It's with mixed feelings that this match report is being shared. With delight because our 'B'ombers kept the perfect UCSC victory-run intact by beating SCC last evening at the SLF courts.

With sadness, because yours truly started proceedings hoping for 'blast' from the past against ex-UCSCsian, young Timothy Leong, who is nearly a quarter the age of this old 'B'omber, and was found wanting. Trickery and experience came to nought against a young never-say-die compact human-battery who picked up every drop and drive and returned them with interest. The old warrior's turns were getting increasingly slow and tentativeness crept in. Dropping an error-ridden first game narrowly, I was even holding game point in the 2nd game but failed to close it out, losing 11-13. Then rousing UCSC's hopes ever so breifly when racing to a 3-0 lead in the 3rd and sadly, final game before the persistent and talented SCC youngster romped home 11-6. 

Fortunately, UCSC's flame was re-kindled by the scintillating display put on by Pang Ka Hoe, roped in from the 'C'onquerors to 'bomb' SCC's Mao Shi Hui, one of Singapore's brightest young female hopes of the future. Shi Hui put up strong resistance in the second set but succumbed to Ka Hoe's clear overall superiority by a 0-3 margin. It was a joy to watch the young UCSC-sian's measured and unhurried court movements and penetrating strokes.

Jason Ho then continued the 'sortie' by routing top national lady player, Serene Lee, by a similarly ruthless 3-0 scoreline. Effortlessly retrieving the very experienced Serene's shots, Jason reduced his opponent to a state of resignation time and again with his array of cunning placement and precision shot-making. And when he came off the court after his win, he looked just warmed up and wanting more. Frightening for UCSC's opponents ..... Thank the stars, this one's on our side.

The final match of the evening featured an exciting battle of attrition between our effervescent Jonathan Cheu and the crafty and experienced Chris Pong from SCC. Jonathan was not expected to face much resistance from the somewhat older SCC player but Chris had other ideas. The first game went accordingly to plan with Jonathan nonchalantly tucking in a win at a canter. Chris then gave notice of resistance in the 2nd game when he began to battle for points more tenaciously before Jonathan edged home. Chris mustered all of his considerable composure and experience and sneaked home the 3rd game to force a 4th set out of Jonathan. It was tooth-and-nail all the way to 9-9 (I think) before 2 particularly gruelling rallies exposed the aging and fast depleting oxygen stores of the SCC warrior. The winning point saw Chris standing stock still, refusing to move for a high percentage shot to the front from our still pumped-up and raging inferno in the form of Jonathan.

With last evening's 3-1 victory, the 'B'ombers leads the Men's B league (with 2 matches played) by a 3-point margin from joint second-placed PSA and SAFRA (5 points each). Both SCC and New Pioneers have only played one match each and secured just 1 point from each of those.

Next week, the 'B'ombers go up against New Pioneers at NP's home courts at Evans Road (Bukit Timah). UCSC cheer squad(s) desperately sought as no opponents may be taken for granted..... Plus it's lots of fun and laughter (at my expense).

UCSC Lives & Breathes Squash!