THE Isle of Wight’s top squash team recorded back-to-back home victories to make giant strides up the Hampshire Premier League.
The first team beat Chichester 17-6, despite it being tipped as a potential close encounter.
Four and five string players George Shoulder and Jamie MacNaughton got the Island off to a great start, with both winning 3-0.
Jamie MacNaughton won his match easily for the Isle of Wight against Chichester. FILE
Number one string and Island number one, Adam Dominey, had a close first game, losing 11-9, but he came back strongly to take the second game 11-4.
But great retrievals and long rallies went against Dominey, who eventually went down 3-1.
Number two string Callum Arnott continued his great form as he outplayed his opponent, winning 11-2, 11-5, 11-5.
The match of the night involved number three string Chris Green, who faced a player 200 ranking points above him.
Green played some quality squash in the first two games — surprising his opponent to take a commanding 2-0 lead (11-9, 11-6).
But with only two points from victory at 9-9 in the third, he hit two tins in a row to lose 11-9.
Green lost his composure and lost the fourth 11-5 and the fifth 11-6.
The team also hosted top-of-the-table Lee-on-Solent, beating them 17-7.
Isle of Wight took advantage of Lee-on-Solent ‘s slightly weakened team.
Fifth string, Aaron Burford, was too strong for his opponent, winning the game decisively 11-2, 11-4, 11-3.
However, number three string Green struggled to find his form, losing in straight games 11-9, 11-5, 11-8 to level the match.
Second string Arnott took a while to kick-start his form, losing the first game 11-5, but a change in pace made all the difference as he powered through to win the next three games 11-3, 11-1, 11-5.
Dominey had a tough time against his 6ft 8in opponent, losing the first game 11-7.
He found form in the second, however, to win 11-5, but his opponent’s long reach and quirky shots bamboozled the Islander to lose the next two 11-8 and 11-5 to level the match again.
All resting on the final match, fourth string Shoulder played some fabulous squash — totally outplaying his opponent to win in straight games 11-5, 11-3, 11-9 to give Isle of Wight victory.
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