Recap

East Toronto Smash Win Five-Game Game Thriller over Vancouver Rush

Smash Make Short Work of Rush in Women’s Opener

Kim Layton and Christina Chin are a formidable pair to play against – just as the Vancouver Rush’s Jordann Vigna and CNPL rookie Sophia Racine. With both teams coming into this match having lost their first, a spirited affair was expected. And to get things rolling, Chin and Layton schooled their Rush counterparts in a 21-11 win.

For a brief bit, Racine gave the Rush a 2-0 lead on a nice backhand. Layton and Chin then shook off the rust and bounded into a lead they wouldn’t give up. They made great shots and forced a slew of Rush errors, leading to a 13-7 Smash lead and a timeout.

After the break, the Smash showed their Pickleball chops, with excellent defense and dinking to counter any Rush gains and push the score to 18-10. Vigna made things interesting with an Erne that hit Layton, but Layton returned the favor with one of her own that nicked Racine. The game would end quietly when Racine found net on a return.

Rush Storm Back to Stun Smash in Men’s Contest

Any men’s pair having to look across the Selkirk net at the hulking Dalbir Bhandal and the fiery Nathan Choi might think twice about hopping onto the court. Yet, that’s what veteran Brett Forsythe and rookie Joe Willemsen did, and they came away with a hard-fought 21-19 comeback victory.

Bhandal and Choi were full value early, combining a lob, cross, drop and Erne in a mix of rallies to go ahead 10-5. The Rush gamely struck back, with a searing Forsythe forehand shot moving the score to 12-10 Smash. Four plays later and two more Forsythe bombs and the score was tied 13-13.

The Smash still went hard, regaining the lead with great rallies, yet the Rush also rallied and took a timeout down 17-15. After the Smash stole a point, it was all Rush, with both Forsythe and Willemsen stunning the Rush with solid D and shot making to square the match.

Willemsen Outstanding as Rush Mixed Pair Stomps Smash

Joe Willemsen announced his presence loudly in this one. Paired with fellow rookie Sophia Racine, Willemsen stole the show as the Rush duo trounced the Smash team of Kim Layton and Dalbir Bhandal, 21-13. He got it started early, sending a beautiful cross that eluded the Smash to give his team a 2-1 lead. He then proceeded to account for four of the Rush’s next six points on three great set-up shots and another cross, his team taking an 8-4 lead.

Willemsen’s hot hand continued, with another cross and a smooth backhand in the mix, leading to an 11-5 cushion and a Smash timeout. Layton and Bhandal, who weren’t as dynamic as they usually are, did fight back some, trimming the score to 13-8 as they both set up the Rush for unforced errors. However, the end came swiftly with multiple Smash errors and more inspired play from Willemsen.

Smash Erase Huge Deficit to Win Pivotal Mixed Game

Any time Christina Chin and Nathan Choi are on the court, separate or together, you know things will be interesting. The two Smash compatriots staged an epic comeback against the Rush’s Brett Forsythe and Jordann Vigna, scoring five straight points at 20-16 freeze to win and tie the match.

This contest was more spirited than the first mixed affair, with the Rush taking advantage of some early Smash errors to go ahead 9-4. Choi and Chin, the Player of the Match, pushed back well with defense and great shot-making make the count 9-8. The two teams battled hard back and forth, with the Rush maintaining a lead and going to freeze at 20-16. Chin and Choi kept their composure, though, and won in dramatic fashion.

Layton the Difference as Smash Beat Rush in Tiebreaker

When her team needed her most, Kim Layton came through when the chips were down. She took nine of a possible nine points from Rush for Sophia Racine in the singles mini-games, leading the Smash to a match-clinching 21-15 victory.

After Christina Chin uncharacteristically dropped three to Jordann Vigna to make it 6-3 Rush, Layton won her mini set. Later, after Vigna took two of three from Chin to push the score to 11-10 in favor of the Rush, Layton again forced Racine into three straight errors to give the Smash a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

On the men’s side, Dalbir Bhandal outscored Joe Willemsen 5-4, while Brett Forsythe clipped Nathan Choi by the same count. Fittingly, Layton accounted for the last three points to cement the 21-15 triumph.