The ashes test at Headingley in 1981. Dennis Taylor's victory over Steve Davis in the small hours of the morning. Liverpool's thrilling Champions League victory in Istanbul. The great sporting comeback is sport at it's purest and most exciting, where impossible odds are overcome through sheer willpower and the refusal to accept defeat in the face of insurmountable odds. To the top of this distinguished list you can add St Ivo Ist team's victory over Dome Wizards on the 29th January 2009. 

Going into the game, league leaders Dome Wizards were strong favourites following their home victory over St Ivo in the first half of the season. Since that loss St Ivo were on an unbeaten run of 7 league matches, and had moved up to 2nd place in the league. However, the recent loss of the Ivo no.1 Jack White, to the Inca trails of Peru, meant the rest of the team had to step up.

First on court for the Ivo at 5th string was Dave Chapman. One of the most improved players in the club, and sporting a 100% win record in the league for the 1st team, Chapman had every reason to be confident of getting the team off to a good start. Chapman was out of the blocks quickly against his opponent, Harris, winning the 1st game 9-7. The 2nd game was a different story, with Chapman under pressure from the off. Harris played well to bring the game back to 1-1. A quick team talk in the break saw a revived Chapman play to his strengths and win the next two games to close out the match.

St Ivo 1 - Dome Wizards 0   D Chapman beat M Harris 3-1

Next on court at 4th string was Andy Fenner, making his debut for the 1st team this season. He was up against a quality opponent in Mark Webb who had played at no.2 in the first half. Fenner started well and Webb struggled to return some accurate serving. After a couple of good rallies, Webb got back into the game and took the first 9-4. Webb then went from strength to strength playing some excellent lob shots which were unplayable on a cold court. Fenner fought all the way, playing some excellent shots, but eventually went down 3-0.

St Ivo 1 - Dome Wizards 1  A Fenner lost to M Webb 0-3

The 3rd string game was going to be hard to predict with the Ivo's captain Alistair Paul facing the County ladies Champion Stephanie Marriott. Paul has been on excellent form this season but being a gentleman decided to let Marriott have the first game 9-1. Marriott thanked him for his generosity by murdering him 9-5 in the 2nd. Two games down and realising that the Ivo's title dreams were sinking fast Paul started playing some good squash. The momentum though was with Marriott and she ran out as the victor 3-0.

St Ivo 1 - Dome Wizards 2  A Paul lost to S Marriott 0-3

Ivo were 2-1 down and staring defeat in the face. At 2nd string to keep the match alive John Dewis needed to beat Ashley Gimson. A tall order at the best of times, but given Dewis was suffering from food poisoning and Gimson had thumped him 3-0 in their last meeting the omens were not good.

Dewis lost the first game 9-2, concentrating more on keeping his dinner down than playing squash. Taking advice in the interval, Dewis went out with a new game plan which didn't just involve running around a lot.  It worked, 1-1 and the game was back on. Ivo's hopes faded as fast as they had risen when Gimson won the 3rd game convincingly. Both players were tired but Gimson had the momentum and raced into a 7-2 lead in the 4th. As the tie looked to be slipping away from Dewis, Gimson made an unforced error, crucially handing possession back to the Ivo man. Not needing a second invitation to get back into the match, Dewis hit a succession of jammy serves to take the 4th game and with vocal home support spurring him on he wrapped up the match in the 5th.

St Ivo 2 - Dome Wizards 2  J Dewis beat A Gimson 3-2

With the tie level at 2-2, the Ivo's fate was in the hands of their no.1 Rich Craven. So confident about his squash ability he can get away with a pink racket grip and his name emblazoned on his racket head, Craven was relishing the chance to play at the top of the order. His opponent Price, had beaten White 3-0, in the first half and started as favourite. Craven played excellent squash in the first two games, but they both slipped away as his opponent won the crucial points. Craven continued playing some great shots and was rewarded with the third game. The 4th game descended into a barrage of let calls and strokes as Price exerted pressure on the referree Paul. Craven lost out to a call in the front corner after 'the the best drop shot of his life'. 8-3 down and with hope all but lost Craven, motivated by the desire to finish ahead of Dewis in the division rankings, dug deep. The crowd got behind him and following some frantic squash he took the 4th 10-9. As the clock edged close to 11pm, the match hung on the fifth game.

Craven went 7-0 down, but even the Dome supporters now doubted it was their night. Craven got a second wind and reeled off 9 points in style to close out the match.  St Ivo had won 3-2, unbelievable!

St Ivo 3 - Dome Wizards 2  R Craven beat M Price 3-2