Y
ork Men’s 1sts began their BUCS Northern 2B Squash campaign with a comprehensive victory over a lacklustre Newcastle 2nds outfit, who only avoided relegation last season on game-difference.
York, who finished runners-up in the league last year – narrowly missing out on promotion by just a mere 3 points – continued their prolific home form in some style; as there were wins for Dave Potter, Matt Lewis, newboy John Holden and Ed Shannon. Myles Knight went down 2-3 to Newcastle’s George Olney.
Along with Varsity and Roses, the BUCS League often provides York Men’s 1sts with some stern tests – but this encounter failed to live up to such expectations, as the home side were dominant from start to finish.
Ed Shannon (11-4, 11-2, 11-6), John Holden (11-1, 11-4, 11-4) and Dave Potter (11-8, 11-8, 11-8) all won their individual matches by three games to nil, with team captain Potter claiming he was “going for consistency rather than points.” Holden, a fresher and making his debut for York, put in a solid performance and will be pleased his aggressive style paid off – his team-mates have “high hopes” for his future involvement in the squash side.
Elsewhere, Matt Lewis confidently swept past Sam Voller with a 3-1 victory (11-9, 11-13, 12-10, 11-4), but perhaps the match of the day wasn’t York’s most successful: Myles Knight, despite having match point in his final game, was unable to emerge triumphant, and spectators’ anticipations that “the Dark Knight Rises” were quickly muted. But Olney’s hard-fought victory (8-11, 11-3, 11-4, 9-11, 13-11) proved only to be a consolation.
Next Wednesday, York will be looking to build on this positive start as they travel to Leeds Met – a side they demolished 5-0 on the final day of last season. Leeds were beaten by Sheffield in their opening fixture this afternoon.