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After two narrow defeats in their first two games the IGT Winchester team management opted to blood their youngsters against Bristol in the belief that their desire and enthusiasm would see them take valuable points and move them up the table.  A decent crowd turned up to support and were hoping for rather than expecting a win as the opening announcements from Billy Kerr as Master of Ceremonies indicated Bristol had brought international players with far more experience.

First up was Catherine Finlayson, busy evading rumours she had joined the WISPA tour this month and happily nursing a new sponsorship contract with Harrow for 2012.  Her Mum and Dad took their seats nervously with Mum the other side of the court from Dad, presumably so she didn't have to listen to his ramblings or admonish him for the number of nervous pints he was consuming. After a difficult start Catherine suddenly burst into life and with tenacious display of attacking squash combined with ferocious determination got the crowd on her side and with it the match.  Winning the best rally of the night award (if one existed) by sliding into a drop at front and then regaining her feet to dash to the back to win the point with a clinging backhand drive she grew ever more confident and deserved the standing ovation she received for completing an excellent 3-1 win.  Mum and Dad were understandably excited and busy expanding on the rumours she had joined the pro tour while Dad was heard asking if the team management had fed Catherine crystal meth before the game such was her display of energy and if so could he have some before he next took to the tennis court.

At fourth string came Phillip Bull making his debut in the PSL.  Immensely popular around the club where he's been a member longer than most even though he's only 21 and watched by an equally anxious Dad and partner he produced a dynamic display to beat the world number 413 in straight games with a demonstration of power attack squash which made the spectators feel sorry for the ball and his opponent feel sorry he had volunteered to join the Brizzle massive.

With Winchester two up and the home crowd happily cheering between mouthful's of Jake's new menu, Alex Phillips took to the court as 3rdstring and promptly dampened the atmosphere by losing the first game in enigmatic fashion.  His opponent Tom Ford was full of confidence after winning the U19 Belgian Open but gradually came to realise that Alex would eventually stop him diving around the court by hitting a good selection of nicks and having lost the second game in such a fashion Tom was forced to retire hurt at the start of the third.  Rumours that Alex was only to be paid for half a match were studiously avoided by the team management!

After three wins and a stunning performance from the home players came new signing Jethro Binns making his home debut. Immensely likeable and possessing the daftest name in the squash world he faced the very talent Arthur Gaskin who had been ranked 80 in the world before injury forced him to take some time pondering the meaning of life, the universe and everything.  What should have been a close game didn't live up to its potential as Jethro never quite managed to stem the flow of points against him and subsided 3-0 to a very good performance from his Irish opponent.

Now that the match was comfortably won it was left to Joey Barrington to deliver a fitting swansong in front of a crowd who had all stayed behind despite the call of the bar and their desperation to find out who had won the raffle.  Barrington junior didn't disappoint and dispatched his opponent in fine style attacking from in front of the red line and displaying a forehand volley that would upset many a higher ranked player.  For good measure he landed a decent crack on his opponent's nose, rumours of the pictures circulating Twitter have been discussed in the wine bars around Bristol ever since.

So a first win for our team and one that was fully deserved. The home grown players stood up to be counted and their emergence onto the world scene in 2012 should be very interesting to watch.