Up against perennial rivals, SAFRA, at their home-ground, yesterday evening's match-up was expected to be close. The overall score belies the excitement encountered and feature match of the night belongs to the "Yo-Yo in Toa Payoh" between our own Jerryca vs SAFRA's Loke Yan Xun.

First up though.... SAFRA's Koh Kar Yan vs. Pang Ka Hoe. Gladly obliging Kar Yan's request to leave early, Ka Hoe casually and clinically despatched the top lady player with a nonchalant 3-0 win (11-8, 11-5, 11-4).

Next up was 'kor-kor' Pang Ka Wai, who faced one-time Men's B Individual champion and former A-grader, Andrew Koh. The older SAFRA player, blessed with masterly strokes and bolstered by vast experience, took the first game by 11-7. However, Andrew had to contend with the tenacity, speed and fitness of Ka Wai, who stormed back to cruise in the next 3 sets by 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 for a 3-1 overall win.

The "Yo-Yo in Toa Payoh" then commenced. A vastly improved Yan Xun packed too much power and pace for Jerryca initially. Dropping the 1st set quickly by 3-11. Jerryca took an early lead in the 2nd only to see the SAFRA player charge back with his drives and pace ("too strong" in Jerryca's own words) to wrap up set #2, 11-7. Uncle Bobby then stepped in with advice for Jerryca to slow down the pace with lobs and lengths which were targeted at Yan Xun's back-hand. These, Jerryca executed to perfection, limiting Yan Xun's deployment of his devastating attacking forehand drives and forcing him into errors. Fatigue appeared to start creeping into Yan Xun's game and Jerryca capitalised to take set #3 by 11-5. The comeback trail continued in set #4 with Jerryca still employing the same 'slow-down' tactics and took that one as well, by 11-7 and thus forcing a rubber. And just when UCSC supporters thought Jerryca had it sewn up at 10-6 match-point, Yan Xun decided to make a fight of it and clawed back to 10-10 to force deuce! However, panic did not set in (at least, not from Jerryca's 'calm' facial expression) and while lesser mortals may have been 'mentally cracked' at that point, our Jerryca remained composed and stuck to the game plan (lob and lengths to opponent's backhand) to take the next two points and edge home 12-10. HURRAH for Jerryca! What a sterling performance! Jerryca's tremendous effort and superb entertainment won the admiration of even the SAFRA camp who sportingly congratulated Jerry for her 3-2 comeback win which also sealed victory for the UCSC camp with an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Benjamin Sim then entered the court to face ex-UCSC player, Bryan Seow. It was a closely fought match between two promising youngsters and apart from a hiccup in the 2nd set which he dropped a close 9-11 and a tense 4th set which he edged home by 15-13, the UCSC junior was mostly in control mode and wrapped up his tie by 3-1.

An excellent result..... 3 matches played, 3 matches won... all by 4-0 scorelines and the Men's C title beckons.  No overconfidence though, 'C'onquerors..... Continue to 'c'rush them.

UCSC Lives & Breathes Squash!