Squash Rackets

Last term there were only two competitions, Senior and Junior Open. The Junior Open had a very poor entry, only seven people entering for it. This shows very clearly that the enthusiasm for the game is decreasing rapidly throughout the School. Next year we hope there will be a great improvement in Squash, especially among the more Junior members. It would be a good idea if everyone bore in mind that Squash is one of the major games of the School, and that we have a very good reputation to keep up.

The following are the results for the competitions :SENIOR OPEN.

D. A. Smith 1 G. W. Vero f Smith (W.O.)

V. L. F. Davin Davin (3-0) J. T. Brockbank f Davin } (3-0)

H. A. Milburn 1Milburn R. M. S. Parker f (3-1).

J. R. Walters 1 A. C. W. Ping Walters f

J. I. Sleight 1Graham G. E. L. Graham f (3-0) Davin (3-0)

J

Graham } (3-0) Davin (3-2)

T. D.

J. M. Rucklidge 1Rucklidge

AMBLER H. A. S. Hobson f (W.O.) (3-0) Rucklidge (Winner) E. Hodgson 1Graham (W.O.) P. R. G. Graham f (3-0)

Ambler

P. B. Cockburn 1Cockburn R. N. Rimmer f (3-0)

Ambler J. T. Harding 1Ambler (3-1) T. D. Ambler (W.O.) (3-1)

JUNIOR OPEN.

H. A. Milburn

W. B. A. Smyth 1Walters J. R. Walters f

E. Hodgson 1Parker R. M. S. Parker f

J. I. Sleight 1Sleight K. Greenwood f }Milburn

Sleight J. I. SLEIGHT (Winner)

SCHOOL v. THE MASTERS.

Played on the School Courts on February 28th.

In the match between T. D. Ambler and F. Smith, Esq., the latter was too clever and experienced for Ambler, with 43

the result that he generally finished off the rallies better. Mr. Smith won the first two games as he liked, but the third game was much closer, as Ambler was playing with more confidence, and he led 8-7. Mr. Smith, however, got to 8-8, and after two long rallies, he finished the match off when Ambler hit the tin. Score 9-2, 9-0, 10-8.

G. E. L. Graham and G. S. Stead, Esq., had a good match, and although Mr. Stead won in straight games it was chiefly due to his retrieving and tireless running. Graham had bad luck with many of his drop shots, some of them just grazing the bar. There were many long rallies, and the stroke play of both players was of a high class. Score: 9-4, 9-4, 9-3.

V. L. F. Davin gained a fine win for the School by beating R. M. Cooper, Esq., in four games. Both players hit the ball hard and to a good length, Davin winning because he was slightly the steadier player. Davin won the first game comfortably by 9-4, but Mr. Cooper won the second by 9-5, and when he led 8-2 in the third he seemed to have the game well in hand ; Davin, however, had a run of 8 points for the game. This gave him confidence, and he led 8-6 in the fourth ; Mr. Cooper, however, got up to 8 all, but Davin won the next two points for the match. Score: 9-4, 5-9, 10-8, 10-8.

The match between Rucklidge and H. A. Wrenn, Esq., took an unusual course. In the first two games Rucklidge played well and won them both to love, and he seemed to be certain to win in three games. Mr. Wrenn, however, played well to win the third game, and he just failed to win the fourth, Rucklidge winning it by 9-6. Score: 9-0, 9-0, 7-9, 9-6.

A. T. H. Wright had no difficulty in beating K. H. Rhodes, Esq. He was slow in starting and Mr. Rhodes took advantage of this, but Wright was in better training and lasted longer than Mr. Rhodes. Both players hit to a good length.

SCHOOL v. DEVONSHIRE HALL. Played on March 7th.

The School beat Devonshire Hall in a Squash match at Leeds by two matches to one.

In the top match G. E. L. Graham played H. Brearley, the Yorkshire Hockey and 2nd XI Cricket player. Brearley set a hot pace from the start, and playing a good all-round game he won the first two games fairly easily, Graham was playing quite well but took some time to get used to the court.

Graham, however, showed his best form this year when he won the next two games just as easily. The fifth game was very close, and although Graham led all the way, Brearley rallied well to get to 6-8. Graham then took the next two points to win a hard match. Score : 3-9, 3-9, 9-0, 9-6, 9-6.

In the second match T. D. Ambler played J. Hardman, the Leeds captain ; both players hit hard to a good length and there were some very long rallies. Ambler started well and won the first game at 9-5, his opponent, however, won the next game by 9-3, and then led by 5-0 in the third. Ambler, however, produced some good angle shots and quickly got to five all, and after some long rallies he eventually won the game by 9-6. This took a good deal out of him and he lost the fourth game to love. He won the fifth game fairly easily by 9-3 and so won a close and exhausting match. Score : 9-5, 3-9, 9-6, 0-9, 9-3.

V. L. F. Davin lost to H. Cooper by three games to love. All three games were long and close. The standard of play was very high, both players using drop shots and angle shots more than either of the preceding players. Davin had very bad luck not to win the second game after leading 8-6. Score: 5-9, 8-10, 6-9.

SCHOOL v. OLD PETERITES. Played on the School Courts on March 14th.

G. E. L. Graham lost to S. G. S. Pawle. This was a good match to watch, Pawle not winning so easily as the score suggests. Graham played well and he deserved all his points, many of them coming from his well-placed drop shots. Pawle hit very hard to a fine length, and generally finished off the rallies with some well-judged angle shots. Graham was a little careless with some of his shots, many hitting the tin ; this was partly due to lack of practice. Score : 9-5, '9-5, 9-3.

T. D. Ambler lost to B. A. C. Gray. Gray started off at a good pace and won the first two games easily, his opponent being unable to find a length. However, in the third game Ambler played well, hitting the ball hard to a length and he won a close game at 10-8. The fourth was a repetition of the third game, with some very long rallies, Gray just winning it at 9-7. Score : 9-2, 9-2, 8-10, 9-7.

V. L. F. Davin lost to M. Hollway. Hollway quickly went to six-love before Davin got in to score two points ; Hollway then recovered his service and ran out at 9-2. Davin, however, played well to win the second game at 9-6. 45

The third game went to Hollway at 9-5. The fourth was very exciting, both players retrieving well ; Davin actually led 7-6, but his opponent, who was the steadier player, won the game at 9-7. Score: 9-2, 6-9, 9-5, 9-7.

INTER-HOUSE SQUASH.

TEMPLE HOUSE v. CLIFTON RISE (Semi-final). Played on February 19th. Temple House won by 3 matches to love.

A. T. H. Wright beat T. F. Cameron after a long game in which Wright lasted the better. After losing the first game, in which Cameron played very well, Wright won the next at set two after a close game. Cameron, however, rather surprisingly won the next, but he had shot his bolt and Wright won the next two games easily. Score: 4-9, 10-8, 6-9, 9-1, 9-5.

In the next match J. T. Brockbank beat P. B. Cockburn, but the match was closer than the score suggests. After winning the first game easily, Brockbank fell away and lost the second game. He recovered well, however, and easily won the next two for the match. Score: 9-1, 4-9, 9-4, 9-2.

In the match between the third strings, the first game was fairly evenly fought out. But J. A. Ware, who was serving well, won the next two games as he liked. Score: 9-5, 9-4, 9-0.

SCHOOL HOUSE v. TEMPLE HOUSE (Final). Played on February 21st. School House won by 3 matches to love.

In the match between Ambler and Brockbank, the former, who is generally a slow starter, found his form at once, and set a fast pace. After having won the first two games easily, he seemed well set for the third game when he led three-love. Brockbank, however, rallied well to lead 7-5, but Ambler took the next four points for the match. Score : 9-1, 9-3, 9-7.

The match between Graham and Wright went to five games before the former won. Graham started well and won the first game with ease at 9-2. In the second game, Wright led 8 4, but Graham retaliated and eventually won a close game at 10-9. Wright then played exceedingly well to win the next two games, although the fourth game was desperately fought out. Graham started off in fine style in the last 46

game and led 6-0, and although Wright fought hard, Graham had little difficulty in winning this game. Score : 9-2, 10-9, 2-9, 7-9, 9-5.

In the match between the third strings, Ware started by serving three aces, but Rucklidge quickly found his touch and won a fairly easy first game. In the next two, however, Rucklidge completely dominated the play and finished an easy winner. Score: 9-5, 9-2, 9-1.

Final score : School House 3 matches, Temple House nil.

HOLIDAY SQUASH.

T. D. Ambler played fourth string in a public schools match v. The Escorts at Ealing on January 3rd. He lost to L. Powell, 9-10, 6-9, 7-9.

In the Public Schools Senior Handicap Tournament at Queen's Club on January 4th, V. L. F. Davin (owe 1) lost to M. W. Dick (Winchester) (+4), 0-9, 2-9, 3-9, in the first round.

T. D. Ambler (owe 2), who received a bye into the second round, lost to D. B. Yorke-Long (Canford) (owe 1), 9-6, 4-9, 4-9, 9-3, 5-9. THE DRYSDALE CUP.

T. D. Ambler is to be congratulated on his performance in the Drysdale Cup played at the R.A.C. during the Easter holidays ; he reached the semi-final round. M. Hollway and V. L. F. Davin also played well, both winning their first round matches. The cup was won by R. S. Woodward (Lancing), who beat D. G. W. Yeats-Brown (Tonbridge) 4-9, 9-7, 9-5, 9-4.

The following are the scores of the St. Peter's representatives :- 1st Round. V. L. F. Davin beat B. H. Harris (Epsom), 9-2, 9-6, 9-0. M. Hollway beat J. R. Thompson (Tonbridge), 9-6, 9-1, 9-0. T. D. Ambler a bye. 2nd Round. M. Hollway lost to P. 6-9, 5-9, 4-9. V. L. F. Davin lost to 3-9, 4-9, 9-7, 2 T. D. Ambler beat N. 9-2, 10-8, 9-3. Sherrard (Stowe), A. Aitchison (Cranleigh), -9. H. Rogers (late Epsom), 47