Merimbula Squash Club’s Spring season wrapped up last week.
According to club president Matt Fanning it was another cracking final series, with the culmination seeing a tremendous night of grand final fun and camaraderie.
“The old courts”, he said, “were still hanging in there, and were jumping and shaking like never before,” with a large crowd in attendance.
There were players and partners and kids and friends from across the Valley – Bombala, Eden, Pambula, Merimbula, Wolumla, Tura, Kalaru, Bega.
Fanning noted that it was “just fantastic to welcome several players from the Bega area, and their lovely families. They really added another dimension to the comp and especially the finals series.”
John Ziino’s team fell into the grand final after a somewhat unexpected come-from-behind win over Kirk’s Crew, while Alec Bowles’ Boys always looked destined for the ultimate final after a fine season.
Tim Harrison and son Cameron gave Bowles’ Boys a very handy 6-0 lead after each won their opening matches 3-0.
It tightened a little from there as Andrew Blaxter knocked off Peter Brannelly 3-0, Salty beat old foe Gus 3-2, and then Lewis Nadin beat Calvin Vong 3-2 in a torrid match that neither wanted to lose!
It was the match between veteran Dirk Kramp and Tony Gordon that turned the night around. Tony took a 2-0 lead and was humming and looked on target for a 3-zip win which would have evened things right up two thirds of the way through the night.
However, the wily 81 year-old fox struck back with classic Dirk boasts and lobs and flicks that saw him take the next three and win through 3-2.
The last two matches commenced simultaneously with either team still in it. Needing to win for his team, Dean Smith, one of the season’s super-subs, took it right up to Alec Bowles, but it was Alec who steadied, as always, and prevailed 3-1 in a very entertaining match.
The hard-hitting and versatile Tony Curtis racked up the same 3-1 score against Andre Becker to ensure his team would win the grand final by a comfortable margin in the end.
Regardless of the outcome, on the night, squash was the winner, officials said.
It’s a summer break for the club now, with the first 2017 competition to commence early in February.
Ahead of that, the club looks forward to its end-of-year social at Dulcie’s and The Wharf on December 23.
Anyone interested in playing in the next competition or social night are urged to contact Matt Fanning (042995220) or Alex Wakeford (0401544671) and they’ll make you welcome.
