 |
Gabe Rabess (left), Dean Watson (2nd from right),
and Jeff Broderick (right) show that there are no hard
feelings after Mark Chaloner (2nd from left) took them
to school. |
World Class Squash Professional Mark Chaloner showed the local hotshots just how hard it is to get a point from one of the best, as he took on the best Cayman has to offer on 7 April.
The large crowd was fascinated for two hours as Gabe Rabess, Jeff Broderick, and Dean Watson tried every trick in the book to get nine points in nine games. Rabess would be up first, with three games in which to try and make an impression on Chaloner.
Despite Rabess’ iron-man fitness and formidable retrieving ability, the fast and long points of the first three games left him looking a little worn, and the hotshots without a point.
Then it was over to Broderick, as he tried to score the first points for the hotshots.
Broderick also failed to take a point in his first game, the fourth of the match, against Chaloner, but a spectacular forehand drop-shot in the fifth game finally handed the hotshots their first point. Only outright winners could succeed, as Chaloner simply just did not miss. And with the hotshots throwing everything they had at Chaloner, his composure on court was something to behold.
Dean Watson, a former 81 in the world himself, and a brilliant shot-maker, looked like he had the best chance of taking on Chaloner, but Chaloner took another 9-0 victory in the seventh game. The challenge of taking nine points off him in nine games was starting to seem completely impossible.
With Chaloner starting to tire ever so slightly, and Watson getting into his stride and playing incredible squash, the hotshots claimed another point in the eighth game.
This still left them well off their target of nine, but nothing was going to stop Watson from trying. The ninth and final game served up more points for the hotshots than all the other games put together, but even with three points scored against Chaloner in the final game, Watson could not drag the hotshots to the required nine points.
The final score was 9-0, 9-0, 9-0 / 9-0, 9-1, 9-0 / 9-0, 9-1, 9-3. The event was sponsored by Cayman Contractor Store and Transparent Tools. With enthusiastic support from the local squash crowd, the World Challenge Series will continue in early June.
