Mudge and Gould win epic battle to gain revenge after Briggs Cup defeat
By MICHAEL CATLING – Squash Mad Senior Reporter
Australian duo Damien Mudge and Ben Gould avenged their agonising Briggs Cup defeat last month with a five-game final victory over Putnam Pro-Am title-holders Paul Price and Clive Leach at the Boston University Club.
In a grueling two hour and 10 minute slug fest, Mudge and Gould were twice pegged back before emerging victorious 15-12, 8-15, 15-3, 9-15, 15-8 in another marathon match between the two teams.
Price and Leach, who are ranked third in the Squash Doubles Association [SDA] standings, beat Damien and Ben last year in the Putnam Pro final in a dramatic five games but were always looking to overturn a deficit after losing a tight opening game 15-12.
And unlike their comeback in the final of the Briggs Cup in December, they struggled to repeat the feat as Mudge and Gould responded magnificently to drop just three points en route to inflicting a third game thrashing.
But while Price and Leach responded again to force a decider, the top seeds Mudge and Gould retained their composure to win their fifth SDA event this season.
Victory also continues Mudge’s love affair at the $30,000 event, with the New York-based 37-year-old winning his eighth title in 11 final appearances. Gould, 37, is also becoming a serial winner at the year-opening tournament and has now claimed the winners’ cheque four times in the past five years.
Picture by Tom Moor
