WEEK FOURTEEN - TITLE JOY FOR CROMER

" Cromer went into their last match of the 2021-22 season, away to Bannatyne's II, knowing that 12 points would ensure that they finished top of Division Two of the Norfolk SRA Squash League irrespective of other results and they rounded off their season in style with a fine 15-6 victory - a win which gave them their first divisional title for sixteen years.

Technical Director Barry Starling was again able to name an unchanged and full strength team but the win wasn't without its nervous moments, however. The first two matches on court were the first and third string ones featuring club champion Richard Keeble and team captain Matthew Jordan. Keeble has been in brilliant form all season, losing just one of his thirteen matches way back in November, and he continued his excellent run winning his match in straight games but  Jordan, despite opening up a 2-1 lead in his match, struggled in the fourth and fifth games going down to a 3-2 defeat.

At half way this left the match finally balanced as Alex Oliver and the experienced veteran John Baker took to the courts to play the second and fourth string matches. Oliver too has had a very good season losing only two of his eleven matches and although he lost the second game of his match he regained control to take the next two and come out on top 3-1 but Cromer still needed Baker to win at No.4 to ensure they were promoted as champions. He has been an ever present this season and his experience at the bottom of the order has been vital as he has won eleven matches and he needed to draw on all that experience in what was undoubtedly the match of the evening.

After winning the opening game he lost a marathon second game 12-14 before edging ahead again only for his opponent to draw level by winning the fourth game 13-10. At 12-4 up in the deciding game Baker's victory seemed assured but his opponent gradually pulled seven points back before Baker finally clinched the game 13-11 and the match 3-2 to give Cromer their victory.

A delighted Starling said afterwards: "This has been a terrific team performance ever since the first match back in October. We have been able to select the same team for nine of our fourteen matches which has made a big difference and all four players plus the three reserves who have come in when needed have played their part. Hopefully we will  be able to continue our good form at a higher level next season.""

Results:-

Richard Keeble beat Christian Oliveri 13-9 13-7 13-8

Alex Oliver beat Carl Matless 13-10 7-13 13-7 13-8

Matthew Jordan lost to Shaun Nicholas 13-6 8-13 13-6 9-13 9-13

John Baker beat Ben Moore 13-6 12-14 13-7 10-13 13-11

WEEK THIRTEEN AND CROMER MOVE WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE OF TITLE

"Cromer Squash Club this week racked up another sixteen point maximum, their sixth of the season, against the students from UEA II as they moved five points clear at the top of Division Two of the Norfolk SRA Winter League and with just one match left to play they know that 12 points from their last game of the season, away to Bannatyne's II, will see them promoted as divisional champions.

The students are bottom of the table without a win all season but Technical Director, Barry Starling, resisted the temptation to give some of his fringe players a run out as he selected an unchanged, full strength team and with all four team members having been club champions in the past they proved to be far too strong for their gallant opponents.

John Baker and team captain Matthew Jordan both won their matches in straight games and although Alex Oliver lost the opening game of his second string match he soon put that behind him easily winning the next three games which included a rare 13-0 scoreline in the third game. Club champion Richard Keeble rounded the evening off as he became the third player to win 3-0 to leave the final score 16-1 in favour of Cromer.

After the match Starling said "This was our final home match of the season and supporters have been treated to some good matches with six victories and one draw and I couldn't have asked for anything more from the team. Our nearest rivals, East Anglia III have also got to travel to play Bannatyne's which won't be easy so I am hopeful we will be able to do enough to win the division. It is sixteen years since we last won a divisional title so it will be nice for the team not only to do that but also play at a higher level next season."

Results:-

Richard Keeble beat Louise Pagel 13-4 13-5 13-9

Alex Oliver beat Toby Biggs 8-13 13-5 13-0 13-6

Matthew Jordan beat George Hennessy 13-5 13-6 13-8

John Baker beat Jack Spurgeon 13-4 13-8 13-9
 

WEEK TWELVE - TWO MATCHES REMAIN AND CROMER STAY TOP.

"Cromer Squash Club picked up another sixteen point maximum this week, their fifth of the season, as they continued in their quest to finish top of Division Two of the Norfolk SRA squash league by returning from Fleggburgh after beating the home club's Broadland IV 16-2. This was their ninth victory from twelve matches and with just two matches left to play they currently have a three point cushion at the top of the table. They were helped this week when Harleston and Bannatyne's II both dropped points, with the South Norfolk side coming out on top 10-9. The Bannatyne's team, who have four matches in hand, could have a big say in the final outcome as Cromer have to travel there for their final match of the season while second in the table East Anglia III still have to play them home and away.

Technical Director Barry Starling was able to field an unchanged team and, with three former club champions as well as the rcurrent club champion, Richard Keeble, in the team, all four players proved to be too strong for their opponents. John Baker got the evening off to a perfect start as he won the opening fourth string match in straight games - the eighth time he has won 3-0 this season and team captain Matthew Jordan carried on the good work winning the third string match 3-1.

Alex Oliver always seems to make heavy weather of winning his matches but he invariably does enough to win and this week was no exception as he, too, won 3-1 at No.2 while the first string match was something of an anti climax. It was fairly obvious that Richard Keeble's opponent was far from fully fit and sadly he decided after the first few points that he wasn't fot enough to continue which effectively gave Keeble a 3-0 walk-over.

Starling said afterwards "This was another good win and although the division is probably too tight to call I would, at the moment, rather be in our position than that of any of the other seven teams. We have been able to put out a settled team for most of the season and this has made a big difference." "

Results:-

Richard Keeble beat Justin Millar walk-over

Alex Oliver beat Shaun Cramer 10-13 13-7 13-10 13-7

Matthew Jordan beat Dave Willert 13-11 8-13 13-10 13-5

John Baker beat Oliver Millar 13-10 13-4 14-12
 

WEEK ELEVEN - CROMER RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE LEAGUE

"Cromer's squash team returned to full strength this week for their return fixture against neighbours North Walsham III and an excellent 14-6 victory coupled with a 13-7 victory for East Anglia III over Harleston means that with just three matches left to play they have returned to the top of Division Two of the Norfolk SRA Squash Leagues, albeit the top three teams are now separated by just three points.

Former club champion, John Baker, playing the fourth string match got Cromer off to the perfect start with his 39 years of experience in the Norfolk Squash Leagues proving to be too much for the visitors' Will Riches as he comfortably won in straight games. It was a different story, however, on the adjoining court where team captain Matthew Jordan was up against his visiting counterpart, Matt Dyke. Jordan battled hard to win the opening game 15-13 but his opponent's ability to retrive numerous seemingly lost causes proved decisive and the Walsham player won the next three games to come out on top 3-1.

The second string match was something of a strange affair. At various times during the match the unorthodox Alex Oliver seemed to be cruising against Henry Geaves but he contrived to lose the first game 11-13 before drawing level as he comfortably won the second game 13-5. His concentration levels dropped again as he fell behind again, losing the third game 10-13 before easing his way to victory in the final two games.

In the final match of the evning club champion Richard Keeble who had won eight of his previous nine matches this season made it nine wins from ten starts as he always had just too much for Harvey Edmonds coming out on top 3-1 despite Edmonds battling hard to win the third game of the first string match.

Afterwards Technical Director Barry Starling said: "This was another good victory and Keeble showed what a good player he is. He is now up to No.40 in the county rankings which is pretty good for a Division Two player. Hopefully we will be able to push on and gain promotion as we haven't been at that higher level since 2012""

Results:-

Richard Keeble beat Harvey Edmonds 13-8 13-11 7-13 13-2

Alex Oliver beat Henry Geaves 1-13 13-5 10-13 13-9 13-5

Matthew Jordan beat Matt Dyke 15-13 5-13 9-13 8-13

John Baker beat Will Riches 13-7 13-5 13-8