SCRUBBERS DOUBLES
Northern squash club recently held its second “ Scrubbers Doubles “ competition and a mixture of 30 junior and adult players turned up on a Saturday evening to spend an hour cleaning court 3.
18 players then stopped to play in the Scrubbers Doubles event and pairings were decided by putting the stronger players with the weaker players. It lead to some interesting pairings, amongst which were Derek Collins and Lucy Anderson, both county players this season. But with 53 years difference in their ages (I’ll let you do the Maths) and the formidable pairing of Dave North and Dylan Younger, experienced doubles players and past masters in the art of “ blocking “ !
The nine teams were split into three leagues of three and played each other in a timed game of 12 minutes. Trouble & Strife ( Gordie and Michelle Robertson ) managed to avoid a domestic with wins against The D.T’s ( Dan North & Tom Cornell ) and a closely fought 20 – 19 against Different Strokes ( Derek Collins & Lucy Anderson ) to top league 1.
Marshmallow ( David Home & Andrew Shipley ) came out on top of league 2 with a comfortable win against the A team ( Alex Robertson & Aanya Hamilton ) but a much tighter 19 – 17 win over To me to you ( other wise known as Keith Linsley and Liam Duncan Kahn )
The doubles specialists Double Diamond ( Dave North & Dylan Younger ) cut a swathe through league three with easy wins over Double Trouble ( Sam Debrusiais & Michael Home ) and AJ ( Jack Cornell and Adam Forster ) … they were now the firm favourites going into the league of three for the group winners.
Youth vs experience in the first of the final league matches and although Trouble & Strife took an early lead against Marshmallow when Gordie introduced the boys to his good friend Billy Boast , it wasn’t enough to hold off the youngsters superior fitness.
Trouble & Strife then needed a win against Double Diamond to have a chance but the spectators on the balcony were by now drinking beer and this seemed to affect Gordie’s concentration!! A comfortable win then for Double Diamond and the final decider against Marshmallow beckoned.
Never more than two points between them all the way through the final and when the whistle blew it was 18 all , a sudden death tie breaker was needed… the tension was palpable , people could hardly breathe! Well not really but it was good fun. The last rally began , cut and thrust , it went on for ages and then the ball sat up in the middle of the court on David’s forehand .. you could almost hear him thinking … NICK!!
And he slam dunked it …. Into the tin !!
Thanks to all those that turned up , hope everyone had as much fun playing as I did watching and we even managed to get some of court 3 cleaned too!
Well done to Dave and Dylan and fantastic news that they have been offered contracts at the Dallas Cowboys to train their defensive team in the real art of blocking, will they be tempted by the big money … watch this space!
