The MO65 troupe were once again troubled with injuries both prior and during the Home International Masters Squash event hosted in Cardiff. Readers may recall the MO65 four and a half players that survived the trip to Edinburgh last year. This year however it was the turn of Hugh Griffiths (Swansea), to pull out a few days before the event with a groin injury playing Padel Tennis!! (He has duly been reported to Squash Wales who are considering his membership status.)
Scotland, Ireland and England was the order of play this year with Ceredig Emanuel (Carmarthen) opening Wales’s account with 3-1 win against the Scottish no.5, Bryan Jackson, having conceded the opening game. Dai Lewis (also Carmarthen) was unfortunate to play the youthful no.3 seed Nick Rusk, who played exceptional and error free squash which resulted in a 3-0 win for Nick. Wales no.1 seed Jon Evans (Northumbria) however, steadied the ship with a masterful display of squash against the talented Scotland captain Robin Ridley, with a brisk 3-0 win. With two matches to play, Richard Barrett (Bridgend) at no.4, settled the tie through defeating Norman Patterson 3-0. The second and third game were nail bitingly close 12-10 wins for Richard. With the match secured Huw Davis (Merthyr) faced the gifted and unpredictable Scottish no.2 seed Robbie Blair. Huw was 1-2 down in a very tight tussle when he suffered a calf strain. When RICE was recommended Huw opted to finish the match and pulled the score back to 2-2. Spectators were equally in pain as Huw also squeezed the final game 12-10 to win 3-2! Wales 4 – Scotland 1.
Ireland were Saturday morning’s opponents and Ceredig Emanuel secured a 3-0 win against no.5 seed Gerard Connaughton, followed by a hurried 3-0 victory by Richard Barrett against Michael Roden. (Richard had a pm appointment with Jethro Tull in Bristol). Jon Evans sealed the match against Ireland despite conceding the opening game against John Dineen with a 3-1 win. Phil Monaghan played James McSweeney at no.3 seed and had never beaten him previously. It looked as though that form continued as Phil lost the opening two games 9-11. Phil however dug deep and returned to his consistent and accurate squash to take the match 3-2! The stage was set for Dai Lewis to achieve a clean sweep against the Irish as he played no.2 seed David Lalor. The match went to script as Dai narrowly took the first two games. Mr Lalor had other ideas however and upped his game with a (Phil M) comeback to win 2-3. Wales 4 –Ireland 1.
Huw Davis never did recover from his calf strain, despite some intensive and painful attention from an engaging physio on Friday night at the Cardiff Squash club. Richard Barrett also had a long-standing commitment which excluded him from the English match on Saturday afternoon. Cometh the hour … at short notice Paul Brennan (Caldicot) made himself available to complete the complement of players required. Paul faced Tom Burton, a former Wales Open champion, at no.5 seed. The 0-3 scoreline did not reflect the competitive and closeness of the match, and Tom’s game suited Paul’s appetite for a length game. The same cannot honestly besaid of Phil Monaghan 0-3 losing encounter with England’s Captain Richard Millman. Phil was bamboozled, as was the balcony often, by Richard’s unorthodox and clever play. Hopes were high for Jon Evans to secure a win against the English as he played their no.1 seed James Ockwell. Having led 2-1 Jon didn’t quite have the energy to cross the line as James took the match 2-3. Ceredig Emanuel faced England’s MO65 newbie Phil Wakefield at no.4 seed, with Phil taking the opening game. Ceredig equalised the score with a 12-10 win in the second. Phil however played a more consistent and reliable length game to take the match 1-3. Dai Lewis at no. 2 seed faced the legendary Allen Barwise. Undaunted, Dai ‘terrier’ set about his usual length and harrier game to good effect and narrowly lost the opening game 9-11. Allen also took the second game before Dai recovered in the third to earn two game points at 10-8. ‘Class shines through’ however as Allen won 0-3 to remain undefeated throughout the weekend! Wales 0 – England 5.
A successful weekend for Squash Wales in many respects! The organisation and administration were excellent, WO65 retained their winners title, and MO65 earned a runner up title. ‘Brothers in arms’ – MO65 Cardiff 2026 Runner Up
Ceredig Emanuel
