A packed house at South Sound Squash Club witnessed a breathtaking final for the culmination of the 2008 Alba Club Championships.
A total of 116 players competed in seven days of squash across seven different categories, with the final of each category being played last Friday night.
There were some great matches in the Ladies’ A, B and C grades, and the Mens’ B, C and Vet categories, but the highlight of the night was undoubtedly the A Men’s final.
The World Squash Federation has recently changed the official scoring system of squash so that matches go to 11 (not 9) and you no longer have to serve to win a point.
This new format is supposed to create more exciting matches, and the finals didn’t disappoint.
Top men’s seed and current Caribbean Junior Champion Cameron Stafford took on second seed Jake Kelly in the final.
Stafford had won their previous encounter in the junior finals comfortably and after he won the first game 11-3 it looked like the crowd of over 120 spectators were going to see another one sided final.
Kelly settled his game in the send, and won 11-8. In the third game it was Stafford’s turn to race ahead again, and reached 10-8, with a game ball. Kelly saved two games balls, and went on to win the game 14-12 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
When Kelly quickly took the lead in the fourth game and raced to 10-6 it looked like the final was over.
But Stafford dug deep, played some mature squash and took advantage of some unforced errors by Kelly who looked to be overwhelmed by the situation and the need to get just one more point.
After saving four championship points and having the crowd screaming and cheering for his comeback, Stafford comfortably won the next two points to send the game into a fifth and deciding set, much to the delight of the packed house.
In the fifth and deciding set both players were playing great squash and the score slowly crept up with neither able to pull away.
It was 5-5 then 7-7. Then at 10-10 an error from Kelly gave Stafford his first championship ball and it looked like he was going to have a fairy tale comeback from near defeat in the fourth game. Kelly was able to save his first match ball and clawed back to 11-11.
At this crucial stage an awkward collision and odd ball position forced Kelly to call for a let.
Two out of the three referees contentiously awarded a stroke to Kelly, giving him a championship ball.
This brought immediate boos from the crowd. Kelly showed maturity and sportsmanship beyond his years by overruling the referees’ decision and only accepting a let.
This meant he no longer had a match ball. The crowd gave Kelly a thunderous applause for his sportsmanship.
Despite this, Stafford won the next point and set up his second championship point. Kelly again saved this, and then won the next point to set up his sixth championship point. Stafford dug deep and won the point, taking the score to 14-14.
By this point Kelly’s sportsmanship had won over a lot of the crowd so when he won the next two points to take the 2008 Alba Club Championships the crowd erupted.
Both players were given a standing ovation to what was a fitting climax to a brilliant tournament.
Seven other matches were played on the night, with six of them being finals and one ‘beer match’.
For pure entertainment value, but not the best squash, the match between club Chairperson Jeff Danter and Matt Taber was the highlight of the evening.
Taber, a B grade player had challenged Danter, an A grade player to a match.
Danter agreed to give him a seven point headstart for each game, and the loser had to buy four cases of beer for spectators at the final to drink.
The loser also had to carry the beers around the club, serving them out to spectators as they sat watching the finals.
The crowd quickly got behind underdog Taber and when he won the first game, even though some shots didn’t look like they went where they were supposed to go, the crowd was ecstatic.
The tug-of-war continued with entertaining points and hilarious banter from the players. Both ended up winning two games, sending the match into a fifth game.
The crowd was still overwhelmingly behind Taber. With his 7-0 head start in the game he was able to quickly add to this huge lead and had a 10-2 lead and match ball.
Danter suddenly picked up his pace and Taber had trouble sticking with him. Every time Taber squandered a match ball the crowd let out a loud, collective groan. 3-10. 4-10. 5-10. 6-10. 7-10.
Danter had saved five match balls. On the sixth match ball Taber produced a shot that no one thought he was capable of – a spectacular cross court nick that was impossible for Danter to retrieve.
The crowd went wild with Taber unable to contain his happiness. Taber ended up helping give out the beers. Danter had to buy for the club – just so he could say: ‘These beers are courtesy of Jeff Danter.’ A rematch is planned for next year.
In the other grades, Marlene West comfortably defended her title in the A Women’s, beating Samantha Hennings in straight games. The match was a very clean, sporting match with only two lets requested in the whole match.
Jody Jervis dominated the B Men’s category, taking a hard fought straight games victory over Bradley Stephenson. In the B Women top seed Julie Buckley-Corsetti lost the initial game to Lindsay Bridgeman, but won the next three comfortably.
In the C Men’s category Andrew Murray took a 2-0 game lead over Gerard Periera, but wasn’t quite able to close the match out, eventually losing 11-8 in the fifth.
Carolyn Wilson had a comfortable 3-0 victory over Lyneth Monteith in the Women C.
In the Vets category (over 40) John Cameron took an early lead against Nick Buckley, but Buckley’s extra match practice and fitness showed as he won the next three games, although they were all close.
Tournament director Dan Kneipp was pleased with the player participation and the turnout to the final. ‘I want to say a big thank you to everyone involved, particularly Jimmy Laurenson and his team at Alba who have been great supporters of squash for many years.’
Results
A Men: Jake Kelly beat Cameron Stafford 3-11, 11-8, 14-12, 10-12, 16-14!
A Women: Marlene West beat Samantha Hennings 11-5, 11-4, 11-4
B Men: Jody Jervis beat Bradley Stephenson 11-9, 11-6, 11-5
B Women: Julie Buckley-Corsetti beat Lindsay Bridgeman 10-12, 11-3, 11-2, 11-4
C Men: Gerard Pereira beat Andrew Murray 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8
C Women: Carolyn Wilson beat Lyneth Monteith 11-5, 11-5, 11-2
Vets: Nick Buckley beat John Cameron
10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6
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