Recap

Vancouver Rush Prevail in Must Win Four Game Match over Montreal Lions

Lions Win Nailbiter over Rush with Big Comeback

Both teams came into this match needing a win to stay alive in the playoffs. None more so than the Rush, who were the no. 1 seed, while the Lions were seventh overall. Too bad for Brett Forsythe and Alex Walker that the Lions Ravi Prakash and Kim Layton had more in the tank for a huge come-from behind win, 15-14.

The Rush were dominant in the early stages of this key backdraw game, getting fantastic shots from Forsythe, including a searing ATP to force a Lions timeout and Vancouver leading 6-2. After the break, Prakash did his best to keep the Lions in it, with two overhand winners. Yet, unforced errors led to a Rush 9-4 cushion. However, Forsythe made three straight unforced errors to necessitate a Rush timeout.

The Lions went on an offensive jaunt after the break, leading to a Rush timeout after Prakash bombed a backhand to put the Lions ahead 12-11. Prakash, though, committed two more unforced errors after a Walker forehand winner, forcing a timeout at 14-12 freeze. Layton then announced her presence, with two big set-ups to go to double freeze at 14-14. Five rallies later, Prakash won it with another punishing backhand.

Rush Overpower Lions to Tie up Match

Not wanting to go into gender matches down 2-0, the Rush’s mixed doubles team of Nathan Choi and Casey Rodgers made short work of the Lions Sunny Buttar and Grace Thomas, by a count of 15-9. The Lions did themselves no favors in the early going, sending four Dura balls either side out or into the Selkirk net to hand the Rush a 6-2 lead, who got great shots from Rodgers and Choi. Two more Buttar unforced errors and the Lions opted for a timeout and the score 8-3.

Thomas got into the action after the break, setting up the Rush for two side out shots and adding a net cord drop to send the Rush to a timeout ahead just 9-7. Unforced errors, though, were the Lions undoing, leading to a last timeout and the score 12-7 in favor of the Rush. Choi, the Player of the Match, ensured a Rush victory with two huge forehand winners and Rodgers won it with a sneaky set up.

Rush Break Open Tight Contest to Down Lions

This game really was anyone’s to take, given the make-up of the two women’s doubles teams. But Alex Walker and sidekick Casey Rodgers eventually sped things up enough to take this pivotal tilt, beating the Lions Kim Layton and Grace Thomas 15-11 to take a stranglehold on the match.

The Rush found themselves down by a point often in the early stages, with all four players alternating between nice shots for winners and unforced errors, leading to a timeout by the Lions, who led 6-5. It worked in the Rush’s favor, though, with Thomas giving away three straight points on unforced errors. A few rallies later, the Lions again went ahead with outstanding defensive play, but just a quickly gave it back with three more unforced errors to trail 11-9, one due to a Walker forehand.

Thomas and Layton did make it interesting, with Thomas bombing an overhand winner and Layton forcing a Rush error to make it 12-11. Rodgers would put the game away after that, crushing a forehand and crossing shot to give the Rush a commanding 2-1 lead in the match.

Rush Send Lions Packing with Big Men’s Doubles Triumph

Perhaps it was fitting that the Montreal Lions were eliminated from the playoffs on a foot fault. Not that Sunny Buttar and Ravi Prakash didn’t give their all against the Rush’s Brett Forsythe and Player of the Match Nathan Choi, but they were overmatched.

It was a tight contest early, with unforced errors on both sides, but it was a foreshadowing that the Lions trailed 4-3 after a first foot fault on Prakash. The Lions did take a 5-4 lead on some nice dinking, but then Choi answered with a wicked forehand that hit Prakash to tie it. Buttar then made a sweet drop for a brief lead but gave it back by hitting the net on return.

Choi then smoked another forehand winner that gave the Rush a lead they wouldn’t surrender. After some good Lions defense tied it at 8-8, Forsythe took command, scoring four points on a variety of shots to give the Rush a 13-9 lead. Buttar hit a cross that plunked Forsythe to cut the lead, only to have Choi set the Lions up for a net return and then lose on the foot fault.