Internal Team League Nov 2023

REDICULOUS 5 WIN AGAIN WHILST MELLOW YELLOWS ARE RESURGENT!

Round 2 of this year's Internal Team League saw forty four club members cross rackets at Reigate Squash Club last Friday evening.  Rediculous 5 were looking to consolidate their position at the top of the table, taking on the menacing Green Machine challenge, whilst Rhythm & Blues were hoping to kick start their title defence against the lowly Mellow Yellows.  This, all in front of Reigate squash royalty, with home grown champions from decades past watching on with interest. 

Mike Pinggera Snr, returning to the Greens after a long injury lay-off, cold shouldered Red Richard Allum, the latter at least managing to sneak a game before going down 3-1.  Mars Hatari brought racketball war to court D, defeating Andy Catford 3-0.  Good start for the Greens!  Meanwhile, Mike Parsons was failing to get a grip on his match with Alfie Champion, who secured an early win for the Yellows 3-1.  Old ITL adversaries Jerry Robson and Brandon Bratton renewed their rivalry - new season, same old result, Jerry securing a 3-1 win for the Reds, who were off and running.

Family Glover predominated the second round of matches, with Yellows Warren despatching Chris Lucas, resplendent in his new Giggling Squid t shirt, in straight games, whilst son Gareth had an entertaining match against Sylvia van Oevern, the latter taking the tie 3-2 and securing another win for the Yellows.  Alan Ellerbeck hammered another nail in the Blue coffin by taking on and defeating ITL debutant Paul McCallum at racketball in straight games.  Was this a bright new dawn for the Mellow Yellows?  Meanwhile, Lilly Pinggera, another debutant on the Green team, was testing out Simon Chatfield's knees by showing them all corners of the court, winning three games to one in a close contest.

The third round saw some definitive victories.  The ever present Christian Harding steadied the Blue ship by defeating James Mace in straight games.  Roy Taylor furthered the Red's cause by defeating John Miles, also in straight games.  Mark Wilmshurst struck another blow for the Reds by defeating Chris Cable in straight games.  It was left to George Stoyle and Callum Carmichael to buck the trend, as they delivered a never-ending closely fought match on the show court; Callum nicking this one in the fifth for the Greens.  Half way through, and the Greens were just about holding off the Red's charge, whilst the Yellows were leading the Blues by a comfortable margin.

Back on the racketball field of battle, Mars and John teamed up to deliver a straight games win for the Greens against the combined efforts of Andy and Paul McKay, the latter trying his (left) hand at another side of life.  Coleen Cloherty was debuting for the Reds, and reversed a recent league match result against Kevin Uphill 3-1.  Tom Jenkins took another match for the Yellows, beating Joe Ales 3-2 in an exhausting encounter.  But Cliff Enslin immediately struck back for the Blues, beating ITL debutant Richard English 3-1 in another entertaining match on the showcourt.

Fred Taylor, returning to Blues colours for the first time this season, took Guy Stedman out in straight games, whilst Yellow's Peter Knee was returning the favour by defeating another debutant, Bruce Tissington also in straight games.  Alan Ellerbeck returned to the fray, squash racket in hand this time, to beat Blues Ian Drummond in straight games, and debutant Guy Huddleston showed no first night nerves in striking another blow for the Yellows by beating Tim Hatari 3-1.  Meanwhile Colin Waite was quietly striking a telling blow for the Reds by beating Connell Grogan in straight games on the library court.

It was left to Will Johnson, the newest member of the club, to redouble his hold over the fast growing, fast improving Ollie Dredge by beating him for the second time in the week, in a breathtaking match of speed and dexterity, three games to one.  Jetlagged Alan Taffinder brushed off some cobwebs and took the final match of the evening in straight games for the Machine by beating Mike Pinggera Jnr, the third member of the Ping dynasty to feature in this evening's line up.       

So, where does this leave us?  The Rediculous 5 channelled their inner South African rugby spirit, winning by a single point, and beating the Green Machine 22 points to 21.  And the Mellow Yellows have finally burst into flames, comprehensively beating title holders Rhythm & Blues 25 points to 15.  Unbelievably these four point scores are identical to those last month, but against different teams, so after two matches all sides are still firmly in contention.

It all happens again on Friday 15th December.  Put it in your calendar, it's going to be a Christmas cracker!