ICC Men’s O45 Premier Division Stage 1 Report – 14/15 November 2015
Going in to the Premier Division 1st Stage without 3 of our 5 top players was surely going to be a big ask……..…. and so proved to be the case. Re-inforcemenets were brought in and 3 hard fought matches were played over the weekend at the famous Colets Squash club in Surrey against Middlesex, Gloucester and reigning National Champions Surrey. Each match, every string and game was keenly contested but with most playing two or so strings higher than they might, Herts. were always on the back foot. Team spirit and camaraderie was excellent though and despite losing all 3 matches by 4 strings to 1, there were several plus points during the weekend. Peter Foley, playing for the County for the first time, beat former professional and recent European Masters O55 Champion Alan Thomson by 3-0 in the Middlesex match. Indeed, both Las Fernando and Peter Foley at Strings 1 & 2 showed in all matches that they can mix it with the top players in the group and had a couple of narrow 3-2 losses. Peter Newman also beat current England player and British Open O55 Champion Dermot Hurford of Surrey by 3 games to 1. Gehan Fernando, in his one match match against Gloucestershire, notched a fine victory at No.5. Good performances were also put in by Marvin Rust, Steve Lloyd and Martin White who each played well in their one or two matches against strong opponents. The 2nd Stage is 19/20 March and there is no doubting that the squad will come back stronger and be in a better position then to contest staying in the Premier Division.
Peter Newman (Captain)
19 November 2015
