Southern Caribbean squash ...
Da Silva staves off strong challenge as Guyana take overall crown
By Isaiah Chappelle
Guyana Chronicle
August 22, 2004
CARIBBEAN Under-19 champion Damien Da Silva staved off a strong challenge from Rhett Cumberbatch of Barbados for Guyana to retain the Men’s title, and with it the Overall crown after 12 years, in the final day of the Banks Mini Malta Southern Caribbean Squash Championships.
Guyana and Barbados clashed in what turned out to be the virtual final at Georgetown Club, yesterday, and the locals triumphed 3-2 -- in the Men’s tie and 4-1 in the Ladies’ encounter, but went down in the Veterans 2-1.
Playing in the afternoon session, Guyana lost the first game in the Men’s tie as 15-year old Bryant Cumberbatch disposed of former National champion Regan Pollard 3-0, who played with an injured hamstring.
Robert Fernandes put up another stellar performance to give the country the first win, bouncing back from one game down to beat Shawn Simpson 3-1.
Southern Caribbean champion Shawn Badrinath gave Guyana the lead with a 3-1 win over Gavin Cumberbatch, after losing his only match in the entire championships.
Then Da Silva faced Rhett Cumberbatch. He won the first game 9-6 but lost the second 7-9. He easily won the third, but the fourth was a gruelling and tense affair.
Da Silva told Chronicle Sport: “The match was intense. Both of us were fatigued from previous matches and both of us tried to hang in there.”
The champion said in the second game, he was a bit winded after the first.
“I gave away a few shots that gave him the confidence and with the momentum, he won.
For the fourth, I was simply tired and just wanted to get off the court.”
After several side-outs Da Silva led 8-6 but Cumberbatch held on doggedly and levelled the scores. The Guyanese then went down with cramps to his right calf and a two-minute time-out was taken. Cumberbatch then moved ahead 9-8.
“When I broke his serve, I told myself it was just two more points. No matter what I had to push it.”
Eventually, after several other side-outs, Da Silva clawed his way to victory, 10-9, effectively giving Guyana the Men’s title for a sixth consecutive time, their eighth in the history of the championships. With that title, Guyana captured the overall crown after 12 years, and just their third in the championships.
“It was pleasing. You train all year for these moments. I live for these moments when the limelight is on you. That’s what you train for. It was rewarding.”
Ramon Chan-A-Sue’s 3-1 loss to Gavin White made to difference to the outcome of the winner.
The Ladies played in the morning session and lost the first match, with fifth string Chantelle Fernandes bowing to Cheri-Ann Parris 3-1, but Jillian Griffith-Lillico levelled the tie, beating Andrea Goodridge in three straight games.
Southern Caribbean two-time champion Nicolette Fernandes gave Guyana the lead, defeating Karen Meakins again in straight games.
Former National champion Denise Jeffrey sealed victory, putting away Nadia McCarthy 3-0, to effectively give Guyana the Ladies title after 14 years, the eight win since the championships started in 1978. The local women last won the crown when Barbados hosted the championships in 1992.
Then National champion Kathy Shuffler decorated the crown with a 3-0 defeat over Lillianna White.
Playing in the afternoon session, Dennis Dias was the only player to secure victory for the Veterans, effectively becoming the Over-50 Men’s champion. He beat Errol Pilgrim 3-0, while Brendon Mounter went down to Nigel Griffith and Sonia Perkins gained a walkover from Joy Fredericks.
Friday night, Guyana beat the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) 4-1 in the Men’s, 5-0 in the Ladies’ and lost 2-1 in the Veterans’ games.
Robert Fernandes played the game of his life, with many persons contending it was his best performance ever, to beat Charlie Sonson and seal victory in the Men’s tie. He went down 1-9 in the first game and in a memorable display of nerves and fitness, he won three straight, 9-7, 9-0, 9-7.
Jerry Bell had given Guyana the first match, beating Shane Slater 3-0 but Chan-A-Sue lost to Karl Nassief 3-1. Badrinath put the team 2-0 up when he again disposed of James Bentick 3-0, dropping just two points. Then Fernandes produced the victory match and Da Silva put the icing on the victory, putting away Dion Anselm 3-0.
In other results yesterday, the OECS beat Trinidad & Tobago 4-1 in the Men’s, 4-0 in the Ladies’ and 3-0 in the Veterans’ categories.