Old Peterite Squash

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THE LONDONDERRY CUP.

The first full season of the Old Peterite Squash Rackets Club -was a triumphant success in every way, and the School justified their entry for the Londonderry Cup by reaching the last four. Their conquerors in the semi-final were Eton, the holders of the Cup, but the latter only won by the odd event of five—a most creditable performance by St. Peter's when one considers the •enormous disparity in the numbers of the two schools.

Before dealing with the Cup matches in detail, a few general comments may not be out of place. In the case of a comparatively small school like St. Peter's, it is vitally important that such team -events as the Londonderry Cup should attract the support of everyone in the running for a place in the side. At the present time we have five players of County standard in N. W. D. Yardley, the brothers Burrows, R. G. Bullen, and S. G. S. Pawle, and there is no doubt that if this team was available for every match we should stand a very good chance, even against such a strong side as Eton.

But without any one of these five, the standard falls Appreciably. There is a big drop in playing ability from A. V. Mackintosh, fifth string against Clifton in the first match, to the next best candidate for a place—and the fifth string position is often of vital importance, as we saw in the Eton match.

It was greatly to be regretted that the School's second best player, who has represented Yorkshire at first string on more than one occasion, did not consider the semi-final worthy of a journey from the West Riding. His decision not to play for St. Peter's undoubtedly cost us a coveted place in the final, for on his form against the Northern champion of 1932, Charles Packe, our fourth string, David Burrows, would have beaten De Quetteville in straight games.

Any reference to Old Peterite Squash would be incomplete without a tribute to the untiring and unselfish work of the Hon. Sec., B. A. C. Gray, whose keenness brought about the formation of the club. His organising ability was of tremendous value, and his infectious enthusiasm had a good deal to do with making the Cup and other matches such an unqualified success.

With a stronger team at our disposal than at any other time in the season, we gained a most convincing victory over Clifton by five events to love, at Latymer Court, on February 27th. Yardley, Bullen, and Mackintosh won in straight games, though Bullen had a close first game with Elsmie, cousin of the former R.A.F. Champion, who set a pace he was unable to maintain.

Henry Burrows had a long and level struggle with Aslett, his superior stamina and experience eventually telling after four games. Pawle started badly against Franklin, but though he had to work hard for his points he had the match in hand after a reverse in the first game. Mackintosh wore down that grand , veteran, Col. Kearsey, though he did not play the drop shot as much as he might have done, and Yardley's victory was, as usual, the most decisive of all, Gower fighting pluckily to score eight points.

The scores were :-

N. W. D. Yardley beat D. I. Gower (O.C.), 9-1, 9-5, 9-2_

H. S. Burrows beat G. G. Haslett (O.C.), 9-7, 5-9, 9-6, 9-6.

R. G. Bullen beat G. R. Elsmie (O.C.), 10-8, 9-1, 9-5.

S. G. S. Pawle beat A. W. L. Franklin (O.C.), 2-9, 9-3, 9-7, 9-5.

A. V. Mackintosh beat Col. A. H. Kearsey (O.C.), 9-6, 9-3, 9-2.

The Dulwich match, which followed at the International Sportsmen's Club a month later, was little better than a rout, the Alleynians failing to win a single game between them. And this despite changes in our team at fourth and fifth string. In every department St. Peter's showed far more knowledge of the game than their opponents, and the matches do not call for detailed comment. The results were :-

N. W. D. Yardley beat A. J ; Mutton (O.A.), 9-4, 9-3, 9-3.

R. G. Bullen beat J. R. Kelting (O.A.), 9-7, 9-5, 9-2.

S. G. S. Pawle beat G. F. Huntley (O.A.), 9-2, 9-2, 9-2.

B. A. C. Gray beat L. A. Frenken (O.A.), 9-7, 9-2, 9-2.

N. R. Dobree beat 0. Swainston (O.A.), 9-0, 9-4, 9-0.

Though they were without Henry Burrows and Mackintosh, the School put up an extremely creditable fight against Eton in the semi-final round at the International Sportsmen's Club, on March 5th. For a description of the play we cannot do better than quote the special report written by the well-known authority on Squash Rackets, Mr. H. F. Winterbotham (of " The Morning Post " and " Sunday Times "), for " The Yorkshire Post." " The Old Peterites were beaten in the semi-final round of the Old Public Schoolboys' Squash Rackets Competition for the Londonderry Cup at the International Sportsmen's Club, Upper Grosvenor Street, London, yesterday, but it was a defeat of which , they can be reasonably proud because the Old Etonians, who are the holders and were strongly represented, won only by the odd match of the five.

In view of the fact that they were two short of the full' strength, the result is all the more creditable to the Yorkshire side. Had H. S. Burrows and A. V. Mackintosh been available, it is quite possible that the Yorkshire side would have reached the final _

The Old Peterites made a most auspicious start, N. W. D. Yardley beating Captain V. A. Cazalet, M.P., and J. D. Burrows playing a brilliant game to defeat so good a player as C. W. C. Packe, a former winner of the North of England Championship and a leading Army player, in three games.

The match between Yardley and Cazalet was particularly interesting. Cazalet set up a record which will stand for a long time when, in the amateur championship, he won the title four times and was the runner-up twice. All in six years. He is very near forty now and, of course, not quite so mobile as of yore, but he is still a most formidable opponent and a great match player. He played very well indeed and was wonderful in the second game in which he found a fine length and played the drop effectively.

In the other three games, however, he found his master in Yardley, whose touch was exquisite. The young Yorkshireman was taking a very early ball and was making Cazalet do nearly all the running. He masked his shots with great cleverness and played many perfect drops. Altogether, Yardley gave a display which gained rounds of applause from Etonians.

J. D. Burrows played magnificently against Packe. He set up a great pace from the outset, and maintained it through the first game. He then took a breather, and Packe went away to lead 8-3. Burrows rallied magnificently, and, again forcing the pace, won all the next seven points. The third game was 'desperately fought, but Burrows hung on doggedly and, playing some good shots down the side-walls, just got home by 10-9. It was a very praiseworthy performance and produced an excellent impression among the spectators.

A. G. Hazlerigg, who would probably be " ranked " in the first twelve in England, was too strong all round for Guy Bullen, but the latter made a much better fight than the score against him would suggest. R. G. de Quetteville, although a veteran, is still a very clever player, and knew too much for N. R. Dobree.

The scores were now two matches all, and S. G. S. Pawle had the anxious burden of the final result on his shoulders. He was opposed by R. C. Greville who, as third string for the Bath Club in the Bath Club Cup, has never been defeated. Greville won the first two games easily, but Pawle made a gallant effort and won the third game well, his playing of the reverse angle being particularly good. This game took it out of him a lot, and Greville went to 8-2 in the fourth game. Pawle saved four match points before going under to a player who is considered one of the best in the South of England."