Close results in squash semi finals

Baw Baw Squash Club's semi-finals were played last week with each grade not being decided until the final match.

In the first match of the elimination final Clio Milsome was in control for the first two sets, winning 15-6, 15-7. However, her opponent, Donna Andres, managed to lift her game and take control in the next two sets to win them 15-13, 15-12. Clio, who has had an excellent season, wrestled back the initiative and was able to clinch the match with a final set victory 15-8. This put the Strikers one rubber up.

At the next level Jeff Lyon struggled to return Tim Kubale's serve effectively with shots that were too short.

Control of the front of the court is essential in squash and Tim was able to achieve that through the quality of his serves. He was able to put away Jeff's returns or hit to advantage. His experience as a former number one resulted in good anticipation, economical movement and advantageous shot placement, all of which led to a quite dominant performance with scores 15-7, 15-9, 15-6. With one match all the Renegades now held a two-game advantage.

The third match was expected to be even based on the combatants' form during the season. It was a high energy match with powerful shots and significant court coverage.

Brian Goodwin, for the Strikers, took the first two sets 15-11, 15-13, but was not dominating, so it was not surprising that Terry Milsome was able to respond with a 15-10 win in the third set. In the end, Brian's tighter shots and good depth proved to be the difference and he took out the fourth set 15-10. With each team now having won six games it meant that whoever won the final match would put their team into the preliminary final.

The lower-ranked Steve Mooney got off to a cracking start against Scott McArdle in an evenly-fought match. With a greater variety of shots he was able to keep Scott at bay and managed to take the first two close sets 15-12, 15-13. With the Renegades now having a decided advantage it was all on the line for the Strikers.

But, Scott is renowned for slow starts. Despite patches of unforced errors caused by his favoured low-margin-for-error powerful shots close to the tin, those same shots took the energy out of Steve. With two more close sets going to Scott 15-11, 15-13, Steve's resistance was at an end and he faded to a 15-5 loss in the finish. A great match to decide the night in favour of the Strikers.

The other final was a similarly tense and fitting affair. In yet another closely-matched contest, newcomers Richard Ockerse and Keith Morris did battle. With Keith struggling to return Richard's strong serves he was at a disadvantage, but good court coverage and tight shots down the wall enabled him to keep in touch and the first game finished in a tie-breaker which Keith won 17-15.

Keith was then able to control the second game by keeping the ball away from his opponent to take it 15-8. Richard responded again with his good serves and, being left-handed, challenged Keith's placement. But, towards the end of the third game, Richard mishit a couple of serves which let Keith back in to take the game, and the match, 15-13. The Hurricanes took the early lead.

Probably the match of the night was the five set contest between the youngest finalist, Liam Goodwin, and the oldest, Bruce Bowering. It was an epic battle with many long rallies and neither player being able to take control.

Each player finished with 70 points, which was almost a carbon copy of their five set encounter earlier in the year that Liam won with 69 points to 67. The first point rally was a long, energy-sapping exercise that set the tone for the match, with the intensity, effort and commitment from both players never waning throughout the contest. Liam took the first game 15-13, but Bruce responded to take the second 15-11. Fortunes reversed in the third which Liam won 15-10 when it appeared that Bruce was tiring with a few misses and mishits towards the end.

The game break enabled a re-focus which was enough for him to draw level again, winning 15-13 in the fourth. In the end it came down to a tie-break in the fifth set. Due to the humidity there was moisture on the walls which affected the way the ball rebounded. Unfortunately, it was this that decided the match.

With his vast experience Bruce was able to exploit the conditions on his serve to take out the final set 17-16 and give the Hurricanes a two-nil lead in the rubber.

The next pairing, Wayne Hewitt and Lynton McPhail, each won about half their matches during the season so were evenly matched although Lynton lost some form towards the end.

As anticipated, another close match eventuated. Wayne won the first set 15-13, and Lynton responded with a 15-11 win in the second. The third proved costly for Lynton who struggled to get tightness and depth on his shots. This enabled Wayne to strike several outright winners from near the centre of the court and he made a comfortable 15-8 win in that set. Despite renewed purpose in the fourth set Lynton was unable to regain control, finally losing 13-15.

This brought the Scorchers back into the rubber. As in the elimination final, the final match determined the outright result. Mike Griffith, the club's top player, had to get two games off Alan Schack who is second. Mike won their previous encounter earlier in the season but, after a season off, Alan has been improving.

Mike's all-round game appeared to have the better of Alan in the first set which he won 1511. He was able to sustain that control in the second set which he also won 15-9 to put the Hurricanes into the Grand Final. The match continued to be played at a high level and, with his unparalleled speed around the court, deft touch and change of pace Alan was able to get back into the match to take the third set 15-13. A tight fourth set resulted in a tie-break that Alan took out 17-14 to level the match. With the rubber resolved the match faded towards the end with Alan earning a well-deserved win 15-6.

The preliminary final is tonight with the grand final on Thursday. Play starts at 7:30pm with the order of play 4-3-2-1.