WITH the match score at 1-1, Malvern Squash Club needed strong performances from their remaining three players to beat the visiting Stourport.

On adjacent courts Robin Broad and Kevin Sandercock were equally impressive. Robin's grey hair gives no indication of his youthful speed and vitality and his ability to improvise at full stretch kept Darren Granger under constant pressure.

Meanwhile at number three Kevin Sandercock found himself matched against Maynard Burton, a skilful stroke-maker, with the ability to produce devastating winners without warning. Kevin frequently found himself moving in the wrong direction and he needed all his athletic speed to stay in touch. Although level at one game all, the fitness gap was becoming significant and Kevin's tactics of patient rallying, first moving his opponent back and then dragging him to the front, were having an increasingly debilitating effect.

Nigel Long rounded off the evening with his now customary 3-0 victory.

RESULTS: Malvern 4, Stourport 1. Nigel Long bt Keith Sadler 9-5, 9-0, 9-2; Kevin Sandercock bt Maynard Burton 9-4, 9-10, 9-7, 9-7; Robin Broad bt Darren Granger 9-6, 9-3, 6-9, 9-6; George Leeds lost to Bob Sidwell 9-5, 7-9, 6-9, 7-9; Lorraine Wilde bt Terry Mabbs 10-8, 9-5, 5-9, 6-9, 9-3.