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    Somerset Under 15 Boys - Win National Title

    Photo shows from left to right. Matt Davey, Josh Morris, Tony Milford (team coach), Jamie Baird, Isaac Milford and James Rew

    Somerset Juniors upset odds to claim first ever National Squash Title

    5 young local squash players have helped Somerset’s u15 county squash team pull off an unexpected, but richly deserved victory in the National Inter-County Squash Finals.

    After first round victories over Devon, Dorset and Avon back in September, Somerset were drawn at home in the final regional round which took place at The Victoria Club in Street in November. Facing some of the traditional squash power-house counties, Somerset pulled off a hard fought victory over Surrey, Hampshire and Devon and in doing so became the first ever junior squash team from Somerset to make the National finals.

    Being, by squash population at least, one of the smallest counties in the country the Somerset team was made up of the same five players at every stage of the competition. Street provided three players in the form of Crispin School pupils Isaac Milford and Matt Davey and Millfield pupil Jamie Baird. The team was completed by Josh Morris from Merriot squash club who led the team at No1 and the youngest team member James Rew, representing The Wyvern Club in Taunton, who plays a full 2 years above his true age category.

    The finals weekend was attended by over 200 of the country’s leading junior players and pitted the 4 regional winners against each other across five age categories in a winner takes all knockout competition played at the world-famous Pontefract Squash Club in Yorkshire.

    The Somerset boys were supported by generous sponsorship from Howdens Joinery who kindly provide bespoke teamwear for the squad for what would turn out to be a magnificent weekend of high-quality squash. The cost of the trip and overnight accommodation in Yorkshire were covered by the boys clubs and by their county association, Somerset Squash & Racketball.

    In the first match of the weekend on Saturday Somerset were drawn against Northern Regional champions Northumberland who themselves had disposed of the strong competition favourites Yorkshire. With four of Northumberland’s players having national ranking significantly higher than those of their opponents, the Somerset boys were keen to ensure that they gave a good account of themselves and set out to make sure that silly mistakes and loose shots were kept to the absolute minimum.

    The team was led out by Isaac Milford who immediately settled any nerves that may have existed by posting a controlled 3-0 victory playing at No 3. Matt Davey fought hard against a strong opponent at No 5, but could not quite get his game going and went down 3-0 in three close games. Josh Morris from Merriot then stepped up at No 1 to restore Somerset’s lead with a stunning 3-1 victory, leaving the team needing to secure one of the final two matches to progress to the overall final. Millfield’s Jamie Baird, whose epic decider in the semi-finals was the pivotal match in ensuring Somerset even made the finals weekend found his opponent in outstanding form and went down 3-0 in a game that was much closer than the scoreline suggested. With the tie poised at 2-2, and a place in the grand final on the line, the teams youngest player James Rew stepped forward and produced a performance of mature, high-pressure squash that belied his years. Winning the first game and then being pegged straight back by his dogged opponent Rew shrugged off the understandable pressure of carrying the team over the line and prevailed 3-1 to send the team into raptures – and the final.

    Sunday’s final saw Somerset face Kent who had earlier seen off Warwickshire in their semi-final.

    Again Milford led the team off storming into a 2-0 lead in his 3rd string game, before a slight wobble saw his opponent come back at him by winning the 3rd. Regrouping and reverting to his normal game Milford produced some aggressive squash to use his greater physicality and court coverage to get Somerset off to the best possible start and close out a 3-1 victory. Meanwhile on the adjacent court Matt Davey was involved in a titanic struggle with Kent’s No 5. Having lost the first game many would have understood had Davey withered under the pressure, but he stormed back to take the second 11/5, before another reversal saw him lose the 3rd 7-11 to go 2-1 down. Again Davey refused to be cowed by his talented opponent and with a few words from his father and brother in the crowd stormed back to take the final two games 11-8, 11-7 to give Somerset a perfect start to the match. James Rew again followed Davey on court in a pressure situation, knowing that victory would hand Somerset their first ever national title at any age-level. Rew stormed into the lead winning the first game 11-3, before his opponent rallied to edge the next game 13-11. Rew collected his thoughts and again demonstrated commendable calmness under pressure and almost faultless squash to prevail 11-5, 11-5 and take the game 3-1.

    Leading 3-0 in the tie and knowing that the national title had been won it might have been expected that the final two games would lack a little intensity on the part of the Somerset players. The players however had other ideas with Morris again being involved in the herculean task of playing against some of the country’s best county no1’s and narrowly failing to make it 4-0 going down 3-2 in a breathless exhibition of relentless long rallying. Baird, who was aiming for his 3rd national sports title having recently helped Millfield Prep School to victories in both hockey and cricket was always in his match against an impressive opponent at No2, but despite a late rally to tie the 3rd game at 8-8 he found his opponent a little too strong on the day.

    By this stage of course, the boys did not care overly about the individual game results, knowing as they all did that at various stages in the competition every single one of them had pulled off at least one result that proved decisive in ensuring their progress through the competition.

    Commenting on the victory team sponsor Howdens, represented by Glastonbury Branch Manager Nick Davey said,  “At Howdens we are always happy to do our bit to support local charities and young people’s activities. Being a squash player myself in the dim and distant past I know the hard work and countless hours of practice that it can take to get to the level that these boys have achieved. We’re very proud of their efforts and are delighted to play a small part in helping them to realise their ambitions. We hope our involvement plays a part in inspiring other young people to continue their participation in whatever sports they are interested in”

    Team Manager Tony Milford said “ The boys are a credit to their clubs, their schools and to themselves. To watch the way they support and encourage each other, to see them go on court and deal with the pressure of carrying the hopes and dreams of their team mates. To watch them pull off victories that on paper they should have no right to win and be clear-headed enough to deal with the inevitable ups and downs that come with competitive sport at this level has been a genuine privilege. I’d like to thank Somerset Squash & Racketball and the clubs at Merriot, Street and Wyvern (Taunton) for all of their support and Howdens for making the day extra special by producing the bespoke shirts for the team. Most of all I’d like to thank the boys for giving me, their parents and everyone who supports junior squash in Somerset one of the best weekends in recent memory.

    For further information about junior squash in Street, Taunton or Merriott or more widely in Somerset, including opportunities for complete beginners of any age, please contact Tony Milford on 07970 448896 or via tonymilford@hotmail.co.uk