All other Federation Clubs

On Monday night Wellington squash Club 2nd team entertained Wyvern 2nd team at the Corrams Lane club.

James Luard played first at no.5 this week as the Wyvern No.4 was going to be late. James took a while to get going on what were very cold courts. James managed to take the first game 9-7. In the second game the Wyvern player came back strongly to win it 9-4. James now took off the cricket sweater and track suit trousers and got down to work. He quickly won the next game 9-1 and the fourth game was his 9-6 after a fight back mid game by his opponent. James won 3-1. Phil Hobbs playing at no.2 resumed his ongoing duel with the Wyvern no.2. Phil was not at his best and whilst the first two games were fairly tight the third went the Wyvern players way quite quickly Phil lost 3-0. Mike Broom at no.1 took on the new Wyvern no.1 who beat Mike convincingly only two weeks ago. Whilst the end result was the same a 3-0 win for Wyvern the game scores of 9-7, 9-7, 9-2 hid a much tighter match particularly during the first two games.
Phil Griffith playing at no.4 had a comfortable win in conditions that suited his type of game to a tee. Phil had a comfortable 9-4, 9-5, 9-7 win. Finally with the match resting on the last tie Brian Davenport took to the court. Brian took the first game 9-6. This however sparked the Wyvern no.3 into action and he made quick work of the next two games winning them 9-0, 9-1. With the conditions not suiting Brian he was unable to make a come back and lost the fourth game 9-4.
The final match score was Wellington 2nds 7 Wyvern 2nds 13.
Wellington 3rd team did not play as their opponents Taunton School claimed they could not get a team together. The fact it is half term and their best players were not available was not lost on the Wellington Club. If Taunton School wish to continue playing in the squash league they should ensure they have a team that can play every Monday. No doubt next week when they visit Wellington to play the 2nd team they will be back to full strength!

Monday night saw all three Wellington squash teams playing at home.
The first team played Merriot 1st team and had a successful evening. Captain of the team Julian Jones played early and won a close match 9/5, 10/9, 10/9. Mark Harrison had one of his usual matches taking the first two games 9/6, 9/1, then lost the next two 8/10, 8/9 and with a couple of fortunate marking decisions won the fifth 9/5. Charles Chappell’s match was another marathon with Charles taking the first two games 10/8, 9/2, but then unexpectedly losing the next three 6/9, 2/9, 0/9. Andy Anderson had a much easier match winning comfortably 9/4, 9/3, 9/7. Last on was no.1 Rob Watkins who after losing the first game 7/9 came through strongly to win the next three games 9/0, 9/5, 9/6. The final match score was Wellington 1st team 17 Merriot 1st team 6. Quote of the evening from Julian Jones –‘ when ever I win the team wins.’ We shall have to watch with interest.

The 2nd team and 3rd teams played for the third time this season and once again the third team showed the old uns a clean pair of heels.
First on were Brian Davenport and Chris Short. Chris never had much trouble in this match and won 9/6, 9/1, 9/7. Greg Harrison then played Roger Mason who was standing in for the apparently sick Phil Hobbs. Greg won the first game 10/8 after being down 8/6 at one point. The second game went to Roger 9/6 and deservedly so. However, Greg came back well and won the next two games 9/2, 9/6. The third match was between the experienced Gary James and Mike Broom. Mike won the first game 9/7, but lost the second 10/8 after being 8/6 up. Gary won the third game 9/5 and Mike took the match to the fifth game by winning the fourth 9/5. After a questionable marking decision at the start of the fifth game Mike Broom was trailing 7/2, but came back to eventually clinch the game 10/9 and the match. James Luard played Barry Bartram who has now swopped the green field sports for the more exhausting squash court. Barry was very quick about the court and even though his shots were not out of the text book he beat James comfortably 9/1, 9/6, 9/3. Finally young Andy Ford took on Phil Griffith. Andy made short work of the first two games winning them 9/2, 9/2. Phil then got his own game together and with good lobs, drop shots and cross courts took the next two 9/5, 9/0. It looked as though Andy was not going to get his first win over Phil. However, Andy came into the final game with more determination and the zest of the first two games to win it 9/3.
The final score was Wellington 3rd team 17 Wellington 2nd team 6.

Next week the 2nd team play Wyvern 2nd team at home and the 3rd team play Taunton School also at home. (Another late night)

WELLINGTON AFC stage their latest social event with a Valentine’s Disco in the clubhouse this Saturday, February 9th. Admission is £3 for members and £4 for non-members.

2008
WESTERN COUNTIES HANDICAP TOURNAMENT

PLAY BY PLAY BY PLAY BY PLAY BY FINALS NIGHT
FEBRUARY 23RD MARCH 15TH MARCH 29TH APRIL 12TH APRIL 16TH

ANDY ANDERSON -35
VERSUS
PHIL HART 0

ANDY FORD -5
VERSUS
FRANK WARD +5

DAN KEYWOOD +10
VERSUS
MIKE BROOM -15

MARTIN WILLIAMS -10
VERSUS
JAMIE STRAWFORD -5

MARK FARMER -5
VERSUS
TOM MCLURE -15

GARY JAMES -20
VERSUS
BARRY BARTRAM -5

MARTIN REES-DAVIES -5
VERSUS
GREG HARRISON -15

STEVE SWANN +5
VERSUS
JULIAN JONES -25

MARK HARRISON -25
VERSUS
KEN ROBERTS 0

JON LUCAS +5
VERSUS
ROGER MASON -10

PHIL HOBBS -15
VERSUS
MIKE KAVANAGH -10

CHRIS SHORT -15
VERSUS
JAMIE WRIGHT -15

CHRIS BLATCHLEY 0
VERSUS
BRIAN DAVENPORT -10

JOHN MORTON +5
VERSUS
PHIL GRIFFITHS -10

JAMES LUARD -10
VERSUS
DOMINIC FRITH +5

IAN JOLLEY -10
VERSUS
CHARLIE CHAPPEL -30

2008
VETERANS HANDICAP TOURNAMENT

PLAY BY PLAY BY PLAY BY FINALS NIGHT
FEBRUARY 23RD MARCH 15TH APRIL 12TH APRIL 16TH

GARY JAMES -20
VERSUS
BYE

ROGER MASON -10
VERSUS
MIKE BROOM -15

PHIL GRIFFITHS -10
VERSUS
JAMES LUARD -10

PHIL HART 0
VERSUS
KEN ROBERTS 0

BRIAN DAVENPORT -10
VERSUS
BYE

JOHN MORTON 0
VERSUS
BYE

STEVE SWANN +5
VERSUS
BYE

MARTIN WILLIAMS -10
VERSUS
PHIL HOBBS -15

After two weeks with out a match Wellington Squash Club 2nd team played away against Wyvern 2nd team.
Mike Broom was never in contention against the Wyvern no.1 and lost 5-9, 0-9, 0-9. Phil Hobbs at no.2 had a hard game. Phil won the first game 9-7, but narrowly lost the second 8-10. He lost the next two games 2-9, 2-9 to go down 1-3.
Brian Davenport at no.3 had to take on the Wyvern player who before Christmas was playing at No.1. It was not a hard fast game, more of a cat and mouse game and with the courts being a little cold the ball could hardly have warmed up. Brian was in contention in the first and third games but lost 7-9, 2-9, 7-9.
James Luard back from his overseas jaunts fared a little better but eventually lost 1-3 with game scores of 3-9, 9-10, 9-6, 0-9.
At no.5 Phil Hart stood in for the absent Phil Griffith. This match was a contest of who could hit the ball the hardest. Phil lost the first two games 6-9, 2-9. He did however win the third 9-0 which in part was possibly due to the fact his opponent had a broken racket. With a new racket in his hand the Wyvern no.5 quickly wrapped up the final game 9-2 to win 3-1.
The final match score was Wyvern 2nds 18 Wellington 2nds 3.
Next week Wellington 2nd team take on Wellington 3rd team.

The Cottage Cup, part of the Federation’s Golf Society annual list of events, will take place at Oake Manor Golf Club on Friday 1st August 2008. More details in the summer.

ONE of the most popular events in Wellington’s social calendar in recent years could be revived in 2008.

The Wellington Sports Federation held a Summer Spectacular at the town’s rugby club for three successive years, attracting thousands of people.

Now, after a two-year break, the federation is looking to stage the event – a combination of stalls, sideshows and demonstrations – again this August.

The federation, comprising 15 sports clubs from the Wellington area, has a new chairman after Bob Bowrah took over from Ken Bird at last Thursday’s AGM.

Mr Bowrah said the Summer Spectacular was popular with the people of Wellington, and helped to raise the profile of member clubs as well as boosting their funds.

Mr Bird – who has stepped down to concentrate on his work as chairman of Wellington Foot-ball Club – said that the federation had come a long way since its formation four years ago.

“Since then we’ve managed to notch up a considerable list of achievements.

“As well as our Summer Spec-taculars we’ve held successful Wellington Sports Awards with black tie dinners to mark outstanding achievements in sport in our town.

“We also launched a Bursary Scheme to help our many talented young sportspeople, and boo-sted the facilities and equipment of our member clubs with the provision of grants, the latest of which have gone to the bowling, rugby and football clubs.”

Mr Bird said most notably the federation had played a major role in changing the sporting face of Wellington.

It had been involved in negotiations which eventually led to the new sports hall currently un-der construction at Court Fields Community School.

It had also campaigned successfully for a dog ban on the town’s Playing Field, which it was now looking to extend to other sports fields.

And it had helped to bring the old Beech Grove School playing field back into use as a rugby pitch, hopefully from next season. This would allow the existing rugby pitch on the Playing Field to be used for football in future.

Mr Bird paid tribute to the work of David Jones, who step-ped down as treasurer of the federation at the AGM.

Officers elected: President, His Grace the Duke of Wellington; patrons, Jeremy Browne MP, Martin Pipe, Cllr Andrew Govier; chairman, Bob Bowrah; secretary, Mike Sertin.

Autumn Trophy and Spring Salver:

As we have not played the Autumn Trophy in 2007, we have one event to catch up; to achieve this, I have booked a 36 hole day at Minehead on Sunday 30th March. The morning round will be for the Autumn Trophy (individual stableford) and the afternoon round will be for the Spring Salver. First tee off is 10:00.

Cost:
The cost, including a light lunch, will be £40 – but read on now…

Subsidy:
The cost of the Minehead day will be subsidized by the sum of £15 for all members who pay their 2008 membership and this event fee, on or before the AGM.

To clarify, pay on or before AGM, Minehead day = £25, membership = £7.50 = Total of £32.50. Pay after AGM, Minehead day = £40, membership £7.50 = Total of £47.50.

Please note that only the Cottage Cup is open to non-members, this day is members only. New members will be accepted at the AGM but please ensure that they have proper qualifications via one of the three member sports clubs, Wellington AFC, Wellington RFC or Wellington CC.

**** There you go, that’s the deal, and the onus is now on you guys to get yourselves sorted! ****

AGM

The AGM will be held at the Dolphin Inn on Monday 25th February at 20:00. This is the only occasion where new members may join the society and they must have a proposer and seconder. This is a very short meeting, usually last no longer than 30 minutes, please try to attend.

Wellington squash club 2nd team began the next round of league matches with a home tie against Wellington 3rd team. Mike Broom, suffering from a bad cold lost to Gary James 3-0. Phil Hobbs had a comfortable win over Chris Short 3-0 and Brian Davenport lost to Greg Harrison 3-0. James Luard got off to a good start against Tom McClure and was 2-0 up but Tom fought back to win 3-2. Phil Griffith had another tough fight on his hands against Mike Kavanagh and eventually lost 3-2. The final score was Wellington 2nd team 7 Wellington 3rd team 15.

On 10th December Wellington 2nd team visited Taunton School. With two regulars not available to play it was going to be a difficult evening. Young Jamie Strawford playing his first league match was up against a useful no.3 and came away a 3-0 loser but not disgraced and an experience to learn from. Phil Griffith had a hard game and after being 2-0 down came back to 2-2 and looked as though he could take the match but ran out of steam and went down 3-2. James Luard moved up to play at no.2 and played a much younger, fitter opponent. James was in contention in the first two games but lost them narrowly 9-7, 9-7. The third did not go his way and he lost his match 3-0. Roger Mason also had a long game and at 2-1 up looked to have the better of his opponent. However he let the fourth game slip and could not get back into his rhythm in the fifth to eventually lose 3-2. Mike Broom at no.1 took on one of the Taunton school pupils but age could not overcome youth. Mike had a good lead in the first game but let it slip and from there could not muster enough strength to keep going and lost 3-0. the final score was Taunton School 18 Wellington 2nds 4.

The next league game is not until 14th January, plenty of time for the team to get fit.

Wellington squash club 2nd team played away against Wyvern 2nd team on Monday evening and came away with the tail between the legs.
James Luard started the evening and could not find any form and lost 5-9, 2-9, 0-9. Phil Hobbs was next on at no.2 and whilst there were good rallies in his match he too could not make inroads into his opponents defence and lost 5-9, 2-9, 7-9. Phil Griffith took on a Matt Gillingham, the assistant pro at Taunton and Pickeridge golf club. Phil started well and looked to be well placed to take the first game but following a questionable decision Matt suddenly galvanised himself into action and took the first game 10-8. The second game was also a close affair but again Matt edged it 9-7. The third game could not have been closer with the game score eventually going to Matt 10-9.
Brian Davenport was out of sorts and lost in short time going down 0-9, 0-9, 3-9. Mike Broom at no.1 was now playing to try and prevent a total whitewash. Mike took the first game 9-4. In the second game Mike reached game point first but as last week could not convert the opportunity and narrowly lost the game 9-10. Mike got back to winning ways to take the third game 9-6. Unfortunately he could not keep the pace going and after losing the fourth 5-9 fell away in the last game 1-9. The final score was Wyvern 2nds 18 Wellington 2nds 2.