Crusaders A made to fight for victory

CRUSADERS A, who last year won their first women’s title since 1982, were given a tough test by their B side when the EP first squash leagues got under way this week.

The title-holders emerged with a 9-6 win, but were made to work for the final outcome, with Alison Oshry (B team) pushing Danell Douglas to five and Ange Fraser defeating Michelle Roos.

At No 1, Janet Byrnes also took a game off Anlen Murray, but the eventual win by Murray and Kathy Hoy’s 3-0 result meant the A team got off to a winning start.

NMU and Londt Park A also began on the right note, collecting maximum points against Westview and Londt Park B respectively.

In the absence of No 1 Jason le Roux, defending men’s champions NMU will be pleased to have secured a win against Westview (10-6).

Dwain Dodd registered Westview’s win against Warren Bower, who has returned to top-level squash after a year’s absence through injury.

However, the students took the remaining matches and will be looking to build on that as they chase a seventh straight first league title.

At this early stage, Londt Park A again look to be their main rivals and they kicked off with a convincing 12-3 win over their B side.

The well-balanced Crusaders side were too strong for Jeffreys Bay, while the Old Grey match against their B side must still be completed.

The results were: Women Saders C bt Profiles 11-3 (Saders first): D Schultz bt A Thiel 3-0, S O’Grady bt K Schepers 3-0, B La Mude bt M Bailey 3-0, C Stone lost to D Steele 3-2 Saders A bt Saders B 9-6 (Saders A first): A Murray bt J Byrnes 3-1, D Douglas bt A Oshry 3-2, K Hoy bt C Walland 3-0, M Roos lost to A Fraser 3-0 NMU bt Westview 12-3 (NMU first): H Ward bt D Johnson 3-1, B Brown bt C Rose 3-0, D Shone bt E Olivier 3-1, H Knott-Craig bt S Hloyi 3-1 LP A bt LP B 12-3 (LP A first): L Muller bt J Ryder 3-1, I Loftie-Eaton bt K Trevarthen 3-1, C Levey bt D Human 3-1, J Dodd bt T Dowling 3-0 Men LP A bt LP B 12-3 (LP A first): R van Niekerk bt Q Masters 3-0, S Bailey bt A Maree 3-2, G Hall bt P Ryder 3-1, W Watermeyer bt M Witteveen 3-0 Saders bt Jeffreys Bay 12-1 (Saders first): D Bigara bt R Pretorius 3-0, P Mason bt F Swart 3-0, A Reekie bt M vd Bergh 3-1, I Forbes w/o NMU bt Westview 10-6 (NMU first): W Bower lost to D Dodd 3-1, J Thiel bt L Sigele 3-2, G Forbes bt G Plaatjies 3-1, L Ford bt D Strydom 3-0 Old Grey B lead Old Grey A 7-5 (OG B first): D Venter lost to T Mngcete 3-1, No 2s still to play, M Keeton bt B Forbes 3-2, S Mpini bt M Westcott 3-0