REPORT BY RICHARD PILCHER
Felsted School’s U-16 squash team travelled to Surrey to take part in the Stage 2 Regional Round of the English National Schools Championship. In the Stage 1 qualifying group held last term they beat The Leys, Brentwood & Haberdashers Aske. The opponents in Stage 2 were Charterhouse & Whitgft School.
In an extremely competitive and closely fought event the Felsted boys beat both schools 3-2 to advance to the finals, which will be held in Nottingham in late March. All of our players demonstrated determination, coolness under pressure and excellent shot selection and execution.
Typical of this was George Sweeting, our number 3 seed, who won both of his pivotal matches 2-1,saving several match points on the way. Oliver Hart also performed strongly as he won both of his matches. Matthew Elliott (number one seed) and Archie Hassett (number two seed) both won a match each against tough opponents whilst Tom Hart, who stepped in as a last minute replacement, performed admirably at number 5 seed.
This is the first time in the school’s history that a team has reached this stage of this level of ENS competition.
Full results as follows:
Whitgift – won 3-2 (12:6 in games plus bonus)
Matthew lost 0-2 (2-11 / 3-11)
Archie won 2-0 (11-3/11-9)
George won 2-1 (11-9/9-11/14-12)
Oliver won 2-1 (10-12/11-6/11-2)
Tom lost 1-2 (11-8/1-11/3-11)
Charterhouse – won 3-2 (12:5 in games plus bonus)
Matthew won 2-0 (11-3/11-2)
Archie lost 1-2 (14-12/4-11/6-11)
George won 2-1 (11-6/9-11/12-10)
Oliver won 2-0 (11-8/12-10)
Tom lost 0-2 (8-11/10-12)
Summary
1st Felsted 24 points
2nd Charterhouse 16 points
3rd Whitgift 10 points