Blown retain KPMG Squash league title

Defending champions Blown defied the odds to retain its KPMG Squash League title after defeating Saints 2-1 in a nail-biting match-up at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston last Friday.

The first match between Blown’s Andrew Bicknell and Saints’ Leigh Dwyer ended in a 3-0 win for Bicknell, with scores of 21-16, 21-16. 21-14.

Saints’s Jerazeno Bell and Blown’s captain, Jake Mahfood, took to the court in the second match, with the odds against Mahfood based on Bell’s record in the league of not losing any match since it began in late February. Bell put on a masterful display to win the first two sets 21-13, 21-15, but he was pegged back by a determined Mahfood.

Mahfood won the third set 21-17 and took the fourth 21-12. The fifth and final game was the ultimate challenge to see who wanted the win most. Mahfood eventually won 21-19 and the match 3-2 to retain the title for Blown. The third and final match between Saints’ captain Mario O’Connor and Blown’s Fraser McConnell went to O’Connor in straight sets 21-12, 21-14, 21-11.

“We’re elated because I remember the first interview at the beginning of the tournament we were asked if we could do a repeat and we weren’t sure, but as we went through the league, we got more and more confident, and we’re very happy we were able to do it,” said Mahfood.

LOST FOCUS

O’Connor was left to rue his team’s defeat in the final but promised to come back harder nest year. “I think we could have brought it home, but in that second match, we just lost focus. Our player did his best, went up two love, was trying to complete it but was not able to. Unfortunately, the first match didn’t go how we expected it but you know, we were still trying to get it in the end, but it just didn’t work out this time, so we’ll try again next year.”

Tournament director Nathlee Boreland said that the league was one of the most soughtafter titles on the Jamaica Squash Association’s calendar (JSA). “This league, it’s one of the JSA’s premier local tournaments, and all players look forward to this tournament every year. We’ve got 16 entries, 16 teams, and each team is made up of four persons. So you’re looking at 60-odd persons playing squash in one league, and that’s just phenomenal, getting 60-odd persons playing squash at any one time.”

Damion Reid, partner at title sponsor KPMG, said, “So after 25 years, looking back at how this league started, I think it was a good investment that as a firm we have made in this squash league. We have seen many of the players who have participated in this league would have gone on to do greater things, and as a firm, we will continue to sponsor his league going forward.”

Reid said that the league was started by retired partner Patrick Chin, who recommended it. Chin was in attendance at the final.

Swift Swingers defeated JDF 3-0 to bag third place, and Jerazeno Bell took home the MVP award.