SQUASH: Triple defeat for depleted LDSC

A similarly weakened second team slumped to a thrashing at the hands of Cleat Hill and in the Hertfordshire League the firsts lost narrowly against Harpenden.

In the firsts clash against OU IIs, the fourth strings kicked off proceedings with Scot Adam facing Steve Eyles who shaded the clash 3-1.

Phil Jenkins (LDSC) and Tomas Truhelka squared off at second string and, although Truhelka triumphed 3-0, the match was closer than the scoreline suggested.

The fifth string match saw Matt Carey (LDSC) take on Dan Jacob. Carey won a tight first game, with the second also close before his movement was clearly impeded.

Jacob levelled the match and it became clear in the third that Carey’s injury was hampering him as the match was forfeited, thus handing the overall tie to OU IIs.

The closest game of the night was the third string clash between Craig Basham (LDSC) and Simon Percival.

A tight first game was taken by Percival, before Basham seized the advantage and won the next two comfortably.

Percival took the fourth and, although Basham had three match points, he eventually went down 3-2.

The final match of the evening saw the respective first strings Matt Mulara (LDSC) and James Barlow in action.

Mulara battled valiantly though as he took the second game to a tie-break before winning the third, but ultimately lost 3-1.

The next round of matches sees LDSC host David Lloyd.

The only positive aspect for LDSC IIs was that it wasn’t a repeat of last week’s whitewash, although it remained a bruising defeat at the hands of Cleat Hill.

Steve McCoy was forced to retire injured midway through the second game as he suffered a calf injury, while Amy Rigby succumbed to experienced Cleat Hill captain Dean Simpson.

The evening got no better for LDSC as Paul Main was beaten 3-0 by talented youngster Will Johnson.

Steve Davies at first string clearly hadn’t got over his injury as he went down to Steve Barlow, while Steve Wells lost to Shaun Conlon despite leading 2-1 at one point.

In the Herts League, the firsts hosted Harpenden, but also suffered defeat.

Marc Woolhead was first in action at number one string and went down 3-2 to the talented Mike Gregory.

Things looked better for LDSC soon after however, as Mike Mclaughlin, playing his first match this year, beat Eamon Price 3-1.

Fourth string Steve Barlow made a decent start going 1-0 up against Peter Foley, but lost out 3-1.

Will Montgomerie was not at his best and went down 3-0 to Marvin Rust in a scrappy match, while promising youngster Joe Elfasi made his debut for the first team and put in plenty of effort during a 3-0 reverse.