Why is it, that people are parrying, tripping and making more detailed, precise melee attacks in a sparing session, yet in combat, they just end up wailing on someone?
Because goats.
Siggered.
Also, because I am way too lazy to think of a way to write it complexly whilst still accounting for/explaining combat initiative.
You could do it under the assumption that the attack that comes first is the initial attack, the SPD roll is actually to parry, guide or dodge (after all, stat names mean little), their attack roll is the counter attack and the SPD roll for that is the other person's attempt to avoid getting hit.
So for example:
Turn 1:
[SKL vs SPD: SPD wins]
Person A performs a horizontal slash angled down at Person B's legs only to be parried by a Fool's Guard.
[SKL vs SPD: SKL wins]
Person A attempts to follow up with a strike to Person B's unprotected head only to find themselves on the receiving end of a false blade strike first.
Turn 2:
[SKL vs SPD: SPD wins]
Person A shifts to the side and attempts a sweeping diagonal slice but Person B closes the line with their own sword at a 45 degree angle whilst taking a step back, resulting in the two combatants standing apart once more.
[SKL vs SPD: SPD wins]
Person B pushes forwards, performing a quick slash, however Person A intercepts it with their own blade, pressing against it to guide the blade away, using their momentum to prevent attempts at adjusting the attack.
Turn 3:
[SKL vs SPD: SKL wins]
Person A follows up their Chinese-style guide and counter routine with a cross-step forwards, substituting the tight turning slice in favor of a more direct pommel strike directly to the face.
...Of course, this is quite dramatized, chances are, they'd accumulate minor wounds each turn seeing as A: that is realistically what happens often happens in sword fighting, no decisive blows, no instant kills, just attrition and B: that is what is mechanically likely to occur at present due to physical damage being relatively low.