CARDIFF Mens’ 1sts…..............5
SWANSEA Mens’ 2nds…............0
CARDIFF FIRSTS squash team put in dazzling display on Wednesday afternoon to thrash Swansea seconds team 5-0.
In a much changed Cardiff squad since their 4-1 win against Aberystwyth, where only a team of four could be mustered, two remained to face a highly spirited Swansea side in the clash of the two great Welsh rivals. Lead by captain Rhys Owen, Cardiff exerted all the pressure throughout the hour with some mightily impressive footwork, quick thinking and finely touched drop shots.
For the five seeded players in each team, it was to be best of five games. Cardiff’s fantastic five needed no more than 3 games each, demolishing their opponents with a grand total of 165 points to the Swans’ meagre 30.
Swansea’s number five seed Ralph Gifford put in a tough fight against the skilful Ally Roberts in the pair’s first encounter with a late charge to try and claw back the deficit. It was ultimately not enough as an 11-4 loss was followed by 11-1 score line in the second game.
A rare error at the beginning of the third by Roberts saw the pair level on 1-1, but it wasn’t long before the Cardiff number five seed reasserted his authority, dominating on his way to an 11-3 win.
Gifford’s eight points to Roberts’ 33 was to prove Swansea’s best effort, which set the tone in a uncompetitive showing for Swansea. Joe Broad provided Cardiff with their most crushing win of the afternoon, beating Tommy Eyre to an 11-0, 11-1, 11-2 win.
Simon Goddard and Ed Leaky staked their claims to remain in the first team with similarly dominant wins. In the final match of the fixture, team captain Rhys Owen dealt brilliantly with numerous drop shots by Swansea number one seed Sam Wyllie.
After the match Rhys spoke to Gair Rhydd:. “It was an easy win really, 5-0 and each player winning 3-0. Swansea had their 2nd team out today and were not that strong, but we had our best team out there for years and played very well.”
