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Tuesday 28th March Semi-finals (2nd leg)
BROXBOURNE & UK PACKAGING TO MEET IN SURPRISE ALL-SOUTHERN FINAL

Triage Broxbourne 3-2 Capital One Nottingham
Rodney Durbach beat Peter Marshall 9-2 9-6 9-5
Adam Stevenson lost to Jason Nicolle 3-9 9-6 9-6 7-9 6-9
Alex Stait beat Matthew Oxley 9-7 9-6 10-8
Alistair Walker beat Michael Hopkins 9-5 6-9 9-7 9-4
Stephanie Brind lost to Natalie Grainger 5-9 9-2 9-6 5-9 8-10
(At 5-5 over the two legs, Broxbourne win 22-19 on countback)

UK Packaging 4-1 UNW Northumberland
Tim Garner lost to Chris Walker 9-11 3-9 6-9
Julian Wellings beat Lee Beachill 9-7 11-9 5-9 9-6
Ong Beng Hee beat Tony Hands 7-9 9-7 3-9 9-3 9-7
Lee Jemmett beat John Dale 5-9 9-4 6-9 9-5 9-1
Linda Charman beat Pamela Nimmo 9-0 9-3 9-1
(At 5-5 over the two legs, UK Packaging win 22-20 on countback)


In a remarkable conclusion to the semi-finals , both London's Connaught Club-based UK Packaging and Hertfordshire's Triage Broxbourne upset the odds to overturn first leg losses against northern opposition to reach next month's final only after a games countback.

Broxbourne, making a return to the league this season after a three-year 
break, entertained defending champions Capital One Nottingham - eager to make up the 2-3 deficit after the first leg. Both teams were missing top players, including Mark Chaloner (Broxbourne) and Simon Parke and Alex Gough (Nottingham) - in action in the PSA Masters in Egypt. Nottingham's hopes were boosted by the last-minute arrival from Egypt of British champion Peter Marshall, via Cairo, Milan and Stansted. After an impressive 9-5 6-9 9-7 9-4 win by Broxbourne's 17-year-old Scottish Junior Open champion Alistair Walker, Nottingham's world No4 Natalie Grainger fought back from 2-1 down, saving a match-ball, to beat Kent's world No9 Stephanie Brind 9-5 2-9 6-9 9-5 10-8 in 57 minutes - leaving the tie finely poised at 2-2, and 19-19 in games over the two legs! Relishing his role as captain and No1 in the absence of Mark Chaloner, South Africa's Rodney Durbach swiftly overcame a jaded Marshall 9-2 9-6 9-5 to clinch Broxbourne's place in the final in his first ever win over the former world No2. "Rodney played magnificently tonight - you'd always want him in your team," said a jubilant Broxbourne team manager Gordon Wyper during the post-match celebrations. "He never let Marshall into the game - and he's now as pleased as punch!"

Newcastle's UNW Northumberland arrived in London with a 4-1 advantage and a near full-strength squad - led by England captain Chris Walker, who with team-mate Tony Hands had returned from Egypt 24 hours earlier. The UK Packaging squad set about their fightback in determined style - with both Lee Jemmett and Ong Beng Hee twice coming from behind to beat Northumberland's John Dale and Tony Hands, respectively - and Julian Wellings taking just over an hour to defeat Lee Beachill, ranked almost 40 places above him in the world. Midway through the top string battle against Walker, Connaught captain Tim Garner knew that a game countback victory was already assured, irrespective of the outcome of his match. "We're a very close team, all of us training here together every day - and it's a credit to the team spirit that we pulled off this fantastic win tonight, and our second successive appearance in the final," said Garner.

NORTHUMBERLAND & NOTTINGHAM TAKE EARLY ADVANTAGE

Tuesday 21st March  Semi-finals (1st leg)

Capital One Nottingham  3-2 Triage Broxbourne
    Simon Parke lost to Mark Chaloner   8-10 5-9 9-2 9-7 4-9
    Alex Gough  beat    Rodney Durbach  4-9 9-3 9-7 9-6
    Jason Nicolle   lost to Adam Stevenson  5-9 9-4 7-9 7-9
    Michael Hopkins beat    Alex Stait  9-7 9-6 6-9 9-6
    Natalie Grainger    beat    Stephanie Brind 9-7 9-2 5-9 9-6

UNW Northumberland  4-1 UK Packaging
    Chris Walker    beat    Tim Garner  22-20 9-3 5-9 9-3
    Lee Beachill    beat   Julian Wellings 6-9 4-9 9-5 10-8 9-3
    Tony Hands  beat  Ong Beng Hee    9-7 11-9 4-9 8-10 11-9
    John Dale   beat    Iain Higgins    9-6 12-10 7-9 4-9 9-4
    Pamela Nimmo    lost to Linda Charman   3-9 3-9 3-9


Capital One Nottingham and UNW Northumberland go into next week's second semi-final away legs of the SRA National Squash League with the upper hand, the Tyneside club beating London's UK Packaging 4-1 while Nottingham were pegged back to a 3-2 victory by their Hertfordshire visitors Triage Broxbourne.

Hero of league newcomers Broxbourne was captain Mark Chaloner, the England No7 from Lincolnshire who beat Nottingham's England No1 Simon Parke 10-8 9-5 2-9 7-9 9-4 in 63 minutes to secure his first ever victory over his England team-mate and long-time adversary. "I've played Simon countless times in my career so far, and never beaten him before," said the 24-year-old world No18, now based in Hertford. "I can't think of a better occasion than to do it tonight for Broxbourne, and boost the club's chances of winning the return fixture next week and making it through to the final."

Nottingham, despite missing British National champion Peter Marshall as a result of a broken rib, were banking on a 4-1 win, with a near full-strength squad featuring world No4 Parke, Welsh No2 Alex Gough, and world No4 Natalie Grainger.  Grainger and Gough were comfortable four-game winners against Broxbourne's South African Rodney Durbach and Kent's world No9 Stephanie Brind, respectively.  Only Grainger, however, will be available again next week for Nottingham, as the club's leading men will be competing in the Al-Ahram PSA Masters in Egypt.

England captain Chris Walker led Northumberland to an impressive win over Connaught Club's UK Packaging squad - but was only half an hour away from playing for the second successive night with borrowed clothing and shoes! The loss of his kit bag on a flight from New York led Walker to a defeat by his Northumberland team-mate Lee Beachill in the Superleague the previous evening. His long overdue luggage finally arrived on a flight that touched down in Newcastle at 8.25pm - 50 minutes before he walked onto the Northumberland court to face Connaught's top string Tim Garner. Walker's 58-minute victory also marked a further record - the 22-20 9-3 5-9 9-3 scoreline featured the highest-ever points total for a single game, in which Walker saved six game balls. 

Overall Northumberland were somewhat flattered by the 4-1 scoreline though, with Beachill, Hands and Dale all winning 3-2 - Beachill from 2-0 down and Dale from 2-0 up in a fiery match against Iain Higgins (who had beaten John last week at Wimbledon). Tony Hand's match against Ong Beng Hee was the longest of the night at 80 minutes, and towards the end both players were clearly feeling the pace and the pressure. Hands let a 2-0 lead slip, and somehow managed to hang on to the young Malaysian's coat-tails in the fifth, saving two match balls at 8-6 before finally clinching it 11-9. An exhausted Hands 'rested' on court for a full 10 minutes after the match!

Like Nottingham, Northumberland will be missing some of their top order for the second leg due to the PSA Masters.

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Round 10 - 7th March

PARKE EDGES NOTTINGHAM INTO SEMI-FINALS
The final round in the SRA National Squash League produced the closest possible finish for positions in the semi-final play-offs, with two points separating the top three teams in Group B and just a single point between the first and third team in Group A.

With his team already 4-0 down against Edgbaston Priory, England No1 Simon Parke mounted a rearguard action to salvage a single point for defending champions Capital One Nottingham to take them to the top of the Group A table - just one point ahead of their 4-1 conquerors. Fate, however, dealt a cruel blow to the Edgbaston Priory/University of Birmingham team, who were pushed into third place in the table - and therefore out of contention for the play-offs - when UNW Northumberland beat Sheffield's Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire 3-2.  The Newcastle-upon-Tyne club also finished with 42 points, but with seven overall tie wins, against Priory's six.

Parke's crucial point was achieved in a thrilling 49-minute 9-5 6-9 9-4 9-3 win over England team-mate Del Harris - after the home team's victory had already been assured by a stunning 1-9 10-8 9-4 10-8 win by England No3 Sue Wright over Nottingham's world No4 Natalie Grainger in 62 minutes.  In Newcastle, Hallamshire's former British champion Mark Cairns narrowed Northumberland's victory to 3-2 when he beat his world doubles championship-winning partner Chris Walker 9-7 9-3 9-2 in the top string clash.

In the other fixture in Group A, Derbyshire's former champions Banks's Duffield maintained their unbeaten home record by beating bottom-placed City of Manchester 3-2 - with Yorkshire's 16-year-old James Willstrop beating Manchester stalwart Yawar Abbas, on the eve of his 34th birthday, 9-6 10-8 9-2 in his first competitive outing since becoming the youngest winner of the British National U-19 title at the weekend.

There was also a tense conclusion to Group B, with London Connaught club's UK Packaging beating Bishop's Stortford 3-2 to preserve their position at the top of the table, just a point in front of Triage Broxbourne who were pegged back to a 3-2 win at Lee on Solent.  A 4-1 home win for UniS Guildford against third-placed Aspect Vision Care Chichester was enough to move the Surrey club ahead of the Sussex team, but not enough to qualify for the play-offs.

It was UK Packaging's lower order that secured the club's vital victory at Bishop's Stortford - with Sussex's world No3 Linda Charman coming back from a game down to beat the home team's Rebecca Macree 5-9 9-2 9-3 9-5 in the decider, which also consigned Bishop's Stortford to their tenth loss in ten matches.  Lee on Solent's hero was Suffolk's Bradley Ball who took 59 minutes to overcome last month's Austrian Open champion Rodney Durbach, from South Africa, 6-9 10-8 9-7 9-11 12-10. 

Scottish champion Neil Frankland clinched Guildford's victory when he defeated Chichester's former Guildford player John Russell 9-4 4-9 13-11 9-7 - though Stephen Meads, playing at top string for Guildford for the first time this season, overcame Chichester stalwart Peter Genever 9-6 10-8 9-3 to extend the win to 4-1. 

The line-up for the first leg of the semi-finals on Tuesday 21st March (with the second leg taking place on 28th March) is:

    Capital One Nottingham  v   Triage Broxbourne
    UK Packaging    v   UNW Northumberland

    Group A:
Edgbaston Priory UoB    4-1 Capital One Nottingham
    Del Harris  lost to Simon Parke 5-9 9-6 4-9 3-9
    Paul Lord   beat    Jason Nicolle   4-9 9-5 9-5 9-3
    Davide Bianchetti   beat    Michael Hopkins 10-8 9-7 9-5
    Clive Leach beat    Neil Redington  9-0 9-3 9-1
    Sue Wright  beat    Natalie Grainger    1-9 10-8 9-4 10-8

Banks's Duffield    3-2 City of Manchester
    Derek Ryan  lost to Marcus Berrett  6-9 9-6 6-9 10-8 9-11
    Paul Hargrave   beat    Phil Whitlock   16-14 9-6 2-9 9-7
    James Willstrop beat    Yawar Abbas 9-6 10-8 9-2
    Kevin White lost to Andrew Whipp    10-8 7-9 5-9 4-9
    Cassie Campion  beat    Vicky Botwright 9-1 9-0 9-4

UNW Northumberland  3-2 Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire
    Chris Walker    lost to Mark Cairns 7-9 3-9 2-9
    Lee Beachill    beat    Nick Matthew    9-11 11-9 9-5 9-5
    Tony Hands  beat    Nick Wall   9-2 9-5 11-9
    David Woodman   beat    Mark Lee    9-7 9-3 9-6
    Pamela Nimmo    lost to Jenny Tranfield 4-9 0-9 0-9

    Group B:
UniS Guildford  4-1 Aspect Vision Care Chichester
    Stephen Meads   beat    Peter Genever   9-6 10-8 9-3
    Neil Frankland  beat    John Russell    9-4 4-9 13-11 9-7
    Stacey Ross lost to Jamie Davis 1-9 4-9 2-9
    Peter Barker    beat    Mathew Bolt 10-8 9-6 9-7
    Tania Bailey    beat    Vicky Lankester 9-3 9-6 9-0

Lee on Solent   2-3 Triage Broxbourne
    Bradley Ball    beat    Rodney Durbach  6-9 10-8 9-7 9-11 12-10
    Greg Tippings   lost to Adam Stevenson  9-11 3-9 3-9
    Eric McAlpine   lost to Alex Stait  7-9 9-7 4-9 9-6 4-9
    Mark Heather    beat    Chris Ryder 9-4 9-2 5-9 9-4
    Tina Rix    lost to Stephanie Brind 1-9 0-9 0-9

Bishop's Stortford  2-3 UK Packaging
    Thierry Lincou  beat    Tim Garner  12-10 9-6 9-7
    Scott Handley   beat    Julian Wellings 9-5 9-6 9-5
    Ben Ford    lost to Iain Higgins    4-9 4-9 4-9
    Keith Timms lost to Lee Jemmett 3-9 2-9 5-9
    Rebecca Macree  lost to Linda Charman   9-5 2-9 3-9 5-9

Final Tables

Group A:   
Team                Pld W   L   TF  TA  GF  GA Pts
Nottingham          10  7   3   29  21  104 83  43
Northumberland      10  7   3   28  22  101 84  42
Edgbaston Priory    10  6   4   30  20  103 87  42
Duffield            10  6   4   26  24  98  90  38
Hallamshire         10  2   8   19  31  80  106 23
Manchester          10  2   8   18  32  74  110 22

Group B:
Team                Pld W   L   TF  TA  GF  GA Pts
UK Packaging        10  7   3   31  19  113 83  45
Broxbourne          10  7   3   30  20  107 87  44
Guildford           10  6   4   31  19  107 78  43
Chichester          10  6   4   27  23  97  92  39
Lee on Solent       10  4   6   18  32  78  114 26
Bishop's Stortford  10  0   10  13  37  71  119 13

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Round 9 - Tue 22nd Feb

NOTTINGHAM & UK PACKAGING STRENGTHEN GROUP LEADERSHIPS

Title-holders Capital One Nottingham and London-based UK Packaging strengthened their holds on Group A and Group B leadership, respectively, after the ninth and penultimate round of the SRA National Squash League group stages.

The star-studded Nottingham squad inflicted a heavy 5-0 defeat at home over former champions Banks's Duffield, despite determined bids from the Derbyshire club's lower order. Nottingham's top three players Simon Parke, Peter Marshall and Alex Gough - all ranked within the world top 20 - cruised to straight games wins over the visiting opposition. Duffield's Janie Thacker, however, fresh from her unexpected victory in last week's Danish Open, troubled world No5 Natalie Grainger before the Nottingham player clambered to a 6-9 9-6 10-8 9-7 victory in 38 minutes. British U-17 Open champion James Willstrop also made his more experienced Nottingham opponent Mike Hopkins fight hard for 49 minutes before earning his 5-9 9-2 9-0 11-13 9-4 win.

City of Manchester sunk to the bottom of Group A after a 3-2 home defeat by UNW Northumberland, but minimised the loss when Nick Taylor fought back from a game behind to beat Welshman David Evans 7-9 9-5 9-5 9-7. Evans never fully recovered from a heavy nosebleed he sustained during the second game. 

Sheffield's Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire caused the biggest upset in the group, and clinched only their second win of the season, when they beat pre-match second-placed Edgbaston Priory (University of Birmingham) 3-2 at home. The deciding rubber saw the inspired Yorkshire team's top string Mark Cairns beat the visitors' in-form Del Harris 9-6 9-7 9-2 the day after Edgbaston player extended world champion Peter Nicol to five games in the SuperLeague.

Sheffield's 19-year-old Nick Matthew also gave his team's supporters much to cheer when he took a 2-0 lead against Australia's world top thirty player Stewart Boswell. Despite having two matchballs in both the third and fifth games, Matthew eventually went down 5-9 6-9 11-9 9-6 12-10 to the higher-ranked Australian in 70 minutes.

In Group B, Connaught club's UK Packaging claimed a 3-2 home victory over UniS Guildford which pushed the Surrey team down from 2nd to 4th place in the table. The hosts' world No3 Linda Charman beat Tania Bailey after severe sickness forced the former world junior champion to concede the match after two games. Guildford's 4th string Stacey Ross was unable to capitalise on 1-0 and 2-1 leads before losing to Iain Higgins, a surprise semi-finalist in last week's Austrian Open, 11-13 9-3 8-10 9-1 9-6 in 52 minutes.

After an absorbing match in which Triage Broxbourne's fast-improving ex-junior Alex Stait destroyed his visiting Bishop's Stortford opponent Ben Ford 9-2 9-7 9-6 in just 23 minutes, the decider was in the hands of the top strings Mark Chaloner and Frenchman Thierry Lincou. The former was buoyed by his Broxbourne win in the previous round against England No2 Paul Johnson, while Lincou was only days away from his breakthrough victory for France over England No1 Simon Parke in the Test series against the Rest of the World. In an exhilarating display of high quality squash, Lincou triumphed 9-7 9-7 9-6 in 31 minutes.

Aspect Vision Care Chichester enhanced their chances of a play-off position with a 4-1 home victory over Lee on Solent. The Sussex club's top string Peter Genever maintained his record as one of the most consistent players in the league this season by fighting back from 2-0 down to defeat Lee on Solent's Greg Tippings 4-9 6-9 9-5 9-3 9-4.

Group A:

Capital One Nottingham 5-0 Banks's Duffield
Simon Parke beat Derek Ryan 9-5 9-6 9-5
Peter Marshall beat Paul Hargrave 9-5 9-6 12-10
Alex Gough beat Adrian Grant 12-10 9-6 9-7
Michael Hopkins beat James Willstrop 5-9 9-2 9-0 11-13 9-4
Natalie Grainger beat Janie Thacker 6-9 9-6 10-8 9-7

City of Manchester 2-3 UNW Northumberland
Nick Taylor beat David Evans 7-9 9-5 9-5 9-7
Marcus Berrett lost to Chris Walker 7-9 3-9 7-9
Phil Whitlock lost to Lee Beachill 10-12 7-9 2-9
Andrew Whipp lost to John Dale 6-9 7-9 4-9
Vicky Botwright beat Kate Allison 9-2 9-4 9-6

Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire 3-2 Edgbaston Priory UoB
Mark Cairns beat Del Harris 9-6 9-7 9-2
Nick Matthew lost to Stewart Boswell 9-5 9-6 9-11 6-9 10-12
Hadrian Stiff lost to Paul Lord 8-10 10-12 5-9
Nick Wall beat Ben Rickaby 9-1 13-15 9-3 4-9 9-5
Jenny Tranfield beat Helen Easton 9-1 9-0 9-1

Group B:

Aspect Vision Care Chichester 4-1 Lee on Solent
Peter Genever beat Greg Tippings 4-9 6-9 9-5 9-3 9-4
John Russell beat Eric McAlpine 9-3 4-9 9-6 12-10
Ben Garner beat Clive Ewins 9-6 9-2 9-5
Mathew Bolt lost to Paul Allen 2-9 9-7 5-9 4-9
Vicky Lankester beat Dominique Lloyd-Walter 9-3 9-6 9-2

Triage Broxbourne 3-2 Bishop's Stortford
Mark Chaloner lost to Thierry Lincou 7-9 7-9 6-9
Rodney Durbach beat Scott Handley 3-9 9-6 9-1 9-7
Alex Stait beat Ben Ford 9-2 9-7 9-6
Chris Ryder beat Galen Le Cheminant 2-9 9-2 9-2 9-2
Stephanie Brind lost to Rebecca Macree 0-9 9-3 4-9 5-9

UK Packaging 3-2 UniS Guildford
Tim Garner lost to Paul Johnson 4-9 6-9 9-5 9-7 2-9
Julian Wellings lost to Stephen Meads 4-9 8-10 9-7 11-13
Ong Beng Hee beat Neil Frankland 9-4 9-4 9-5
Iain Higgins beat Stacey Ross 11-13 9-3 8-10 9-1 9-6
Linda Charman beat Tania Bailey 9-2 9-7 ret.

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Round 8 - Tue 15th Feb

BRITISH CHAMPIONS IN MIXED SUCCESS

Newly-crowned National squash champions Peter Marshall and Cassie Campion maintained their winning form in the eighth round of the SRA National League - but their teams suffered mixed fortunes. Marshall, surprisingly playing at second string for Capital One Nottingham behind England No1 Simon Parke, was given an early fright by 19-year-old Nick Matthew before beating the former British Junior Open champion 5-9 9-3 9-5 9-7 in 31 minutes to help the defending champions to a 4-1 away win over Sheffield's Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire. Parke made amends for his National Championships' quarter-final exit with a 9-5 9-5 9-4 win over the hosts' Mark Cairns - the overall 4-1 tie win moving the title-holders back to the top of Group A.

Cassie Campion's 9-3 9-3 9-7 win over former England international Jane Martin was the only victory achieved by pre-night Group A leaders Banks's Duffield, who slumped to a 4-1 loss to UNW Northumberland in Newcastle. Essex's Tony Hands overcame mild concussion, which he sustained between games when he accidentally hit his head against a fire extinguisher, to beat Duffield's Murray Scott 11-9 9-5 9-5 - while Sunday's beaten Nationals' finalist David Evans, the Welsh champion, played a captain's innings for Northumberland when he fought back from 2-1 down to beat Ireland's Derek Ryan 9-1 6-9 5-9 9-4 9-4 in 68 minutes.

Manchester's Nick Taylor, the hero of the National Championships in his hometown after removing the favourite Simon Parke in the match of the tournament, was brought down to earth in Birmingham where he was beaten 9-3 9-3 6-9 9-4 in 52 minutes by the in-form world No8 Del Harris, who led Edgbaston Priory (University of Birmingham) to a 4-1 win over City of Manchester. The home team were within a point of a 5-0 victory when England junior Jonathan Kemp had a matchball at 8-7 in the fifth game against fellow junior Andrew Whipp - but the Manchester player made sure of his team's consolation point with a 10-8 9-7 4-9 8-10 10-8 victory in 45 minutes.

Pecking order in Group B also changed after London's Connaught club-based UK Packaging secured a 4-1 home victory over Aspect Vision Care Chichester to take over pole position in the table. A packed gallery, featuring enthusiastic support for the Sussex visitors, witnessed an all-Sussex top string climax in which Connaught's Tim Garner ended Peter Genever's impressive six-match unbeaten run in the league with a 9-6 9-4 6-9 10-8 win in 39 minutes.

Pre-match Group B leaders UniS Guildford suffered an unexpected home loss to league newcomers Triage Broxbourne - after Lincolnshire's former world junior champion Tania Bailey put the hosts ahead after upsetting higher-ranked Stephanie Brind, a Nationals' semi-finalist, 10-8 9-2 9-6 - despite still carrying the hip injury which contributed towards her early demise in Manchester last week. The tie hung on the outcome of the top-string clash between Guildford's England No2 Paul Johnson, the defending National champion who was a semi-final casualty in Manchester, and the Hertfordshire club's Mark Chaloner, who crashed out at the second round stage. Despite leading 5-3 in the fifth, a jaded Johnson eventually succumbed 4-9 9-4 9-6 5-9 9-5 to a focussed Chaloner - who led Broxbourne to a 3-2 win.

The foot-of-the-table battle between Bishop's Stortford and Lee on Solent saw the visiting Hampshire team inflict the 8th successive defeat on their hosts. England junior international Dominique Lloyd-Walter contributed the most remarkable point in Lee on Solent's 4-1 win - courageously fighting back from 2-0 down to beat Essex's world No12 Rebecca Macree, a Nationals' quarter-finalist, 4-9 2-9 9-6 9-1 9-4 in 55 minutes.

Group A:

Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire 1-4 Capital One Nottingham
Mark Cairns lost to Simon Parke 5-9 5-9 4-9
Nick Matthew lost to Peter Marshall 9-5 3-9 5-9 7-9
Hadrian Stiff beat Matthew Oxley 9-6 9-5 4-9 9-4
Nick Wall lost to Mike Hopkins 7-9 4-9 5-9
Jenny Tranfield lost to Natalie Grainger 5-9 6-9 2-9

UNW Northumberland 4-1 Banks's Duffield
David Evans beat Derek Ryan 9-1 6-9 5-9 9-4 9-4
Chris Walker beat Paul Hargrave 9-6 9-6 9-4
Lee Beachill beat James Willstrop 9-2 9-7 9-7
Tony Hands beat Murray Scott 11-9 9-5 9-5
Jane Martin lost to Cassie Campion 3-9 3-9 7-9

Edgbaston Priory UoB 4-1 City of Manchester
Del Harris beat Nick Taylor 9-3 9-3 6-9 9-4
Stewart Boswell beat Marcus Berrett 9-7 9-4 9-2
Paul Lord beat Phil Whitlock 7-9 10-8 6-9 9-4 9-5
Jonathan Kemp lost to Andrew Whipp 8-10 7-9 9-4 10-8 8-10
Sue Wright beat Vicky Botwright 9-5 10-8 9-2

Group B:

UK Packaging 4-1 Aspect Vision Care Chichester
Tim Garner beat Peter Genever 9-6 9-4 6-9 10-8
Julian Wellings lost to John Russell 7-9 4-9 9-6 9-6 10-12
Ong Beng Hee beat Jamie Davis 9-5 5-9 9-5 9-6
Daryl Selby beat Mathew Bolt 7-9 9-2 9-3 9-4
Linda Charman beat Vicky Lankester 10-8 9-4 9-0

Bishop's Stortford 1-4 Lee on Solent
Scott Handley lost to Bradley Ball 6-9 9-3 3-9 10-8 7-9
Ben Ford beat Greg Tippings 13-11 9-7 7-9 10-8
Galen Le Cheminant lost to Clive Ewins 1-9 9-4 5-9 7-9
Keith Timms lost to Phillip Barker 4-9 3-9 8-10
Rebecca Macree lost to Dominique Lloyd-Walter 9-4 9-2 6-9 1-9 4-9

UniS Guildford 2-3 Triage Broxbourne
Paul Johnson lost to Mark Chaloner 9-4 4-9 6-9 9-5 5-9
Stephen Meads lost to Rodney Durbach 3-9 6-9 4-9
Neil Frankland beat Adam Stevenson 9-7 9-7 7-9 9-4
Stacey Ross lost to Alex Stait 9-7 5-9 8-10 11-9 7-9
Tania Bailey beat Stephanie Brind 10-8 9-2 9-6

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ROUND 7 - 25th January

CAMPION CRASHES TO WRIGHT AS DUFFIELD & GUILDFORD TOP TABLES

Banks's Duffield and UniS Guildford both scored 4-1 victories in the 7th round to rise to the top of their respective group tables - but the Derbyshire club's star player, women's world champion and world No1 Cassie Campion, suffered a significant upset when she was beaten by long-time rival Sue Wright.  Since losing to Campion in the final of the British National Championships almost a year ago, former world No3 Wright has been laid low by viral pneumonia. Still lacking match fitness, the 29-year-old from Aylesbury courageously fought back from 2-0 down to defeat her England team mate 6-9 1-9 9-4 10-8 9-4 in 85 minutes, thus
salvaging a point for her Edgbaston Priory University of Birmingham team. "I've had to work back to full fitness slowly, and next month's National Championships was my target - so I didn't expect to achieve this tonight," said a jubilant Wright.  "If I'd lost 3-1, I would have been pleased enough with my progress - but I just gave it everything I could, and was chuffed to
bits to win."

Former champions Duffield move to the top of Group A, overtaking defending champions Capital One Nottingham who were comprehensively beaten 5-0 in Newcastle by a near full-strength UNW Northumberland.  With England No1 Simon Parke sidelined by a hamstring injury, the under-strength East Midlands squad were led by recently-crowned Pakistan Open champion Peter Marshall - who squandered a 2-1 lead to lose 9-6 8-10 5-9 9-7 9-6 to his British Open conqueror David Evans, the Welsh champion. Match Report

City of Manchester scored a morale-boosting 3-2 victory over Sheffield's Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire to lift themselves off the bottom of the Group A table. The home triumph came when captain Yawar Abbas, in only his second appearance in the squad this season and fresh from his eighth Durham & Cleveland county title, came from behind to beat the visitors' Hadrian Stiff 4-9 9-6 10-8 9-7.

British National champion Paul Johnson led UniS Guildford to their 4-1 away win over Lee on Solent which restores their lead in Group B. The world No6 defeated the Hampshire club's Bradley Ball 9-4 9-7 11-9, with Lee on Solent's sole win coming from Dorset's Clive Ewins, who beat Surrey U-17 and U-19 champion Andrew Bate in his Guildford debut 9-4 9-2 9-2.

Last season's beaten finalists UK Packaging returned to winning ways by beating pre-match group leaders Triage Broxbourne 3-2 away from home, with world No3 Linda Charman powerfully dismissing world No9 Stephanie Brind 9-4 9-0 9-0. The Hertfordshire club's star was Yorkshire's former England junior Adam Stevenson, who outclassed the Connaught club's Julian Wellings, ranked 40 places above him the world, to win 9-7 9-1 9-5.

Bishop's Stortford were unable to extend their 2-1 lead over visitors Aspect Vision Care Chichester to gain their first victory of the season. The tie hinged on the top string battle between the home team's high-flying world No11 Frenchman Thierry Lincou and Chichester stalwart Peter Genever, the world No49 unbeaten in all but one league battle this season.  Genever twice fell behind, but ultimately triumphed 8-10 13-11 3-9 9-5 9-7 to lead Chichester to a 3-2 win over Bishop's Stortford to move up to second place in Group B.

Group A:
City of Manchester  3-2 Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire
    Phil Whitlock   lost to Nick Matthew    5-9 9-5 3-9 9-7 6-9
    Yawar Abbas beat    Hadrian Stiff   4-9 9-6 10-8 9-7
    Mohamed El Said beat    Neil Guirey 9-5 7-9 9-7 7-9 9-4
    Andrew Whipp    beat    Mark Lee    9-4 9-5 9-6
    Vicky Botwright lost to Jenny Tranfield 9-5 5-9 2-9 6-9

Banks's Duffield    4-1 Edgbaston Priory UoB
    Renan Lavigne   beat    Paul Lord   15-13 9-5 9-6
    Paul Hargrave   beat    Jonathan Kemp   9-5 9-4 9-3
    James Willstrop beat    Ben Rickaby 9-2 6-9 9-4 9-5
    Murray Scott    beat    Joey Barrington 9-6 7-9 9-7 9-5
    Cassie Campion  lost to Sue Wright  9-6 9-1 4-9 8-10 4-9

UNW Northumberland  5-0 Capital One Nottingham
    David Evans beat    Peter Marshall  9-6 8-10 5-9 9-7 9-6
    Chris Walker    beat    Jason Nicolle   9-6 9-3 2-3 ret.
    Tony Hands  beat    Mike Hopkins    9-7 9-7 9-4
    John Dale   beat    Neil Redington  9-2 9-1 9-7
    Jane Martin beat    Karen Hargreaves    9-5 9-0 9-3

Group B:
Triage Broxbourne   2-3 UK Packaging
    Rodney Durbach  beat    Tim Garner  8-10 9-5 9-6 11-9
    Adam Stevenson  beat    Julian Wellings 9-7 9-1 9-5
    Alex Stait  lost to Iain Higgins    3-9 4-9 7-9
    Chris Ryder lost to Lee Jemmett 9-5 6-9 6-9 5-9
    Stephanie Brind lost to Linda Charman   4-9 0-9 0-9

Lee on Solent   1-4 UniS Guildford
    Bradley Ball    lost to Paul Johnson    4-9 7-9 9-11
    Greg Tippings   lost to Neil Frankland  9-11 9-7 4-9 3-9
    Eric McAlpine   lost to Stacey Ross 6-9 5-9 7-9
    Clive Ewins beat    Andrew Bate 9-4 9-2 9-2
    Dominique Lloyd-Walter  lost to Tania Bailey    2-9 2-9 0-9

Bishop's Stortford  2-3 Aspect Vision Care Chichester
    Thierry Lincou  lost to Peter Genever   10-8 11-13 9-3 5-9 7-9
    Scott Handley   lost to John Russell    8-10 11-13 12-14
    Ben Ford    lost to Jamie Davis 4-9 4-9 9-4 13-11 7-9
    Galen Le Cheminant  beat    Matthew Bolt    9-5 10-8 8-10 9-7
    Rebecca Macree  beat    Vicky Lankester 10-8 9-1 9-6

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ROUND 6, 11th January 2000

NOTTINGHAM & BROXBOURNE RISE TO TOP

Defending champions Capital One Nottingham and league newcomers Triage Broxbourne have moved to the top of their respective group tables in the SRA National Squash League after 6th round wins against City of Manchester and Aspect Care Vision Chichester, respectively.

Nottingham, led for the first time this season by world No20 Peter Marshall, cruised to a 4-1 home victory over Manchester to top the Group A table for the first time. Marshall, undefeated in the Capital One squad, overcame Manchester's Marcus Berrett in straight games to end the Yorkshireman's unbeaten record for his team. Manchester's sole point came courtesy of 18-year-old Andrew Whipp who beat Nottingham club junior Neil Redington 3-0 - whilst another Manchester winner was 17-year-old Amina Helal, who maintained her unbeaten run for Nottingham with a straight games win over Becky Botwright.

Pre-match Group A leaders Edgbaston Priory fought back from 2-0 down but ultimately fell 3-2 at home to UNW Northumberland. Despite jetting back from New York where less than 24 hours earlier he had been competing in the final of the first PSA Tour event of the century, squad No1 Del Harris was unable to prevent Welsh champion David Evans from securing his first victory this season for the Newcastle club. Notable winners for the University of Birmingham squad were Davide Bianchetti, the Italian champion who beat higher-ranked Tony Hands on his Edgbaston debut, and former England No1 Sue Wright, whose gutsy performance saw her claw back from 2-0 and 4-1 down to maintain her unbeaten Priory record by defeating Northumberland's Jane Martin 3-2.

On his sixth successive league appearance for the Derbyshire club, Yorkshire's British Junior U-17 Open champion James Willstrop helped Banks's Duffield to a 3-2 away win over Sheffield's Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire by beating the host club's Nick Wall in four games. World champion Cassie Campion also secured a valuable point for Duffield when she dismissed Hallamshire's Cheryl Beaumont for just six points - whilst Hallamshire's Mark Cairns maintained his unbeaten record for his new club when he won the top string clash against Irish champion Derek Ryan.

Hertfordshire club Triage Broxbourne jumped three places to top the Group B table for the first time with a tight 3-2 victory over Aspect Care Vision Chichester - secured by South African Rodney Durbach when he beat the home team's No2 John Russell in five games. Chichester's in-form Peter Genever extended his unbeaten run for the club, and avenged his defeat in the opening match of the season, when he twice came from behind to beat world No24 Mark Chaloner, ranked 25 places above the Sussex player.

Also sharing the Group B lead are UniS Guildford, who crushed Bishop's Stortford 5-0 at home. England No2 Paul Johnson made amends for his only defeat for the club in the last match of last year when he recovered from 1-0 down against top French player Thierry Lincou - then saved a matchball at 8/9 down in the final game before winning a superb forehand volley nick at 10/10, then taking the match 12/10 to give his team maximum points.

Last season's national finalists UK Packaging Connaught slipped to fourth place in the table after losing 3-2 at home to Lee on Solent. It was Suffolk's Bradley Ball who was the visitors' hero, resisting a comeback by Connaught's Julian Wellings to beat the Sussex player in five games. Malaysia's world junior champion Ong Beng Hee was the hosts' star, however, who fought back from 2-1 down and saved two matchballs in the fourth game before beating Lee on Solent's Welsh import Greg Tippings in five games in just over an hour.

Group A:

Capital One Nottingham 4-1 City of Manchester
Peter Marshall beat Marcus Berrett 9-3 9-4 9-4
Alex Gough beat Phil Whitlock 9-5 9-6 9-7
Jason Nicolle beat Mohamed El Said 9-2 9-6 9-2
Neil Redington lost to Andrew Whipp 5-9 2-9 4-9
Amina Helal beat Becky Botwright 9-1 9-0 9-2

Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire 2-3 Banks's Duffield
Mark Cairns beat Derek Ryan 9-3 11-9 7-9 9-1
Nick Matthew beat Adrian Grant 10-8 5-9 9-4 7-9 9-6
Nick Wall lost to James Willstrop 4-9 9-3 6-9 4-9
Neil Guirey lost to Kevin White 6-9 9-3 2-9 10-8 8-10
Cheryl Beaumont lost to Cassie Campion 2-9 0-9 4-9

Edgbaston Priory UoB 2-3 UNW Northumberland
Del Harris lost to David Evans 7-9 6-9 5-9
Paul Lord lost to Lee Beachill 9-11 6-9 6-9
Davide Bianchetti beat Tony Hands 8-10 9-2 9-6 9-7
Jonathan Kemp lost to John Dale 4-9 3-9 5-9
Sue Wright beat Jane Martin 4-9 6-9 9-7 9-4 9-0

Group B:

Aspect Vision Care Chichester 2-3 Triage Broxbourne
Peter Genever beat Mark Chaloner 7-9 9-5 8-10 9-4 9-4
John Russell lost to Rodney Durbach 8-10 6-9 11-9 9-7 6-9
Lee Drew lost to Adam Stevenson 6-9 7-9 7-9
Ben Garner beat Alex Stait 10-8 9-5 9-4
Vicky Lankester lost to Stephanie Brind 6-9 1-9 3-9

UK Packaging Connaught 2-3 Lee on Solent
Julian Wellings lost to Bradley Ball 6-9 6-9 9-5 9-2 3-9
Ong Beng Hee beat Greg Tippings 10-8 5-9 4-9 13-11 10-8
Iain Higgins beat Eric McAlpine 7-9 9-0 9-5 9-5
Lee Jemmett lost to Clive Ewins 3-9 15-13 5-9 5-9
Lauren Briggs lost to Dominique Lloyd-Walter 3-9 9-10 2-9

UniS Guildford 5-0 Bishop's Stortford
Paul Johnson beat Thierry Lincou 6-9 9-2 9-3 7-9 12-10
Stephen Meads beat Scott Handley 9-11 9-7 9-4 9-4
Neil Frankland beat Ben Ford 10-12 9-2 8-10 9-4 9-1
Stacey Ross beat John McFarlane 9-1 9-4 9-7
Tania Bailey beat Vicky King 9-2 9-1 9-3

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ROUND 5 15 December 1999

The final round of group ties for the first half of the season followed a similar pattern to earlier rounds with lower ranked players demonstrating that the point a rally scoring system to nine is a great leveller. In Group B only 4 points separate 4 teams with Chichester setting the pace.

In Group A The champions, Capital One Nottingham bounced back to beat leaders Edgbaston Priory 5-0. City of Manchester won their first tie of the season by beating Banks’s Duffield 3-2.

Pride of place goes to Aspect Vision Care Chichester, leaders of Group B, where Peter Genever was again the local hero when in the deciding rubber he beat England No 2 Paul Johnson of UniS Guildford 3-2 after saving a match ball in the fourth game. An inspirational and inventive John Russell had earlier hit some unbelievable and irretrievable winners to defeat Stephen Meads 3-1 including a clean winner when Meads served at game ball up in the fourth.

Bishops Stortford are still waiting for their fist win of the season as they lost 3 rubbers 3-2 before losing the tie 3-2 against UK Packaging. Rebecca Macree beat England No 2 Linda Charman 3-1. Ben Ford came close to securing the bonus points going down 3-2 to Ong Beng Hee with the 13-11 loss of a close second game proving crucial. The experienced Colin Payne overcame the young Darryl Selby 9-7 in the fifth.

Triage Broxbourne defeated Lee On Solent 5-0 in what was a somewhat harsh scoreline for the visitors. Greg Tippings and Eric McAlpine both lost 9-5 in the fifth to Rodney Durbach and Adam Stevenson respectively whilst Bradley Ball had a very close encounter with England No 3 Mark Chaloner lasting 63 minutes. Mark was over the moon with the performance of his team who are clearly benefitting from Sophie Minter the resident Sports Massage Thereapist.

In Group A the leaders Edgbaston UOB, missing three of their regulars, suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of a full strength Capital One Nottingham who have the luxury of playing Peter Marshall at No 3. The reigning champions bounced back into the frame for this season’s title after the disappointing 5-0 reverse at Duffield in the previous round. Natalie Grainger, Jason Nicolle and Peter Marshall clinched victory within the hour and it was left to the number one and two string rubbers to produce the real drama and entertainment for the evening . Alex Gough came back from 2-0 to Paul Lord to record his first NL victory of the season whilst Simon Parke traded five games with his old rival Del Harris before his awesome retrieving finally saw him home in the fifth.

UNW Northumberland beat Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire 4-1 to make the long wintry journey worthwhile in a tie which was much closer than the final scoreline suggests. Hadrian Stiff let a 2-0 lead slip losing the third 11-9 and the next two games whilst Jenny Tranfield suffered a similar fate from 2-1 up against Pam Nimmo.

Banks’s Duffield and their coach load of supporters encountered all sorts of problems before their match against City of Manchester. Adrian Grant was a late withdrawal due to flu. Snow and icy conditions and a M6 traffic jam did not help the visitors cause and when world champion Cassie Jackman lost the first game 9-0 to Vicky Botwright things looked even bleaker. Jackman recovered but struggled to find her usual rhythm after the disappointment of losing the British Open final. James Willstrop squeezed home 3-2 against Andy Whipp to put the visitors 2-0 up. Manchester hit back as first Phil Whitlock clinically beat Kevin White, a late replacement for Grant. Marcus Berrett then just had the edge in 3 close games against Paul Hargrave with the marathon second game going 16-14 in Berrett’s favour proving decisive. Nick Taylor clinched Manchester’s first win of the season when he beat Frenchman, Renan Lavigne 3-0 in the deciding rubber.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

GROUP A

CITY OF MANCHESTER 3 - 2 BANKS’S DUFFIELD
NICK TAYL:OR beat RENAN LAVIGNE 9-5 9-5 10-8
MARCUS BERRETT beat PAUL HARGRAVE 9-6 16-14 9-7
PHIL WHITLOCK beat KEVIN WHITE 9-2 9-1 9-7
ANDY WHIPP lost JAMES WILLSTROP 9-4 3-9 9-11 9-7 5-9
VICKY BOTWRIGHT lost CASSIE CAMPION 9-0 6-9 0-9 6-9

CAPITAL ONE NOTTINGHAM 5 - 0 EDGBASTON U O B
SIMON PARKE beat DEL HARRIS 2-9 9-4 9-3 7-9 9-4
ALEX GOUGH beat PAUL LORD 8-10 6-9 9-4 9-2 9-1
PETER MARSHALL beat STEVE TOWNSEND 9-2 9-3 9-4
JASON NICOLLE beat JOEY BARRINGTON 9-2 9-3 9-1
NATALIE GRAINGER beat HELEN EASTON 9-2 7-9 9-5 9-4

I M HALLAMSHIRE 1 - 4 UNW NORTHUMBERLAND
MARK CAIRNS beat DAVID EVANS 10-8 9-7 9-4
NICK MATTHEW lost LEE BEACHILL 5-9 9-7 4-9 8-10
HADRIAN STIFF lost JOHN DALE 9-3 9-6 9-11 5-9 7-9
NICK WALL lost GARY THWAITE 3-9 5-9 4-9
JENNY TRANFIELD lost PAM NIMMO 6-9 9-2 9-3 7-9 3-9

GROUP B

A V C CHICHESTER 3 - 2 UniS GUILDFORD
PETER GENEVER beat PAUL JOHNSON 6-9 9-5 5-9 11-9 9-7
JOHN RUSSELL beat STEPHEN MEADS 7-9 9-3 9-3 11-9
JAMIE DAVIS beat NEIL FRANKLAND 9-7 9-6 9-7
BEN GARNER lost STACEY ROSS 5-9 5-9 7-9
VICKY LANKESTER lost TANIA BAILEY 1-9 0-9 3-9

UK PACKAGING 3 - 2 BISHOP’S STORTFORD
JULIAN WELLINGS beat SCOTT HANDLEY 7-9 9-2 9-6 7-9 9-4
ONG BENG HEE beat BEN FORD 7-9 13-11 9-2 8-10 9-5
IAIN HIGGINS beat CHRIS CLARE 9-5 9-4 9-3
DARRYL SELBY lost COLIN PAYNE 7-9 5-9 9-4 9-6 7-9
LINDA CHARMAN lost REBECCA MACREE 9-5 1-9 7-9 8-10

TRIAGE BROXBOURNE 5 - 0 LEE ON SOLENT
MARK CHALONER beat BRADLEY BALL 9-4 9-7 8-10 10-8
RODNEY DURBACH beat GREG TIPPINGS 8-10 9-3 9-2 6-9 9-5
ADAM STEVENSON beat ERIC McALPINE 10-8 4-9 10-8 3-9 9-5
ALEX STAIT beat MARK HEATHER 11-9 9-6 9-2
STEPHANIE BRIND beat DOM LLOYD-WALTER 9-6 9-0 9-1

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ROUND 4 23 November 1999

In group A the new world champion Cassie Campion came back from 2-1 down and 6-0 down in the fourth game, also saving 5 match balls in the process, to beat Natalie Grainger in 65 minutes, in what must have been one of the best ever NL rubbers involving two ladies, and set up a totally unexpected thrilling 5-0 victory for Banks’s Duffield against the defending champions Capital One Nottingham. James Willstrop and Adrian Grant both had convincing 3-0 wins against Neil Reddington and Jason Nicolle respectively before Paul Hargrave ranked 54 in the world beat Alex Gough, world No 8, 3 -2. Renan Lavigne, France No 2, ranked 43 in the world then added further misery by shrugging off jet lag and a 7 hour flight from Pittsburgh earlier that day, to defeat Simon Parke, Eng No 1 and world No 5 by a similar scoreline. Full Match Report

Edgbaston Priory U O B maintained their 100 % record by defeating Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire 3-2 . The experienced Sue Wright and youngsters Jonathan Kemp and Joey Barrington, son of the famous Jonah, sealed victory for the home team. Paul Lord lost to former team mate Nick Matthew and Clive Leach, playing his last match before taking up a coaching position in New York, obviously had other things on his mind being comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Hadrian Stiff.

U N W Northumberland won their first tie of the season thanks to former National Champion, Bryan Beeson, turning back the clock to beat youngster Peter Billson 3-1.

IN Group B leaders UNIS Guildford lost their unbeaten record in a disappointing performance against UK Packaging. All the home players were out of sorts including England No 2 Paul Johnson who narrowly beat Julian Wellings to record the only winning rubber for the home team. The promising Tania Bailey had a night she will want to forger as she was whitewashed 27-0 by Linda Charman.

Only four points separate the top four teams in this group. Aspect Vision Chichester took over as group leaders with an impressive all round team performance as they took maximum points against Lee on Solent. Peter Genever come back from 2-0 down to beat the in form Bradley Ball, winner of the PSA event held at Hove the previous week end.

Mark Chaloner shrugged of the disappointment of a first round defeat in the Pakistan Open as he made an unexpected appearance for Triage Broxbourne at Bishops Stortford. Chaloner beat Ben Ford 3-1. The wily old fox, Paul Cater, another former National Champion beat Colin Payne, a familiar name from the past, 10-8 in the fifth. Rebecca Macree salvaged a point for the home team in a hard fought duel with Stephanie Brind. Macree squeezed home 9-7 in the final of five very close games.

GROUP A

BANKS’S DUFFIELD 5 - 0 CAPITAL ONE NOTTINGHAM
RENAN LAVIGNE beat SIMON PARKE 12-10 6-9 9-6 4-9 9-6
PAUL HARGRAVE beat ALEX GOUGH 9-6 5-9 2-9 9-4 9-3
ADRIAN GRANT beat JASON NICHOLLE 10-8 9-6 9-6
JAMES WILLSTROP beat NEIL REDDINGTON 9-5 9-5 9-4
CASSIE CAMPION beat NATALIE GRAINGER 4-9 9-7 3-9 10-8 9-2

EDGBASTON PRIORY U O B 3 -2 IRWIN MITCHELL HALLAMSHIRE
PAUL LORD lost NICK MATTHEW 13-11 7-9 8-10 7-9
CLIVE LEACH lost HADRIAN STIFF 3-9 6-9 2-9
JONATHAN KEMP beat NICK WALL 9-3 9-2 7-9 9-5
JOEY BARRINGTON beat NEIL GUIREY 9-5 5-9 9-1 9-3
SUE WRIGHT beat JENNY TRANFIELD 9-3 9-1 3-9 10-8

UNW NORTHUMBERLAND 3 - 2 CITY OF MANCHESTER
CHRIS WALKER beat PHIL WHITLOCK 9-5 9-7 13-15 9-5
JOHN DALE beat MOH’D EL SAID 9-6 5-9 9-5 9-1
DAVID WOODMAN lost ANDREW WHIPP 9-2 1-9 5-9 5-9
BRYAN BEESON beat PETER BILLSON 9-6 9-6 7-9 9-7
PAM NIMMO lost VICKY BOTWRIGHT 9-7 9-3 7-9 6-9 2-9

GROUP B

LEE ON SOLENT 0 - 5 ASPECT VISION CARE CHICHESTER
BRADLEY BALL lost PETER GENEVER 9-5 9-5 7-9 4-9 6-9
ERIC McALPINE lost JOHN RUSSELL 4-9 9-11 7-9
CLIVE EWINS lost LEE DREW 7-9 2-9 9-11
PHIL BARKER lost BEN GARNER 7-9 1-9 2-9
DOM LLOYD-WALTER lost VICKY LANKESTER 8-10 9-3 2-9 1-9

UniS GUILDFORD 1 - 4 UK PACKAGING
PAUL JOHNSON beat JULIAN WELLINGS 9-6 4-9 13-11 9-7
NEIL FRANKLAND lost STUART COWIE 4-9 2-9 11-9 4-9
STACEY ROSS lost IAIN HIGGINS 6-9 10-8 9-5 6-9 4-9
PETER BARKER lost DARRYL SELBY 7-9 4-9 3-9
TANIA BAILEY lost LINDA CHARMAN 0-9 0-9 0-9

BISHOP’S STORTFORD 1 - 4 TRIAGE BROXBOURNE
BEN FORD lost MARK CHALONER 8-10 3-9 5-9
COLIN PAYNE lost PAUL CARTER 6-9 9-5 10-8 4-9 8-10
GALEN LE CHEMINANT lost CHRIS RYDER 7-9 7-9 5-9
JOHN MCFARLANE lost ALISTAIR WALKER 9-5 2-9 5-9 5-9
REBECCA MACREE beat STEPHANIE BRIND 10-9 9-7 5-9 8-10 9-7

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Universities set the pace in Round 3 09-Nov

Edgbaston Priory University of Birmingham and Unis Guildford maintained their 100% records to lead the respective groups after the third round of matches.

Edgbaston had another convincing win beating City of Manchester 4-1 to move four points clear of champions Capital One Nottingham. The champions, who without their top 3 players Parke, Gough and Marshall, still managed to secure the bonus points thanks to Jason Nicholle and Matthew Oxley turning back the clock and both winning in five games.

Cassie Campion, the new World champion, was a comfortable winner for Banks’s Duffield who were made to work hard for their 4 -1 against UNW Northumberland.

The 3 ties in Group B all finished 3-2 but a below strength Unis Guildford beat Triage Broxbourne thanks to Tania Bailey defeating the higher ranked Stephanie Brind 3-0 and England No 1 Paul Johmson beating Mark Chaloner 3-1.

Peter Genever was again the local hero when he beat the Tim Garner to clinch victory for AVC Chichester against UK Packaging Connaught.  Tables

GROUP A

CAPITAL ONE NOTTINGHAM 3 - 2 IRWIN MITCHELL HALLAMSHIRE
JASON NICHOLLE beat NICK MATTHEW 9-7 9-7 4-9 6-9 9-4
MATTHEW OXLEY beat NICK WALL 5-9 9-7 10-8 4-9 9-7
MARK CATO lost NEIL GUIREY 10-8 5-9 6-9 5-9
NEIL REDDINGTON lost MARK LEE 3-9 3-9 7-9
NATALIE GRAINGER beat JENNY TRANFIELD 10-8 9-3 9-6

CITY OF MANCHESTER 1 - 4 EDGBASTON PRIORY U O B
NICK TAYLOR lost STEWART BOSWELL 3-9 5-9 7-9
MARCUS BERRETT beat PAUL LORD 9-5 9-6 9-2
PHIL WHITLOCK lost CLIVE LEACH 6-9 4-9 6-9
ANDREW WHIPP lost JONATHAN KEMP 9-11 11-9 5-9 8-10
VICKY BOTWRIGHT lost SUE WRIGHT 5-9 6-9 5-9

BANKS’S DUFFIELD 4 - 1 UNW NORTHUMBERLAND
DEREK RYAN beat DAVID EVANS 7-9 7-9 9-7 9-4 9-6
PAUL HARGRAVE lost CHRIS WALKER 9-7 2-9 4-9 6-9
ADRIAN GRANT beat GARY THWAITE 9-5 9-7 8-10 9-3
JAMES WILLSTROP beat DAVID WOODMAN 9-6 9-6 10-8
CASSIE CAMPION beat JANE MARTIN 9-4 9-6 9-2

GROUP B

ASPECT VISION CARE 3 - 2 UK PACKAGING CONNAUGHT CHICHESTER
PETER GENEVER beat TIM GARNER 10-8 9-11 9-3 9-4
JOHN RUSSELL lost JULIAN WELLINGS 8-10 5-9 9-11
JAMIE DAVIS beat ONG BENG HEE 9-5 6-9 9-2 9-6
BEN GARNER beat LEE JEMMETT 6-9 9-2 9-0 9-7
VICKY LANKESTER lost LINDA CHARMAN 2-9 4-9 5-9

TRIAGE BROXBOURNE 2 - 3 UniS GUILDFORD
MARK CHALONER lost PAUL JOHNSON 4-9 9-6 6-9 4-9
PAUL CARTER lost NEIL FRANKLAND 7-9 9-7 7-9 3-9
ADAM STEVENSON beat MICK BIGGS 9-1 9-4 9-1
ALEX STAIT beat RICHARD NORTH 9-4 9-4 9-0
STEPHANIE BRIND lost TANIA BAILEY 3-9 7-9 5-9

LEE ON SOLENT 3 - 2 BISHOP’S STORTFORD
BRADLEY BALL lost THIERRY LINCOU 9-11 2-9 3-9
GREG TIPPINGS beat BEN FORD 3-9 5-9 9-2 10-8 9-6
ERIC McALPINE beat GALEN LE CHEMINANT 9-5 9-6 9-7
PHIL BARKER beat CLINTON GALLARD w/o
DOM LLOYD-WALTER lost REBECCA MACREE 3-9 0-9 3-9

Tables

Roundup, from National League Administrator, Brian Hargrave

After the third round matches three teams remain unbeaten whilst three teams have still to win a tie. The unavailability of key players, whilst creating a problem for team managers, does enable lower squad members and even non nominated players to gain NL experience. Both Capital One Nottingham and Unis Guildford fielded much weakened teams but still came out on top.

In Group A Edgbaston Priory U O B continue to set the pace with an excellent win against a full strength City of Manchester team. On paper at least four of the rubbers could have gone either way but Dave Clarke's men are clearly in top form. Champions, Capital One Nottingham demonstrated that experience and the new point a rally scoring system is a great leveller with excellent performances from Jason Nicolle and Matthew Oxley both winning in five. Nicolle won the final deciding rubber against rising star Nick Mathew, of IM Hallamshire, making full use of his skill and experience to outfox his young opponent. Oxley held his nerve as he clawed his way to victory winning the three vital close games

The new World champion, Cassie Campion, was made to work hard by Jane Martin who is no longer on the circuit. Young guns James Willstrop and Adrian Grant clinched victory for Banks's Duffield before Derek Ryan recovered from 2-0 down to beat David Evans which leaves UNW Northumberland with a lot of ground to make up if they are to make the play offs.

Group B is already looking very tight with just 3 points separating four teams. All three ties ended 3-2 with Peter Genever again the toast of Aspect Vision Windows Chichester when he beat Tim Garner in the deciding rubber. Peter's new coach Neil Harvey must have had mixed feelings. Last round the Barker brothers, who were in direct opposition, made the headlines. This round brothers Tim and Ben were on opposite sides and with Ben continuing to impress it may not be too long before B Garner comes face to face with T Garner in the NL or in a tournament. Wins for Ben against Lee Jemmett and for an impressive Jamie Davis against Ong Beng Hee helped the home team to secure the bonus points and to make Linda Charman's return to her old club a disappointing one despite her personal victory.

Bishops Stortford's cause was not helped by the non arrival of Clinton Gallard. Even so Galen's team would have won their first tie had Ben Ford not squandered two match balls in the fourth game against Greg Tippings.

Triage Broxbourne could not take advantage of the fact that Unis Guildford, were unable to call on 8 of their 14 player squad due to injuries and unavailability. Tania Bailey caused the biggest upset of the night as she hit a barrage of attacking volleys to beat Stephanie Brind who is ranked 6 places higher in the world rankings. No quarter was given to each other by Commonwealth Games doubles gold medalists Mark Chaloner and Paul Johnson but Johnson, looking much sharper than of late, clinched victory for the ntl sponsored group leaders in the deciding rubber.

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ROUND 2 MATCHES 26 October 1999

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME !

The second round matches again produced some thrilling encounters with all six results ending in favour of the home team. Champions Capital One Nottingham were taken to the wire by a spirited UNW Northumberland team. Mike Hopkins and 17 year old Amina Helal put the home side 2-0 ahead but Northumberland levelled when first Tony Hands beat Alex Gough, world No 9, 3-2 and then John Dale beat Jason Nicholle 3-2 squeezing home 10-8 in the fifth. It was left to Simon Parke, world No 6, who was in insatiable mood, to clinch victory by beating former team mate David Evans of Wales 3-0 in 40 minutes.

Group A leaders Edgebaston Priory maintained their 100 % record and are yet to lose a rubber. However, a very young Banks’s Duffield team put up a spirited performance and had match balls in two of their rubbers. Paul Hargrave and Del Harris received a standing ovation in a match lasting 1 hour 28 minutes with Hargrave, who fought back from 2-0 down, losing 11-9 in the fifth, after failing to capitalise on two match balls. 16 year old James Willstrop also had two match balls in the third game against the experienced Clive Leach. Convincing wins from Paul Lord, Stewart Boswell and Sue Wright kept the Priory in pole position.

Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire squeezed home 3-2 against a City of Manchester team weakened by the absence of Nick Taylor and Marcus Berrett.

Only one team in Group B remains undefeated after the second round matches. Unis Guildford beat Lee on Solent 4-1 but England No 1 Paul Johnson had an epic encounter with Bradley Ball before finally edging home 10-8 in the fifth proving yet again that the new scoring system is a great leveller and a real winner as far as spectators are concerned.

The one real upset in this group was success for Tim Garner, who saved three match balls against world No 14 Mark Chaloner in the fourth before rounding off a fine night for UK Packaging Connaught whose beat Triage Broxbourne 5-0.

Aspect Vision Care Chichester produced a similar scoreline against Bishop’s Stortford with the highlight of the evening being a thrilling victory for local hero Peter Genever who beat Frenchman Thierry Lincou 9-7 in the fifth.

RESULTS 2nd ROUND 26 OCTOBER 1999

GROUP A

CAPITAL ONE NOTTINGHAM 3 - 2 UNW NORTHUMBERLAND
SIMON PARKE beat DAVID EVANS 9-7 9-5 9-7
ALEX GOUGH lost TONY HANDS 4-9 5-9 9-4 9-3 5-9
JASON NICHOLLE lost JOHN DALE 9-6 8-10 8-10 9-2 8-10
MIKE HOPKINS beat DAVID WOODMAN 10-8 9-5 9-7
AMINA HELAL beat KATE ALLISON 9-7 6-9 9-4 9-2

IRWIN MITCHELL HALLAMSHIRE 3 - 2 CITY OF MANCHESTER
MARK CAIRNS beat PHIL WHITLOCK 12-10--9-4 9-3
NICK MATTHEW beat YAWAR ABBAS 9-5 9-1 9-3
HADRIAN STIFF beat MOHAMMED EL SAID 10-8 9-3 10-12 9-3
NICK WALL lost ANDREW WHIPP 7-9 5-9 7-9
CHERYL BEAUMONT lost VICKY BOTWRIGHT 4-9 9-2 7-9 1-9

EDGBASTON PRIORY 5 - 0 BANKS’S DUFFIELD
DEL HARRIS beat PAUL HARGRAVE 9-4 9-4 7-9 7-9 11-9
STEWART BOSWELL beat ADRIAN GRANT 9-1 2-9 9-4 9-4
PAUL LORD beat KEVIN WHITE 9-4 9-5 9-4
CLIVE LEACH beat JAMES WILLSTROP 7-9 2-9 10-8 9-3 9-5
SUE WRIGHT beat JANIE THACKER 9-6 9-0 9-2

GROUP B

ASPECT VISION CARE CHICHESTER 5 - 0 BISHOP’S STORTFORD
PETER GENEVER beat THIERRY LINCOU 9-11 6-9 9-7 12-10 9-7
JOHN RUSSELL beat SCOTT HANDLEY 9-6 9-6 7-9 10-8
JAMIE DAVIS beat BEN FORD 9-5 12-10 9-6
BEN GARNER beat CLINTON GALLARD 9-1 9-2 9-5
VICKY LANKESTER w/o

UK PACKAGING CONNAUGHT 5 - 0 TRIAGE BROXBOURNE
TIM GARNER beat MARK CHALONER 6-9 11-9 6-9 11-9 9-4
JULIAN WELLINGS beat ADAM STEVENSON 9-6 5-9 9-7 9-2
STUART COWIE beat ALEX STAIT 9-6 9-7 2-9 7-9 9-4
LEE JEMMETT beat CHRIS RYDER 9-6 9-7 10-8
LAUREN BRIGGS

UniS GUILDFORD 4 - 1 LEE ON SOLENT
PAUL JOHNSON beat BRADLEY BALL 11-9 12-10 1-9 7-9 10-8
NEIL FRANKLAND beat GREG TIPPINGS 10-8 9-7 9-7
STACEY ROSS beat ERIC McALPINE 9-6 9-1 11-9
PETER BARKER beat PHIL BARKER 8-10 9-7 7-9 12-10 9-4
KAREN CHEUNG lost DOMINIQUE LLOYD-WALTER 0-9 1-9 3-9

Tables

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1ST ROUND RESULTS 12 OCTOBER 1999

In Group A, Champions, Capital One Nottingham paraded 3 of the world’s top players, Simon Parke, Alex Gough and Peter Marshall against City of Manchester. The tie was much closer than the final scoreline suggests with Nottingham winning two of the rubbers 3-2. Alex Gough, world no 9, lost 3-1 to Marcus Berrett.

Edgbaston Priory won 5-0 away to UNW Northumberland with the top 3 rubbers all going 3-2 in favour of the visitors. Del Harris beat David Evans 3-2 in another result which went against world rankings, Harris going from 2-0 up to 0-5 down in the fifth before recovering to win in a a single hand.

Mark Cairns, Eng No 3 beat world No 11 Derek Ryan 3-1 but that was the only success for Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire as they slipped to a 4-1 defeat against Banks’s Duffield.

In Group B The top 3 rubbers in all three ties went the full distance with England No 1 Paul Johnson ( Guildford ) came back from 2 nil down to defeat Scott Handley ( Bishop’s Stortford ) 3 - 2. Mark Chaloner beat Peter Genever ( Chichester ) by the same score to set up a 5-0 victory for league newcomers Triage Broxbourne who won two other rubbers which went to five games.

The experienced Tim Garner ( UK Packaging ) was also made to struggle against Bradley Ball ( Lee on Solent ) before squeezing home 9-6 in the fifth but that was not enough to save his side from the surpass defeat of the evening. Lee On Solent won 3-2 thanks to Greg Tippings beating Julian Wellings 3-1 and Eric McAlpine recording the same score against Stuart Cowie.

Report from Brian Hargrave, National League Administrator

GROUP A

CITY OF MANCHESTER 1 - 4 CAPITAL ONE NOTTINGHAM
NICK TAYLOR lost SIMON PARKE 3-9 2-9 3-9
MARCUS BERRETT beat ALEX GOUGH 9-2 7-9 9-1 10-8
PHIL WHITLOCK lost PETER MARSHALL 9-3 5-9 4-9 3-9
ANDREW WHIPP lost JASON NICHOLLE 9-6 9-6 8-10 6-9 0-9
ANNA McGEEVER lost AMINA HELAL 9-3 9-6 0-9 5-9 5-9

BANKS’S DUFFIELD 4 - 1 IRWIN MITCHELL HALLAMSHIRE
DEREK RYAN lost MARK CAIRNS 3-9 9-4 8-10 3-9
PAUL HARGRAVE beat NICK WALL 9-2 9-2 9-1
ADRIAN GRANT beat NEIL GUIREY 9-4 9-7 9-3
JAMES WILLSTROPP beat DOMINIC HAMILTON 9-2 9-2 9-1
LAURA HILL beat JENNY DUNCALF 9-2 9-4 9-2

UNW NORTHUMBERLAND 0 - 5 EDGBASTON PRIORY
DAVID EVANS lost DEL HARRIS 7-9 8-10 9-6 9-7 5-9
LEE BEACHILL lost STEWART BOSWELL 10-8 10-8 2-9 5-9 3-9
TONY HANDS lost PAUL LORD 6-9 7-9 12-10 9-7 2-9
GARY THWAITE lost CLIVE LEACH 5-9 3-9 6-9
JANE MARTIN lost SUE WRIGHT 6-9 5-9 3-9

GROUP B

TRIAGE BROXBOURNE 5 - 0 ASPECT VISION CARE CHICHESTER
MARK CHALONER beat PETER GENEVER 7-9 7 -9 9-3 9-4 9-0
RODNEY DURBACH beat JOHN RUSSELL 8-10 9-1 9-6 6-9 9-3
ADAM STEVENSON beat BEN GARNER 5-9 9-2 9-3 9-1
ALEX STAIT beat TIM VAIL 10-8 9-5 5-9 1-9 10-8
SUE LITTLER beat JULIE LAUGHTON 9-7 9-1 0-9 9-6

LEE ON SOLENT 3 - 2 UK PACKAGING CONNAUGHT
BRADLEY BALL lost TIM GARNER 9-7 3-9 3-9 9-5 6-9
GREG TIPPINGS beat JULIAN WELLINGS 9-4 5-9 9-4 9-7
ERIC McALPINE beat STUART COWIE 9-6 6-9 5-9 9-5 9-2
CLIVE EWINS beat DARYL SELBY 9-3 9-6 6-9 9-5
TINA RIX lost LAUREN BRIGGS 2-9 2-9 0-9

BISHOP’S SORTFORD 1 - 4 UniS GUILDFORD
SCOTT HANDLEY lost PAUL JOHNSON 11-10 9-7 4-9 2-9 1-9
BEN FORD lost STEPHEN MEADS 6-9 4-9 9-7 15-17
GALEN le CHEMINANT lost NEIL FRANKLAND 5-9 3-9 6 9
CHRIS CLARE lost STACEY ROSS 6-9 8-10 2-9
REBECCA MACREE beat KAREN CHEUNG 9-1 9-2 9-0

Scoring (men's) point- a -rally to 9 if score reaches 8 all, two clear points required to win the game

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National League Preview

The National League, which kicks off on Tuesday 12th Oct,  has been reduced from 15 to 12 teams but is leaner and stronger this season. Elaborate eligibility rules have made team selection a complex business but champions Capital One Nottingham read the small print and will be favourites again. They have signed two top 25 players (one 'overseas' Alex Gough and one 'English' Simon Parke) and also have the lowly ranked star Peter Marshall.

They will be rivalled by Peter Whitfield's UNW Northumberland team however with David Evans the 'overseas' player alongside Chris Walker, Lee Beachill and Tony Hands .

Edgbaston Priory will be strengthened by Paul Lord who has moved over from Hallamshire to play at 3 and Potters Bar refuge Sue Wright. Irwin Mitchell Hallamshire are strengthened by Mark Cairns.

Triage Broxbourne, return to the southern group this season, with a potentially group winning team including Mark Chaloner, Paul Price and Mark Durbach.

UK Packaging Connaught last years group sensation have strengthen in depth and the strong University of Surrey team are strenghtened by the arrival of Tania Bailey.

Getting the team out and their committment however is what counts with PAR to 9 for the men a new variable.

SquashPlayer will again bring you unrivalled coverage of the National League, starting with the first matches and expansion of this section to cover all aspects of the competition...

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The Squads

Final Tables (after round 10)

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National League Rules

1. League
Two six-team groups of 4 men 1 women teams playing home & away.

2. Play-offs
Top 2 in each group to play-off in the semi-finals in March.

3. Scoring
Men: PAR to 9, 17 inch tin.
Women: Int. scoring to 9, 19 inch tin.

4. Teams
l max 1 overseas man per team
l one U19 English boy must play min. of 4 matches.]
l one U23 English woman must play a min. of 2 matches.