Favourites fall in corporate squash tourney
Division One of the AF Smith Corporate Teams Squash Tournament.
The event, featuring 130 players from 39 teams, began on Saturday with all involved handicapped and split into two divisions.
Too Close To Call started strongly in their upset win with number three player Eva Grice defeating Tim Calvely 3-0.
West End's number two player Dick Meredith fought back to take the first two games against Jeff Roach, before the latter returned the favour and took the last game to give his team a 4-2 lead.
That result meant Tim Grice only had to win one game for Too Close to go through to the quarter-finals. Up against one of Bermuda's top players in Harry MacKenzie, he had his work cut out, but the handicap system worked in his favour and he clinched the opening game 15-14.
The more experienced MacKenzie took the remaining games, but it was too little too late for the pre-match favourites.
TNT Squash proved too strong for Welsh Wizards Plus One, but the tie produced one of the best matches of the event so far.
After Janine Keeble at TNT's number three spot defeated Dave Thomson 3-0, the number two players went into battle.
TNT's Eugene Bothello continued his team's good form by winnuing the first game 15-11 against Jason Mackertich.
With his team down 4-0, Mackertich could not afford to lose another game and the pair produced some of the best squash seen at the event. Mackertich enjoyed an advantage in the handicap, but his opponent clawed back the deficit only to see the TNT player take the game 15-14 on an error.
Spurred on after his victory, Mackertich won the final game 15-13.
Welsh Wizard Rob Hopping now had to win all three games against John Stout if his side were to progress.
He took the first 15-5 but the more experienced Stout claimed the next game 15-10 to give TNT victory.
The semi-finals in both divisions will be played tomorrow night, with the finals on Saturday.