British Army Team Begins Title Defense Against NYSquash by Andy Garr September 4, 2014
-This evening the stands at the National Tennis Center will be near
empty as New York racquet sports fans will descend upon the Harvard and
Princeton Clubs in Manhattan for the opening match in the 2014 renewal
of the War of 1812 Redux Trophy. The British team, all members of the
Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC) will play a combined team
from the Harvard and Princeton Clubs.
The defense will
consist of six matches set forth below. Controversy seems to attach to
this series. As of yesterday no agreement had been reached on a
tiebreaker should the matches split 3-3. The Brits are holding out for
the Ryder Cup convention that allows the team that holds the trophy to
retain it if there is a tie. The New Yorkers feel that the home team
should have that right.
The Brits upon arrival
were to disclose the location of their secret squash training facility
“the Junction.” Their director indicated that they would do so at
the end of the competition. This is a very sore point with
NYSquash since recent closings have placed squash courts in short
supply in New York.
The British Ambassador
to the United Nations is scheduled to throw out the first ball. Mayor
DiBlasio was asked to do the honors for New York, but declined
muttering something about vegetables. The venerable Bryan Patterson,
captain of the New York team will perform this ritual for the home team.
The British tour
director has indicated that his current team is not as strong as the
team that prevailed two years ago, but that their number 9 is much
better than that team’s number 9. His New York counterpart
dismissed this as the British version of “trash talk” and indicated
that he would not fall for it. The veteran squash director of the
Princeton Club, John Musto, will pay at the one slot for New
York. He stated that this match is more important to him than the
US Open.
Here is the schedule of matches:
Thursday 9/4 combined Harvard Club/Princeton Club at both locations
Friday 9/5 Eastern Athletic Club (Brooklyn)
Saturday 9/6 combined Street and City Squash at Street Squash
Monday 9/8 Sports Club L/A
Tuesday 9/9 Westchester Squash [Mamaroneck]
Wednesday 9/10 Union League Club [includes trophy presentation]
