Armed with a 4 point lead over 2nd placed Police, the 'C'onquerors needed just 2 points against SCC1 to secure the Men's C title.

First tie for the evening featured the competing teams' respective No. 4s, UCSC's Ben Sim vs. SCC's world-renowned plastic surgeon, Woffles Wu. Warming up for the tie, Dr. Wu was looking extremely confident and raring to go against Ben. After all, the two had just played a social match 2 days back with the surgeon looking good (and why not?) in beating the younger man by a convincing 3-0 margin. Both players started the match well and were locked in a neck-to-neck race until 9-9 before Ben managed to edge ahead to take the 1st set by 11-9. In the 2nd set, Woffles upped the tempo, chasing down every Ben Sim missile and essentially played an error-free game until when leading 7-1 before inexplicably 'hitting a wall'. Woffle's considerable effort in the match so far, were beginning to take a toll. His game fell apart from there and Ben, keen to prove that his defeat to the good doctor 2 days back was not to be taken as a benchmark, eagerly stepped up the pace to catch up and then overtake to race through to win 11-7 for a 2 set lead. It was a spent Woffles who offered scant resistance in the 3rd and final set, gratefully accepting the few points from Ben before the match ended a litttle anti-climactically 11-3 in Ben's favour. It was nevertheless, an admirable performance from the older gentleman..... But first blood to UCSC.

Next on, UCSC's top lady-player, Jerryca Teo, squared off against ex-UCSC-sian, Terry Scott. Terry's speed and attacking game troubled Jerryca severely, resulting in the British winning the first 2 sets comfortably by 11-6 and 11-7. If Terry thought he could wrap up the 3rd set just as easily, he had another think coming. Jerryca tenaciously hung on to extend the challenge into a 4th set by taking the 3rd, a close 11-9. It looked as though Jerryca could force a rubber when leading for most parts of the 4th set. Terry, knowing that he would have little left in the tank and will be running on near-empty should a rubber be a consequence of a 4th set loss, threw everything into this crucial set. He was rewarded for his effort and determination when he just managed to touch home with a 11-9 win for an overall 3-1 win over a gallant Jerryca.

UCSC's own Dura-Cell young man, the irrepressible Ka Wai, went on next and had expected to play yet another former-UCSCsian, James McCarthy, but was instead greeted by an unfamiliar British gentleman, Martin Smith, who was recruited into the SCC line-ip at mid-season. Knowing that UCSC needed a second point after Ben's first, the burden weighed heavily on Ka Wai's broad but young shoulders. During the warm-up, the SCC player displayed classic powerful British-style drives and volleys down the right-hand wall. Not to be intimidated, Ka Wai unleashed the same down the back-hand wall during the warm-up. It was therefore and not unexpectedly, a noisy warm-up. As intentions were broadcast to one and all during the warm-up, the first set was a power contest of "Who Wants To Bust The Ball (first)?". It was testimony to the quality of ball manufacture that the anticipated 'bust' didn't occur and the battle was neck-to-neck until 9-9 before Ka Wai reeled off the final 2 points to take Set #1 by 11-9. More of the same 'slam-bang' continued in Set #2 but this time, Ka Wai interspersed proceedings with his hallmark 'trickle-boasts' and 'reverse-boasts', much to the chagrin of his SCC opponent. Ka Wai was rewarded for his enterprise and stroke variety by a 11-7, 2nd set win. Martin offered less resistance in the 3rd set as Ka Wai's superior speed and fitness clearly tilted the balance in his favour and he romped home with the 3rd and final set by 11-4 and in so doing, confirmed the NSL 2010 Men's C title for UCSC.

While academic to the evening's result (UCSC already had 1 set more and would win on count-back if it came to that) and final NSL 'C' title outcome, the 4th and final tie of the evening was still not short on excitement and entertainment as current UCSC-sian battled former UCSC-sian. It also helped that this tie started before Ka Wai had sealed the title for UCSC, so there was still everything to play for in the players' minds. It was 'Thunderbolt' Brian Van Ginkel from UCSC in the visitor's corner vs. 'Gazelle' James McCarthy in the SCC host's corner. The combatants were well familiar with each other's style as they had played each other regularly in the past. Playing his maiden league match for 2010, Brian was slow off the blocks and quickly found himself trailing 1-6 to the always fluid James. At that point however, he suddenly found his rhythm and unleashing his famed thuderbolts to good effect, he turned things around abruptly and raced away with the first 2 sets. During the break before the 3rd set resumed, the only question on Brian's mind was what the outcome of Ka Wai's match was. Upon hearing of the outcome of the title race, Brian heaved a huge (did you expect anything less?) sigh of relief. With the pressure off his burly shoulders, Brian eased off the pace and James didn't need a second invitation to capitalise on Brian's lapse to force the tie into a rubber. But as this was his first and final league match, Brian shifted gears higher once again to ensure that he finished the league with a 100 per cent win record by taking the rubber to earn a well-deserved 3-2 victory for UCSC. There was all-round appreciation for both players' efforts and the entertainment and the last question UCSC has is, "When are you coming home to UCSC, James?"

Ben and Ka Wai are in the midst of their school mid-year examinations and had to rush home after the match to prepare for the next day's exam paper(s). Their commitment to the team and the Club are commendable and truly appreciated. Special thanks also to Gabriel Goh for standing by as 'Reserve' for the C team and for offering invaluable tips to his playing team-mates.

UCSC Lives & Breathes Squash!