That player was Rob Hickling, and his game against Guernsey’s Adam Shields went to the wire.
Not expected to win, Hickling found himself level at two sets all and 8-8 in the final set, knowing that whoever took the game would also win the senior men’s trophy.
As veteran player Steve Law explained afterwards: ‘It was the match of the tournament.
Rob came back to win those last two points in unbelievable fashion.
For all of us watching, it was exhilarating squash, especially as Rob was the underdog.
‘The men’s event was the closest for many years and although we lost the overall inter-insular, I was delighted that we won both the Blue Riband events.’ For the A-team there were wins for Guy Tupper (3-0) and Paul Frankland (3-0).
Mike Hopkins lost 3-1 to Chris Simpson while Mark Le Roux also lost, 3-0 to Sam Shields, before Hickling’s marathon match against Shields.
For the B-team Jon Hibbs won 3-2; Ross Cornish won 3-0 and John Wood won 3-0, and although Richard Body lost 3-0 and Mark Corradine lost 3-2, Jersey were already on course for victory, 3-2 on aggregate.
The men’s veterans’ team also won, 4-1, with Hugh Jones, John Farley, Neal Pickersgill and Trevor Griggs all winning their games comfortably.
The only disappointment was Steve Law’s 3-2 loss in Guernsey before the ladies’ side saw their hopes of inter-insular glory dashed, in dramatic style.
After No 1 player Ronnie Jubb had lost 3-0 to Guernsey’s Karen Dunk, No 2 player Kate Cadigan’s 3-0 victory was overshadowed by 3-0 victories for Guernsey, who picked off Jersey’s Adele Kappe, Kelly Bird and Sally Johnson almost at will.
At Junior level Guernsey also emerged victorious.
Chantelle Cunningham, Kate Williams and Kate Wells all lost 3-0 in their games.
Meanwhile the boys, Oliver Duquemin, Ben Duquemin, Charles White, Joe Chaytor and George Mcleod might all have lost 3-0, but each game was marked by fierce resistance before the Guernsey boys took the initiative.
‘We lost because they have more strength in depth,’ said Law afterwards.
‘We must learn to develop the sport, and to support David Evans, our Squash Development Officer, in bringing on young players via the schools.
And even though we lost the overall inter-insular, I was pleased by the way the men raised their game, and by their attitude.
‘Rob Hickling, for example, had such a fantastic battle it was a delight to watch.
No wonder he was so emotional afterwards, because he wasn’t expected to win; but he did so, and helped bring back the senior men’s trophy to Jersey.’
