Battling loss for Surrey Storm in season opener

Surrey Storm Guildford 2-3 Surrey H&R

Surrey Storm got the new season underway with a battling 3-2 loss against 2007/08 champions Surrey Health and Rackets. On paper the result always looked close but with World number 9 Peter Barker and World no. 5 Alison Walters in their side Surrey Health and Rackets looked the slight favourites.

First match of the night saw Victoria Lust making her Surrey Storm debut against the impressive Alison Walters. Alison started strongly, taking the ball early, hitting with real intent and moved her younger opponent around the court with ease, taking the first game 11/5. In the second Victoria managed to take Alison away from the middle and created a few openings of her own. Alison however was always going to be a tough match for Victoria and she won that game 11/6 before taking the final game 11/3 to give first blood to the visitors.

Meanwhile on the glass court Stacey Ross was battling against the youthful and in form Adrian Waller. This match was a fantastic exhibition for the watching crowed. The first game was neck and neck to 8 all before Adrian won 3 un answered points to take a 1-0 lead. In the second Stacey game out all guns blazing creating winners from all around the court and managing to get in front of Adrian much more regularly and levelled the match 11/5. The third was another tight affair with both players looking to attack and the retrieving was top class. The game went to a tie break after Stacey had a game ball and Adrian closed it out 10/12. Again in the fourth Stacey got his tactics spot on moving Adrian around the court well and then finding exquisite winners setting up a deciding fifth much to the crowds delight.

In the deciding game Stacey weathered the inevitable early storm from Adrian and continued to find his outstanding winning shots. Again both players traded points up to eight all before Stacey pulled away ten eight and two match balls. Adrian saved both before Stacey brought up another match point. Again Adrian fought back and this time brought up his own match point. The crowed feared the home side were about to be 2-0 down on the night but they needn’t of worried as Stacey fought back, retrieving everything Adrian through at him and bringing up another match ball at 14/13. This time he made no mistake and brought Surrey Storm back level at 1-1.

In the fourth string tie the crowed were treated to another fantastic game of squash between Ben Ford and Surrey Storm’s own captain marvel Steve Meads. The match was one of high quality and both players were looking to move each other around, looking to get in front and take the ball early into the front. Ben got the better of Steve in the first winning it on tie break 12/10. Both players were working really hard and continued to construct the rallies really well.

Mistakes were at a minimum and in another close finish Ben took the second 11/9. These two tough games had taken a lot out of both players and in the third Steve managed to dictate things and attacking more regularly reducing the deficit 11/5. The fourth saw both players’ trade blows desperate not to give any easy points away the quality was still high and it was hard to see who was going to pull through. Fortunately for Surrey Storm Steve dug deep and snatched it 11/9 setting up another decider!

In the fifth both players were digging deep and the game was a real old fashioned game of squash, up and down the walls, straight drops making each other cover all four corners. Steve looked focused and managed to pull away to take the game and match 11/7 and Surrey Storm were 2-1 up on the night.

Back on the show court American Gilly Lane was taking Scotland’s Alan Clyne with the home crowed now daring to imagine a dream start to the new season. Alan settled quickly in the first game taking it 11/6. In the second Gilly started to impose himself more on the game and started to move Alan around and finding his range with his short game levelling things up again 11/4. Gilly started strongly in the third before Alan clawed his way back taking the game 11/7. In the fourth Alan got off to a great start and Gilly made a couple of errors.

Unfortunately there was to be no fairytale end for the home support as Alan took the game 11/2 and the match 3-1.

The final match saw Jesse Eglebrecht up against Peter Barker. This was always a tough proposition for Jesse and Peter looked in good form in the first taking it 11/6. The second was a similar story with Jesse always willing to work hard and look for openings but with Peter moving well Jesse was always under pressure looking for winners. In the third Peter looked to be running away with it until a debated line call. Perhaps Peter’s concentration dropped but Jesse took full advantage levelling the scores at 8-8.

However Peter regained his focus and closed out the game 11/8 giving Surrey Health and Rackets a 3-2 victory on the opening night.

Graeme Williams