Squash

Team and averages :-

A. M. Baird (Capt.) (average 79.22), D. M. Findlay (81.50), P. C. Knowlson (77.80), C. W. D. Green (72.50), J. Rigg (81.20), J. R. Bird (77.60), H. H. Hunter (74.00), D. L. Hourigan (70.89).

Also shot :—D. Walter, R. I. Hunt, J. R. Dwyer and D. J. Osborne.

This term witnessed keenness throughout the School for this, the only game not dependent upon the weather. Several promising young players have sprung into prominence, and the occurrence of a fair number of School matches has raised the general keenness among senior members of the School.

The Senior and Junior competitions were run in an orderly fashion, all competitors keeping well within the specified dates. Fairweather won the Senior, and M. J. Wood the Junior competition.

The House Matches resulted in School House easily beating the Grove in the final, thus re-capturing the cup after a year's absence.

School matches this term were played against the Staff, Cranwell, University College, Hull, and the Old Peterites. The Cranwell match deserves special mention, for it is the first Squash away match in living memory, and can be attributed to Mr. Rucklidge's vigorous efforts on behalf of the team.

The School again beat the Staff in a closely contested match early in the term.

J. M. Rucklidge, Esq., lost to W. H. N. Fairweather,-9-10, 6-9, 9-2, 9-7, 9-6. R. F. Harding, Esq., beat E. D. Thornton, 9-3, 9-1, 9-3. A. E. R. Dodds, Esq., beat P. T. Baker, 9-2, 9-6, 9-2. D. K. Crews, Esq., lost to B. D. Watson, 9-4, 9-3, 9-2. E. S. Jeffs, Esq., lost to A. M. Kendell, 9-4, 9-5, 9-6. School won by 3-2.

On 22nd March the School played a match against Hull University College, who were beaten rather easily.

W. H. N. Fairweather beat Hull first string, 9-2, 9-6, 9-6. P. T. Baker beat Hull second string, 9-0, 9-4, 9-6. E. D. Thornton beat Hull third string, 0-9, 9-2, 6-9, 9-5, 10-9.. B. D. Watson beat Hull fourth string, 9-6, 10-8, 9-7. K. M. Ratcliff beat Hull fifth string, 9-4, 9-0, 9-3. School won by 5-0.

Then, on 25th March, the School team went to the R.A.F. College, . Cranwell, where they came up against much stiffer opposition. Cranwell were unable to field all their first five strings but had their 1st, 3rd and 5th strings of their regular team playing. The School was beaten 4-1. The result might well have been different as both. Watson and Thornton were in winning positions.

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Watson and Kendell playing 4th and 5th strings played first, the latter being well beaten 3-1. Watson, however, after losing the first game won the next two to lead 2-1 and was well up in points in the fourth game but could not press home the advantage, finally losing 10-9. In the last game Watson was in a similar position but again failed to win the decisive points.

Fairweather and Baker, the 1st and 2nd strings, played nextFairweather had a comfortable win 3-1 to give the School their only victory. Baker was well beaten 3-1 after a hard match in which he was unlucky to break his racquet.

In the last match Thornton won the first two games, 10-9, 9-5, and then lost the third game, 9-3. In the fourth game, however, the score at one point was 8-2 in Thornton's favour, but after remaining at 8-2 for several minutes, the score gradually swung in his opponent's favour, Thornton being unable to press home the commanding lead. The last game proved an easy win for the Cranwell 3rd string, so that the final score was Cranwell College 4, School 1.

Cranwell first string lost to W. H. N. Fairweather, 9-0, 9-6, 10-9._ Cranwell second string beat P. T. Baker, 9-4, 2-9, 9-6, 9-7. Cranwell third string beat E. D. Thornton, 9-10, 5-9, 9-3, 10-8,. 9-5. Cranwell Fourth string beat B. D. Watson, 9-5, 6-9, 4-9, 10-9,. 9-7. Cranwell fifth string beat A. M. Kendell, 9-0, 9-4, 6-9, 9-6.

On 31st March the School played a match against an side organised by Oliver. The match, however, consisted strings, and the School won 3-1. Old Peterite of only four

W. H. N. Fairweather beat J. M. Rucklidge, 9-6, 9-7, 9-6. E. D. Thornton lost to D. J. Oliver, 9-4, 10-9, 10-8 B. D. Watson beat V. M. Gregory, 9-3, 9-0, 9-0,. A. M. Kendell beat R. Dobson, 9-5, 9-0, 9-4. 8-10, 6-9„.

W. H. N. Fairweather was re-awarded his School Squash Colours . for 1949-50.

P. T. Baker, B. D. Watson and A. M. Kendell were awarded their School Squash Colours for 1949-50.

Details of the Inter-House Squash Matches are as follows :-

1st Round. Manor beat the Rise, 3-0 (4th and 5th strings did not play). Semi-finals. School House beat Manor, 5-0. Grove beat Temple, 3-0 (4th and 5th strings di&

not play). In the final School House beat the Grove 3- 1.

W. H. N. Fairweather beat E. D. Thornton, 3-2. P. T. Baker beat A. M. Kendell, 3-0. J. C. Griffiths beat M. J. Wood, 3-0. G. Elliott lost to G. R. March, 3-1. P. C. Knowlson and A. R. Royle did not play. 43