Squash

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Throughout the term the Colts have shown keenness and enthusiasm, enduring inumerable practices with the usual, minimum of grumbling.

The following matches have been played this term :- Wed. Oct. 25 v. Ampleforth College Home... Lost... 3-14' Sat. „ 28 v. Giggleswick School Away...Lost... 3-8 Thur. Nov. 16 v. Leeds G. S Home...Won...51-0

The fixture against Worksop College which was to have been played on Wednesday, December 6th, was cancelled owing to frost.

Team :—D. G. Barnby ; M. Biggin, A. W. Douglas, G. E. C. Graham, D. F. Watson ; C. A. Smart, R. H. Davison ; C. W. V. Kennedy, B. J. Eastwood, J. B. Dixon, I. L. Lupton, I. A. Campbell, N. A. Newman (Capt.), W. H. H. Flanks, P. D. Johnstone.

Also played :—R. M. Quarrie, R. Arnold, D. McLean,. N. B. Stephenson.

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The School started the season with two of last year's successful side available—N. W. D. Yardley, the Captain; and A. V. Mackintosh, the 3rd string. So another good season was anticipated with many players in the School showing plenty of talent.

C. H. Perry has ably filled the third place in the team and although improved considerably, is still slow about the court.N. W. D. Yardley has again gone through the season unbeaten, showing brilliant form. It is indeed very difficult to find any weakness in his play and he should again figure as 1st or 2nd string for Yorkshire in this 'Year's Championship matches. A. V. Mackintosh is, perhaps, the most improved player in the team and has given an excellent account of himself, except for occasional lapses.

Four matches have been played, 2 of which have been won and 2 lost. The most outstanding performance was the School'svictory against the 1924 International team which toured U.S.A., Captained by the Headmaster. This match was arranged in honour of Yardley's feat in winning the Drysdale Cup this year. Peterites have figured in the final on at least three occasions, but this is the first time that the School has won the Cup. In the Yorkshire Rocks and Harrogate S.R.C. fixtures, temporary loss

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'of form largely contributed to the School's defeat. However, tfte School should easily defeat Haileybury College in the annual match at Queen's Club, London, on Thursday, December 21st, on present form. The two School's have met on three occasions, Haileybury being victorious twice to St. Peter's once. The School team will be :—N. W. D. Yardley, A. V. Mackintosh, and C. H. Perry. A full report of this match will appear in the next issue of the Peterite.

SCHOOL v. 1924 INTERNATIONAL TEAM.

(Played in School courts, 15th October).

The School opened the season in brilliant style, taking their even most optimistic supporters by surprise, by defeating the British International Squash Rackets team which toured U.S.A. in 1924 by 2 matches-1.

In the 1st string match N. W. D. Yardley was opposed by W. D. Macpherson, one of the world finest players and Winner of the Amateur Championship in 1924 and 1928.

Although the latter was short of practice, the critics expected him to win. However, Yardley, playing at the top of his form, defeated him in three clear games. This was one of his most brilliant performances and he dictated the pace throughout by means of volleying, brilliant retrieving, and an intelligent use of the angles. The opening stages of the first game were evenly contested, but after 2—all had been called, Yardley led to clinch the game at 9-4. Macpherson lost a terrific second game by a point, but the effort proved to be his last. In the final game Yardley pulled out a bewildering array of angle shots, but his opponent fought back to 5-6. Then Yardley made a run of four aces to take game and match.

A. V. Mackintosh put the School two up by defeating Col. W. F. Bassett, the Bath Cup player by 3 games to 2 after perhaps the most exciting match of the day. He certainly played the game of his life to defeat such a formidable opponent. The game was fought at a fast pace throughout, and Mackintosh, after being quickly 5 points down in the opening game, rallied strongly displaying the back-hand drop shot to advantage. Eventually he took the game at 9-7. The second game was almost a repetition of the first, Mackintosh just capturing the game after being 6 points down. He was now hitting the ball to a good length, while Bassett was inclined to hit the tin too often.

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After this, Mackintosh tired while Bassett found his touch, and took the 3rd game easily, but only narrowly winning the 4th by means of a series of beautifully angled drop shots.

The final game went to Mackintosh, at 9-5, after a great struggle, the issue being in doubt until the very end; Bassett pulling out some remarkable winners when he seemed well beaten.

In the final match, C. H. Perry, the School third string, was matched against S. M. Toyne. Some good Squash was seen in this match, but it was not until the third game that Toyne really found his form.

Play opened slowly, Perry placing his shots well to take the game at 9-2. He also captured the second game by the same score just as easily. At this point it looked as though Perry would gain an easy victory, but in the next game Toyne found his touch and the superior court-craft and experience of the elder began to dominate the game. He took the game at 9-6, playing some clever drop shots. With the score 2 games all, Perry rallied and actually led by 3 points in the fifth game. But his opponent then made a great effort and took the lead to take game and match at 9-5.

'Scores :-

N. W. D. Yardley (School) beat W. D. Macpherson, 9-4, 10-9, 9-5.

A. V. Mackintosh (School) beat Col. W. F. Bassett, 9-6, 10-9, 2-9, 9-10, 9-6.

C. H. Perry (School) lost to S. M. Toyne, 9-2, 9-2, 6-9, 3-9, 5-9.

SCHOOL " A " v. STAFF.

Result :— Won by 3 matches to 2.

As F. Smith, the Staff 1st string, was unable to play owing to an injury, this match was arranged as an " A" team fixture. N. W. D. Yardley dropping out of the School side.

A. V. Mackintosh had not much difficulty in beating the Headmaster, S. M. Toyne, in three games. He was too fast altogether for him and passed him continually with good length shots.

Bourne made a great effort in the third game but Perry rallied to win, game and match at 9-7. S. Dodds was opposed by K. H. Rhodes. and the former did well to win so comfortably as he has not played much this term owing to an Exam.

J. W. Stead, appearing for the first time in the School side, was unlucky to find Miss E. C. M. Toyne in such good form, and could not take a game. Miss Toyne winning in 3 games. However lie played poorly and hit the tin far too often.

D. McLean, after taking the first 2 games against W. H. G. Milnes then took things too easily, allowing his opponent to settledown, Eventually he was beaten in a rather uninteresting game by 3 games to 2.

Scores :-

A. V. Mackintosh (School) beat S. M. Toyne, 9-4, 9-6, 9-7..

C. H. Perry (School) beat P. K. Bourne, 9-5, 9-2, 9-7.

S. Dodds (School) beat K. H. Rhodes, 9-2, 9-6, 10-8.

J. W. Stead (School) lost to Miss E. C. M. Toyne, 3-9, 3-9,. 5-9.

D. McLean (School) lost to W. H. G. Milnes, 9-6, 9-7, 4-9, 8-10, 3-9.

SCHOOL v. HARROGATE S.R.C.

Played at Harrogate, Tuesday, November 7th. Result :—Lost by 2 matches to 1.

Yardley put the School one up by completely overwhelming , P. Grandage in three clear games. He gave a superb display, rarely making a mistake. In fact, his opponent could only take 6 points, and the match was soon over.

The second string match between A. V. Mackintosh and H. S. Burrows, the county player, was a desperately close affair, the former just losing after five keen games in which the standard' of Squash was surprisingly high. Mackintosh won the spin of the racket, and both players soon found their touch, making full: use of the angles. Play was fast, and after some long rallies, Mackintosh took the opening game at 10-8 after 8-all had been

called. In the next game Burrows made the scores level, his service in particular being good. The School player then went ahead, playing some perfect drop shots and placing with judgment_ The fourth game was a terrific struggle, Burrows' retrieving being very good. Mackintosh had a match point at 8-7, but Burrows rose to the occasion, as he always does, at the most critical point. Playing a delightful back-hand drop shot he levelled the score and, finally, ran out for game at 10-8..

Mackintosh had made his last effort, the better stamina of his .opponent telling in the final game in which he only conceded 3 points. However, Mackintosh played a really good game, and w ith a little luck might have won.

The deciding match between C. H. Perry and Dr. M. H. Jones was won by the latter by 3 games to 1. Jones is very fast :about the court and passed Perry on many occasions. Nevertheless, Perry showed considerable improvement, and did well to take :the second game.

'Scores :—

N. W. D. Yardley (School) beat P. Grandage, 9-0, 9-3, 9-3.

A. V. Mackintosh (School) lost to H. S. Burrows, 10-8, 6- -9, 9-6, 8-10, 3-9.

C. H. Perry (School) lost to Dr. M. H. Jones, 7-9, 9-7, 4.-9, 7-9.

SCHOOL v. YORKSHIRE ROCKS S.R.C.

Result :—Lost by 4 matches to 1. Played on the School courts, Thursday, 16th November.

In this match the School were well beaten and it was left to the ;School Captain, N. W. D. Yardley, to score the only win for the home side. The Rocks had brought down a strong side and there was not a considerable difference between their 1st and 5th strings.

Yardley outplayed a very energetic player in Dr. M. H. Jones in three games, although he was by no means at his best.

surprise was cause in the 2nd string match when Mackintosh • was defeated by S. S. Pawle with the loss of only 1 game. Mackintosh played poorly whereas Pawle was in good form. After the former had taken the second game to love, he could do nothing -right and continually hit the tin. Consequently he could only take - 4pts. off his opponent in the last two games.

C. H. Perry, after taking the first game at 9-6, then fell away ::and could never check Toyne's cleverly mashed shots.

J. W. Stead suffered from lack of experience in his match with W. E. Harbord, the Yorkshire cricketer. With a lead of game ball in the fourth game, he had a good chance of making the match run its full course, but Harbord then played finely, pulling out some neat .rlrop shots'to take game and match.