His 3-1 victory was comfortable, but it may well have proven more critical, as a resurgent York were inspired by a hard-fought win in the third match.      

Leeds narrowly beat Wednesday’s opponents in a league match earlier in the year. The score line on that occasion was 3-2 so a similarly balanced repeat was expected. But victory in the final against Northumbria would cap off a successful season that has already gone a long way towards atoning for last year’s relegation. The team continued their unbeaten run against a York team for whom capitulation in the early matches concealed a determination that later threatened to upset the Leeds team.Leeds Men’s Squash 1sts continued an impressive season at the Gryphon Sports centre this Wednesday, beating York to secure a place in the BUCS Northern Cup Final later this semester.