Runner-up Saints making steady progress in KPMG Squash League

Last year’s runner-up Saints have been making steady progress in this year’s 26th staging of the KPMG Squash League. With only one more preliminary round match to go, the team is feeling optimistic that they can go all the way and win the league after finishing runner-up twice in a row, especially since defending champions Blown did not enter this year’s competition.

Saints received a bye in the first round as their group is one team short, but they came out blazing in the second round to blank JDF B three-nil in an exciting match-up at the Jamaica Squash Association’s home base at the Liguanea Club in Kingston. Matches are played best-of-five to 21 points, but none of the three Saints players were pushed to five games.

Darren Latchman was first on court against JDF B’s Daniveen Campbell, winning 3–0 with scores of 21–18, 21–17, 21–18. Next up was the dependable Jerazeno Bell, who defeated JDF B’s O’Dayne Edwards in similar fashion with scores of 21–18, 21–19, 21–19. It was left to Saints captain Mario O’Connor to seal the domination over JDF B’s Rohan Samuels, winning 21–14, 21–16, 21–18.

O’Connor expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance at this stage of the league.

“I was pleased with our performance because, in a handicap situation like this where these guys’ handicaps were pretty high, we had to focus in such a way to avoid giving away crucial points. Some of the matches started at scores like 17–0 and I think Jerry’s game started at 18–2. So in terms of room for error, there was really none. We had to focus to catch up and then win the game. I’m really pleased with how we stayed focused to get it over the line, and we’re now looking forward to playing Campion.”

The KPMG League is played using a handicap system that allows players of varying skill levels to compete while still challenging higher-level competitors. Tournament director Nathlee Boreland explained how the system works and how players benefit from it.

“A handicap tournament basically evens the playing field for advanced players who compete against persons of a lower level. The lower-skilled player starts with points assigned to them, while the higher-skilled player starts at zero or sometimes even minus, and the games are played to 21. For example, the lower-skilled player may start at 17 while the higher-skilled player starts at zero. The higher-skilled player therefore has to concentrate to catch up to the 17 before trying to win the game, so it’s not easy for the more advanced player.”

The third and final preliminary round of matches will begin on Tuesday at the Liguanea Club. At the end of that round on Thursday, the top two teams will advance to the quarter-finals, where all matches will be played on a knockout basis. The preliminary round matches are currently being contested on a round-robin basis in groups of four.

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