European Semi-Finals
Defending champions England coasted into the men's and women's semi-finals of the European Team Squash Championships after comfortable victories in Friday's final qualifying rounds in Nottingham.
Peter Nicol was as clinical as ever as England's top-seeded men crushed fourth seeds Netherlands 4-0 in a repeat of last year's semi-final. The world No1 wasted no time in beating Dutch champion Tommy Berden for the loss of only four points in the Pool A match. Simon Parke, playing in his home club, despatched European Junior champion Dylan Bennett in straight games, while England's World Junior Champion James Willstrop, in his debut for England, won his third successive match in two days 3-0.
Only Lee Beachill, the England No2 playing in his first event since undergoing ankle surgery two months ago, dropped a game before prevailing 9-1 9-2 2-9 9-4 over former Dutch champion Lucas Buit.
England will face third seeds Wales in the semi-finals after the 1997 runners-up were beaten 3-1 by No2 seeds France in Pool B. France, runners-up for the past three years, secured their victory when fast-improving Gregory Gaultier, a twice European Junior champion, beat Welsh No2 David Evans 7-9 9-1 9-0 1-9 9-1. France face the Netherlands in the other semi-final.
In the women's event, England confirmed their superiority over the competition in Pool A with 3-0 wins over both Denmark and Wales. In the three ties so far, the favourites have conceded neither matches nor games, and only 15 points!
In the adjacent Pool B, sixth seeds Netherlands beat France and 3rd seeds Germany to claim an unexpected semi-final place after finishing at the top of the qualifying group. Second seeds Scotland made up for their 3-0 loss to Netherlands on the first day by also beating France and Germany to finish as runners-up.
In the first semi-final, England will face Scotland in a repeat of the 2002 final, before Netherlands take on Denmark in a bid to reach the final for the first time since 1995.
