2015/16’ ENGLAND SQUASH JUNIOR INTER-COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Cambridgeshire have 4 teams representing the county in this year’s competition, looking to build upon a successful
first season of the new membership programme last year.
BU13 – DAN MCGINN:
Dan McGinn and the BU13 squad travelled to Leicestershire looking to secure first or second place in the division,
and progress to the qualification division and contest the places for the finals. The team were dominant against
Leicestershire, with only Harry Robson dropping a game. Bucks provided a much sterner test, with the fixture and 1st
place in the group coming down to Tommy Ramsay’s battle at 2nd string. Coming from 2-1 down, Tommy held his
nerve brilliantly to win the match in 5 well fought games to win the tie and put the Cambs’ boys into the qualification
group for the 2016 Finals......a great start!
v
1
2
3
4
5
Buckinghamshire
Ben Holmes
Arhan Chandra
Grant Morgan
Roshan Khan
Neville Jeyaratnam
Cambridgeshire
Malik Bilen
Thomas Ramsay
Harry Robson
Oliver Ramsay
Oliver Ford
Result
Score
(3-1)
(2-3)
(0-3)
(3-2)
(0-3)
(8-17)
Games
(11-9, 7-11, 11-5, 13-11)
(11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 5-11, 7-11)
(2-11, 3-11, 6-11)
(8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8)
(7-11, 6-11, 6-11)
v
1
2
3
4
5
Cambridgeshire
Malik Bilen
Thomas Ramsay
Harry Robson
Oliver Ramsay
Oliver Ford
Leicestershire
Anuj Savani
Daniel Rogers
Elliot Smith
John Paul Bentham
Jonathan Frew
Result
Score
(3-0)
(3-0)
(3-1)
(3-0)
(3-0)
(20-1)
Games
(11-2, 11-0, 11-0)
(11-5, 11-3, 11-8)
(11-5, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7)
(11-2, 11-3, 11-7)
(11-9, 11-8, 11-7)
Match
2
Stage 2 provided a harsh test for the BU13’s due to the popularity of the category in this season’s event. Normally
both the winners and runners-up would qualify for the finals weekend, but with 4 groups rather than 2 only the
winner of the group would make it through...............and Yorkshire were coming down to Cambridgeshire!
BOYS UNDER 13 – STAGE 2: Dan McGinn.
CAMBS VS YORKS 1
The toughest match came 1st, and as young squad stood up to the challenge well.
Malik - Struggled to break through his opponent in the first game however in the ones that followed he stamped his
mark on the game by managing to get in front more frequently by playing straighter and took a game to make it a
respectable 3-1 loss against a classy opponent.
Thomas - played very professionally after a slow start in the first to win in impressive (and almost comfortable) style 31 where he remained in control of the most part of every point by holding the middle effectively.
Harry - put up a solid performance and has a good foundation to build upon. With work on some areas of his
movement and accuracy harry can be a formidable squash player in the future.
Oliver - Had a testing day all round. Couldn't find his stride but had moments where he showcased the player he can
become.
Mumin - Struggled physically after out playing his opponent with height and his accuracy in going in short. However
the opponent paced up his hitting, and pinned Mumin back. This will not be a feasible tactic much longer as he
matures.
Match
1
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
v
YORKSHIRE 1
Score
Games
1
MALIK BILEN
BEN BEACHILL
1-3
5-11, 3-11, 11-8, 5-11
2
THOMAS RAMSAY
BEN PARLOUR
3-1
4-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8
3
HARRY ROBSON
MATHEW READSHAW
0-3
9-11 4-11 6-11
4
OLIVER RAMSAY
USMAN ALI
0-3
8-11 6-11 3-11
5
MUMIN BILEN
JACK WALHSLEY
1-3
11-6 7-11 6-11 6-11
Result
5-18
Vs Bucks and Lincs
Noah came in for the final 2 fixtures and played well winning both his games. All our players were too strong for their
respective opponents in these two ties with the most notable performance coming from Malik who beat an opponent
whom he lost to in stage 1.
A superb effort from the team, and considering the age of the boys and the fact that most of them will compete
together in this category next season the future is bright!
GU15 – COLIN GRIGGS:
Our GU15’s travelled with me to Buckinghamshire for Stage 1 to face the hosts and Worcestershire, as Leicestershire
unfortunately had to withdraw.
Desperately unlucky to lose 3rd string Milly Prothero to injury the day before the match, Millie Banks stepped in as
“Super-Sub” at the 11th hour to join the road-trip. Both matches boiled down to a couple of points......it was that
close! For such a young team and one that hasn’t got that much experience as a group, their effort was superb.
In the first fixture against Bucks’, the standout performances came from Alicja Emmans and Ellis Miller. Alicja
played some lovely squash not having played much recently, and Ellis overcame a very fast and determined
opponent in 4 tough games. It came down to the 3rd string match, and unfortunately Ellie wasn’t quite able to
convert good starts in the 1st & 3rd games into winning scores.
Against Worcs’ it was Millie and Ellie’s turn to step up after loses in the first match to play some brave squash. Both
managed superb 3-2 victories, and will act as great experience for them in the future. This time round it was Alicja’s
match at 4th string that was vital........and she came within a couple of points of a massive upset!
Match
1
Buckinghamshire
v
Worcestershire
Score
Games
1
Florie Moir
Kiera Marshall
0-3
3/11 1/11 2/11
2
Chloe Foster
Anya Stojanovic
0-3
1/11 11/13 2 /11
3
Alysha Martin
Grace Cumiskey
3-0
11/6 11/13 2/11
4
Lucy Varco
Rachel Pritchard
3-2
9/11 8/11 11/9 11/8 11/9
5
Molly Paine
Sophie Williams
3-0
11/3 11/3 11/2
Result
14-8
Match
2
Cambridgeshire
v
Worcestershire
Score
Games
1
Darcie Mounter
Kiera Marshall
0-3
1/11 2/11 1/11
2
Ellis Miller
Anya Stojanovic
0-3
3
Ellie Burgess
Grace Cumiskey
3-2
2/11 3/11 0/11
8/11 11/9 13/11 3/11
12/10
4
Alicja Emmans
Rachel Pritchard
0-3
5
Millie Banks
Sophie Williams
3-2
Result
6-18
10/12 9/11 13/15
11/6 10/12 11/5 6 //11
11/3
Stage 2 should’ve been a trip to Ilkeston in Derbyshire to compete against the hosts and Durham & Cleveland for a
place in the Trophy Finals. Late on the Fri’ night before the match on the Sat’, Durham & Cleveland withdrew (much
to the hosts disgust) meaning that the girls progressed with Derbyshire to the Trophy Final without hitting a ball in
anger!
England Squash have requested that Cambridgeshire host the fixture, so Sat’ 16th January @ Hunts County SC is the
venue for our girls to try and claim the title against Derbyshire, Essex and Sussex. Rob Dadds will be leading the team
as I’ll be in Nottingham with the GU19 squad, so please come along to support our team (matches @ 11:00am,
2:00pm & 4:00pm approx’). Best of luck and well done on performing so well in the U15 division as such a young and
promising team!
BU17 – JAMES POWLEY:
Boys Under 17 Inter County Stage 1 – Virgin Active Oxford.
Cambridgeshire V Northamptonshire
#5 String. Peter Casey V Liam Purse – 12/14, 11/9, 4/11, 4/11 1-3Peter took his opponent by surprise and got off to
a great start with a 6 point lead Liam then started to reel Peter in with Liam pinching the first game 14/12. The same
pattern in the 2nd game but this time Peter dug in to take it 11/9. After that Peter had clearly done all the hard work
and lost out to Liam 11/4, 11/4.
#3 String. Josh Abbs V Obhram Imlah – 5/11, 1/11, 6/11 0-3
Josh was playing a much taller young man with great wing span and just kept himself in front of Josh making life very
difficult. We tried to switch that tactic in the 3rd by going low and hard but by now the damage was done. Not sure
on the correct spelling of Josh’s opponent!
#4 String. Ed Wheeler V Cameron Chessum-Bentley – 11/9, 11/9, 9/11, 11/3 3-1
Ed was playing someone that liked to go for his shots and Ed’s retrieving and fitness were the telling factor with Ed
closing out the last game and Cambridgeshire’s first win.
#1 String. Scott Drewery V Logan Montone – 7/11, 11/6, 15/13, 9/11, 9/11 2-3
This was the match of the day with Scott playing someone that was 20 places higher than him in the England Squash
rankings but that did not show on the court with Scott’s great attacking play and Logan’s speed and resilience made
for an enthralling match. In the end it was just too much running for Scott but a great battle.
#2 String. Harry Hennessy V Lewis Brown – 5/11, 13/11, 11/9, 8/11 1-3
With the match already lost Harry was playing for pride and Cambridgeshire he narrowly lost the 2nd game and was
starting to getting under his opponents skin with his athleticism and splits! This tactic was carried on the 3rd game
with Harry this time taking it. The fourth was again close and could have gone either way but Lewis had calmed
down by this point and managed to take it over the line.
Overall a great match and could have so easily been a 3-2 victory. Everybody played in the right spirit and gave
everything into their matches.
Cambridgeshire V Oxfordshire
#5 String. Peter Casey V Tom Rawlings 11/2, 8/11, 11/4, 11/5 3-1
Peter got us to a positive start winning the first game and then falling asleep thankfully he woke up and had no
problem in finishing of the job with simple focused Squash.
#3 String. Josh Abbs V Felix Koveri 11/6, 11/7, 11/2 3-0
Josh also got us off to the start that we needed by winning a comfortable 3-0 against a much smaller young man this
time however he could run very fast and Josh used controlling Squash to close the match out.
#4 String. Ed Wheeler V Edward Beccle 11/8, 11/6, 11/9 3-0
I didn’t see much of this one but it looked like Ed had it under control whenever I peered over from the other court
winning in 3. Ed was the only one from our team to win both matches so well done Ed.
#1 String. Scott Drewery V James Crook 12/10, 11/2, 11/5 3-0
After a really close first game Scott found his range and had far too much fire power for James with excellent volley
drops to both sides.
#2 String. Harry Hennessy V Nicholas Harbour 12/10, 4/11, 11/7, 5/11, 5/11 2-3
Last match on and to make it a full house! Harry was against a very tough opponent with great racket skills
especially from the back hand side and with great touch however Harry got stuck in and managed to sneak the first
game 12/10. Nicholas then came back at Harry with more shots and took the 2nd 11/4. Harry then went back on top
taking the 3rd 11/7 however then he started to get tired and Nicholas picked him off in the next 2 games.
Overall a great weekend so close but yet so far as they say. Always great to get a win over Oxfordshire and our U17
squad is getting stronger.
Match Report 22nd November 2015.
Boys U17 Inter County Stage 2 V Yorkshire 2, Surrey 2 and Oxfordshire
The Team.
1.Scott Drewery
2.Harry Hennessy
3.Josh Abbs
4.Ed Wheeler
5.Peter Casey/Orlando Hodgson
First Match against Yorkshire 2
Now been a Yorkshire lad (Not a lot of people know that!) I anticipated that this would have been the hardest match
even if it is there 2nd team.
First up
5. Peter Casey V Jack Hepworth
Peter got off to an ok start with some good hitting but then quite simply the wheels came off with plenty of hitting
the ball to himself giving away quite a few strokes (How many was it Harry?) anyway he suddenly found himself 10-7
down however this didn’t seem to faze him and he comfortably won 13-11. In the 2nd the same pattern this time
winning 14-12, as they started the 3rd Peter had clearly broken Jack mentally and his headband was slowly slipping of
his head, winning the 3rd and the match 3-0.
3. Josh Abbs V Maximus Cooke
Josh was up against a nice hitter of the ball very fluent so our tactic was to hit with different paces which worked a
treat winning the first 11-9 with Max’s points only coming from Josh’s errors. In the 2nd and 3rd it was the pattern
with Josh finding his range and hitting less errors.
2 nil up great start against the mighty Yorkshire although it was becoming apparent that they were not that strong
after all.
1. Scott Drewery V Matthew Dick
What can I say Scott was in fine form and took out the Yorkshire no.1 comfortably 11-1, 11-5, 11-5.
4. Ed Wheeler V Thomas Mynett
I didn’t see much of this match as I was Coaching Harry on court 1 however it looks like he also had a comfortable
match winning 3-0
2. Harry Hennessy V Henry Palmer
After a nervy start Harry started to get into his rhythm hitting the ball with a good mix of pace and using his flexibility
and rubber legs to get some amazing pickups. Harry also won 3-0 making this a Yorkshire whitewash, giant bagel!!
Nice one team Cambridgeshire winning 20-0 against Yorkshire 2
Next up was Surrey 2 another strong County and they had a good battle against Oxfordshire.
Cambridgeshire V Surrey 2
5.Orlando Hodgson V Marcus Roberts
For this match following lunch time discussions I decided to give Orlando is County debut. I felt that Orlando started
well and it was a close call all the way through the first unfortunately Orlando lost out in the first to Marcus 10-12
with some fine shots from Marcus and a few untidy shots from Orlando to close out the first game. Into the 2nd we
went with the tactic of trying to change the pace rather than leathering the ball this seem to work and Orlando got
into an early lead however Marcus starting pick him off winning the 2nd 9-11. Orlando was still determined and
showed great fighting spirit but unfortunately lost the 3rd and the match 7-11. 3-0
3. Josh Abbs V Dan Pritchard
I didn’t see much of this match as I was helping Orlando however I needn’t have worried Josh carried on in the same
vein winning a comfortable 3-0 11-7, 11-5, 11-4
1. Scott Drewery V David Sanches
Judging from the warm up this was going to be a closer match than the one against Yorkshire 2. I was not wrong
with Scott taking the first 11-9. Scott then upped the pace and positioned himself higher on the T which enabled
him to volley more, winning the next 2 games 11-7, 11-5. 3-0
4. Ed Wheeler V Will Lowe
The first game was a close affair with Ed losing out 8-11, one nil down but I was not worried we then used Ed's
strengths and started hitting good mine and length to draw out the rallies and just need giving his opponent
anything to attack from winning the next 2 games 11-5 and 11-3. In the 4th Ed took his foot of the gas a little which
let Will in however Ed managed to hang on closing out the 4th game 3-1.
2.Harry Hennessy V Luc Dreraul
Quite simply this was a good match for Harry commanding the rallies from the front and winning 11-3, 11-2, 11-7. 30
2 wins and the Trophy finals are in our sights beating Surrey 17-4
Next up was Oxfordshire (A varsity match!)
Cambridgeshire V Oxfordshire
5. Peter Casey V James George
This was an up and down match with neither player taking real control. Peter lost the game 3-11 and then won the
2nd game 11-7, then lost the 3rd 6-11 but then won the 4th 11-7 to take into a 5th and final game. Both players again
had their chances and Peter put in a valiant effort but in the end doing a lot of the running and running out of steam
losing the 5th game 12-10. I have to say although Peter was exhausted this match good of easily gone the other way.
3. Josh Abbs V Felix Kovari
Josh was clearly on fire this weekend much more positive with his squash using different paces at the right time and
using this to move forward on the T and take control. Josh won 11-5, 11-5, 11-4. 3-0
1. Scott Drewery V Nicholas Harbour
I remember this young lad from last time and not because he was using an Eye Racket!;) But because of his racket
skills silky smooth with some good deception. However Scott was playing well and used his size and strength to his
advantage keeping Nic at the back of the court and then taking him short when the time is right winning the 1st 11-6.
In the 2nd I feel that Scott relaxed just a tad and this let Nic in with some good racket skills and taking the ball in well
at the front of the court, Scott losing the 2nd 9-11. Scott regained his control in the 3rd winning this 11-7, the 4th
started the same as the 3rd but Nic started to find his targets again and it went to a tie breaker with Scott closing it
out 12-10. Wining 3-1 `
4. Ed Wheeler V Edward Beccle
After Ed's last match he got off to a better start and took control of the rallies winning the first 2 games 11-6, 11-7.
Edward B then started to work Ed out and started to pick him off however Ed hung in there and clearly didn’t want
to play another game winning 13-11. 3-0
2. Harry Hennessy V Louis Vyas
Harry was on good form this weekend as were all the Cambridgeshire players, he used good simple squash in the
match. As I always say get the foundations right and everything will come from those solid foundations. Harry won
11-5, 11-5, 11-8.
Cambridgeshire beat Oxfordshire 19-4
So we won and are now into the Trophy finals for a 2nd year in a row, great effort team and hopefully we can go
one better this year and win the Trophy finals. Again due to the geography Cambridgeshire have been selected to
host the BU17 Trophy Final, which will be held on Sun’ 17th January @ Peterborough Town SC against Durham &
Cleveland, Kent and Dorset. Dan McGinn will lead the team in my absence, and matches will start @
11:00am......the boys would love your support!
GU19 – ROB DADDS (COLIN GRIGGS):
Unfortunately the GU19 squad didn’t have a fixture in Stage 1 due to the withdrawal of Worcestershire. The girls
and Rob Dadds therefore have a mission to finish 1st or 2nd in a finals qualifying group containing Leicestershire
(hosts), Yorkshire and Northumbria on Sat’ 21st Nov’. The very best of luck to the team.
Rob was away for the Stage 2 fixture, so I took the team to Leicester to battle for a finals place..........and what a
great day it turned out to be!
First up was Yorkshire, and the star of the show was Charlotte Davies playing @ 3. Making far too many mistakes
in the first 2 games, Charlotte left herself with a mountain to climb..............but she cut down the errors in the 3 rd,
and started to physically wok her opponent harder than she wanted/was able to work and took the 3rd to start the
come back! Following the game plan well again in the 4th she clawed another game back, with the frustration and
fatigue now evident in her opponents play. A see-saw 5th had Charlotte well down in the second half of the game,
and having to defend several match balls. Guts, determination and a little hint of luck (desperate defensive boast
with the court completely open......that rolled out of the nick!!!! ;) saw her achieve a remarkable and vital victory
that set the team up with the first string to Cambs’..........AMAZING PERFORMANCE!!!
Emily then had the chance in the 3 string GU19 format to seal the match at 1st string against a really unorthodox
and unpredictable player. A weird match unfolded with both players taking it in turns to play well and dominate, or
play poorly and concede rallies/points too easily! Emz’ should’ve won from 2-1 up, but struggled with her
concentration in the broken rallies with a strange rhythm that her opponent created very effectively. This left
Nadine at 2nd string to battle for the match and the vital bonus points.........
She produced a superb, controlled performance from the very first rally and apart from the end of the third game
that got very close and tense, played the better squash. Good lines and length opened the court for crisp and well
executed attacks to the front corners, combined with some lovely defensive squash lifting and slowing the ball. Each
game was closer, so the tension mounted (especially for the 3 of us watching and hoping on the balcony), but Nadine
held her nerve brilliantly to win 3-0 and start the day of perfectly.............GAME ON!!!
Due to court availability, we then travelled from the Leicester Uni’ courts just round the corner to Leicester Squash
Club for the remainder of the day, starting with Northumbia (who eat Leicestershire in the morning, therefore
becoming our closest rivals for 1st place). Star of the show was Emily this time round......
Charlotte was on first @ 3, and with the belief of the mornings performance helping her to remain calm and more
focussed duly dismantled her opponent reasonably comfortably to get the team off to the very best start and leave
Emz’ another opportunity to win the fixture. GOOD SQUASH.
Emily faced a more conventional opponent in Charlotte Cooper, and what unfolded was a tense, tetchy match
where the poor referee was called upon too often. Emily lost the first with too many mistakes and a slightly passive
attitude compared to her normal feisty style. Much more competitive in the 2nd, she battled and scrapped brilliantly
to take the game and level up at 1-1. Then the silliness began (not from Emz’......) with speculative calls for lets and
complaints about any decisions given against her by Charlotte, no matter how obvious they were! Emz lost the 3rd,
took the 4th easily when her opponent lost her focus completely, leaving it all down to the last game. A very tense
game unfolded, with the unnecessary pressure still felt by the referees affecting the whole atmosphere. Emz’ did
brilliantly to keep her focus and stick at it right to the end where I feel she got the reward she was due for being the
fairer and more reasonable player on the court........ugly to watch, but an awesome result for the girls........job nearly
done!!! WELL DONE EMILY.
Nadine played the dead rubber well enough, but still carrying a slight niggle with her Achilles and knowing that her
match didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, she didn’t push 100% and had another gear to access if
necessary.
This left Leicestershire last up, but with the format of the teams and with the results already secured by each team
it was necessary to be sure of our final place by remaining unbeaten for the day. Player of the fixture this time round
was appropriately Nadine to complete the set over the 3 matches.
Charlotte remained unbeaten for the day, again playing structured and confident squash for most of the match
only occasionally losing her focus to allow her opponent in front of her to relieve pressure. Emily played England
international Mari Taylor, and although she could’ve competed with more determination was always going to come
off second best against a high class opponent. This left Nadine to finish the day off in perfect style......
Playing against a player who was far more dangerous than she looked technically, Nadine dropped in and out of
the mental intensity she needed to produce her best squash. Going 2-1 up, she lost her way slightly again in the 4th
game now fatigued mentally and physically from a long days squash, but rallied in the 5th to step up the intensity of
the hitting and fight her way to a great 3-2 victory against a very determined and physically strong opponent. CLEAN
SWEEP FOR CAMBS’ AND OFF TO THE FINALS WE GO!!!!!!
Yorkshire
v
Cambridgeshire
Score
Games
1
Megan Kaye
Emily Fuller
(3-2)
(11/8 8/11 4/11 11/1 11/6)
2
Charlotte Fish
Nadine El Refee
(0-3)
(5/11 8/11 9/11)
3
Emma Gill
Charlotte Davies
(2-3)
(11/6 11/8 5/11 5/11 10/12)
Result
Northumbria
v
Cambridgeshire
1-2
Score
Games
1
Charlotte Cooper
Emily Fuller
(2-3)
(11/8 9/11 5/11 11/2 9/11
2
Georgia Webster
Nadine El Refee
(3-1)
(11/7 9/11 11/7 11/7)
3
Ellie Watling
Charlotte Davies
(0-3)
(8/11 6/11 3/11)
Result
Leicestershire
v
Cambridgeshire
1-2
Score
Games
1
Mari Taylor
Emily Fuller
(3-0)
(11/2 11/2 11/1)
2
Leanne Herbert
Nadine El Refee
(2-3)
(6/11 11/9 5/11 11/5 7/11)
3
Jessica Morgan
Charlotte Davies
(0-3)
(9/11 8/11 12/14)
Result
1-2
This year’s finals are being held at The Park SC, Nottingham over the weekend of the 16th & 17th January, and it’s
my great pleasure to take the GU19 team to face Gloucestershire in the ½ Final on Sat’ 16th, and then to face either
Northumbria or Kent on the Sun’ in the Final or 3rd/4th Playoff match.
Overall it’s been a superb year for the Cambridgeshire teams, improving on the performance level and progress
through the JICC event, and our aim is to finish as Trophy Winners in the GU15 & BU17’s, and secure a place in the
Final in the GU19.
My thanks to the lead coaching team for all your work so far, and to the players and parents in dedicating
themselves to the Counties teams.
Colin Griggs.
Cambs Junior Development Group.