Tue 04 Mar - Week TENManchester-Pontefract 3-2 FPD Savills Nottingham
Phil Songhurst: "Now it's down to business ..."*
Nick Taylor lost to Simon Parke 5-9, 12-14, 5-9
James Willstrop beat Jason Nicolle 9-6, 9-3, 9-7
Marcus Berrett beat Sam Miller 9-4, 9-3, 9-2
Andrew Whipp beat Mitchell Cook 9-2, 9-3, 9-4
Janie Thacker lost to Wendy Maitland 3-9, 6-9, 1-9NOW IT'S DOWN TO BUSINESS
Phil Songhurst reports ...
The FPD Savills Nottingham team had already gained sufficient points to secure the Pool A title and a place in the semi-finals to the country’s top squash league before they travelled to the prestigious National Centre to take on Manchester on Tuesday evening.
With Manchester not able to progress to the knockout phase this was in effect a dead tie but this didn’t deter the players from putting in some good performances.
Nottingham were able to field their England Under 19 No. 4 player, Mitchell Cook, to give him valuable experience at this level, likewise with Sam Miller at No. 3. Both players showed glimpses of bright futures in the professional game but were ultimately outclassed by Andy Whipp and the ever dependable Marcus Berrett respectively.
On the all-glass court Wendy Maitland secured her second win of the season, beating Janie Thacker 3 / 0. Maitland looked more relaxed than in previous matches and played with care and precision and essentially proved a bit too quick and accurate for Thacker.
James Willstop reaced the semi-finals of the National Championships on the glass court only a few weeks ago and relishes the chance of playing on the big stage.
He has a huge range of impressive winning shots and a reach that allows him to retrieve so many seemingly lost causes. Jason Nicolle moved well on court but was always on the back foot so couldn’t get to dominate the match at any time.
Wilstrop ran out a straightforward 3 – 0 winner.
The best was saved to last and again it was Simon Parke to managed to salvage Nottingham’s second point of the evening.
Parke hates losing – so always puts in 100% - despite the unimportance of the match.
His retrieving was unbelievable at times on Tuesday and with his usual precision down the backhand wall he frustrated the ratty Taylor into making a number of unforced errors.
The second game was the crunch one – with Parke running out 14 – 12 winner before cruising through the third.
So it was a 2 – 3, perhaps predictable, defeat – but now its down to business and the semi-finals.
Nottingham take on Broxbourne, who defeated them at the same stage of the tournament in 2000, in a two legged affair, Nottingham starting at home in two weeks time on 18th March before travelling down south on 1st April.
Tickets for the home tie are now on sale at £5 and MUST be reserved well in advance. There will be no “pay at the gate” facility
Call 9417022 for ticket sales
Tue 18 Feb - Week NINE
FPD Savills Nottingham 5-0 Benz-Bavarian Duffield
Simon Parke bt Paul Hargrave 7/9, 6/9, 9/7, 9/3, 9/7
Renan Lavigne bt Kevin White 7/9, 9/4, 9/5, 9/2
Jason Nicolle bt Neil Reddington 9/1, 9/1, 9/5
Sam Miller bt Joel Hinds 9/2, 9/2, 9/2
Wendy Maitland bt Jenny Knibbs 9/4, 9/2, 9/0FPD SAVILLS ROMP
INTO SEMI-FINALS
Phil Songhurst reports
A packed house on the Park courts witnessed FPD Savills 4th whitewash of the season as they demolished local rivals Duffiled 5 – 0 to gain sufficient points to guarantee a place in the competition semi-finals to be played on 18th March and 1st April.
Duffield manager, Brian Hargrave had put together a scratch team consisting entirely of local players to contest at a level to which they were unaccustomed – but they did themselves proud.
With the late unavailability of Alex Gough, Duffield forfeited probably their best chance of snatching a point as Nottingham fielded a near full strength side.
County juniors Joel hinds and Jenny Knibbs were shown no mercy by Sam Miller and Scottish No. 2 Wendy Maitland respectively with the Nottingham players showing far too much experience and accuracy to allow their young opponents to get into any sort of rhythm. Both matches lasted little over 25 minutes.
The same can be said for the Jason Nicolle victory over Neil Reddington, Nicolle rushing to a 2 – 0 lead in 12 minutes before Reddington found a better length and a bit of confidence and got to 4 / 6 down in the third before Nicolle closed out with a series of tight drops.
Duffield’s Kevin White and Paul Hargrave are two home grown players who have always shown great determination at National League level. White took the first game off a tired looking Renan Lavigne – no surprise after a 2 hour 45 minute match in the semi final of the French closed at the weekend.
Lavigne however showed his class and continually moved White out of position and cruised through the 2nd, 3rd and 4th games to the delight of the Nottingham crowd who sensed the semi-final spot ever closer.
However – Paul Hargrave had different ideas. Always capable of pushing the top players in this league, he battled hard and forced Parke into a number of frustrated errors, winning the first two 9 / 7, 9 / 6. The third was tight and Hargrave had his chance at 7 / 6 before Parke, characteristically, clawed his way through pull it back to 2 – 1. Hargrave had the inevitable rest in the 4th, Parke taking it comfortably but the 5th was a titanic struggle with Parke taking an early 3 – 1 lead but after that never a point between them until Parke grasped the winner – 9 / 7.
It was a great match with both players keeping the ball particularly on the backhand, exchanging volley after volley. A fitting end to a well spirited and vociferously supported tie.
Wendy Maitland (Scotland), Renan Lavigne (France) and Simon Parke (England) join junior players (Stephanie Powney, Lucy Beastall and Andrew Godson) from the Garabaldi School who will be playing in the Festival of Squash in the weeks leading up to the European Team Championships in May in NottinghamThe whole evening’s squash was preceded by the launch of the build up to the European Team Championships being staged in Nottingham in early May.
Representations from England (Simon Parke), Scotland (Wendy Maitland) and France (Renan Lavigne) lead three local junior beginner players on to court. The juniors (Andrew Godson , Stephanie Powley and Lucy Beastall) were all Year 7 pupils from the Garabaldi School in Mansfield. They will be joining around 80 other local children representing the 8 districts on Nottinghamshire and the City to play a competition in the weeks before the European Team Championships. The winning teams will be invited along as VIP’s to the finals of the Europeans on 4th May.
Club Manager and Venue Controller for the European Team Championships Phil Songhurst commented, “There’s so much work goes on at grass roots level in squash in this county and the involvement of local children in our Festival of Squash in the build up to the Europeans in May is a effective way to motivate young people to take an interest in and play our fantastic sport. Tonight we’ve seen elite squash players working in partnership with the coaches who develop the grass roots side of the sport – this is so good to see.”
Week 8 - Tue 04 Feb
Wolverhampton 0 - 5 FPD Savills Nottingham
Mark Cairns lost John White 2/9, 9/5, 2/9, 4/9
Scott Handley lost Simon Parke 6/9, 6/9, 4/9
Liam Kenny lost Renan Lavigne 9/3, 4/9, 6/9, 7/9
Chris Ryder lost Sam Miller 4/9, 9/5, 9/3, 7/9, 3/9
Stephanie Brind lost Tania Bailey 3/9, 0/9, 4/9NOTTINGHAM TURN THE SCREW ...
Phil Songhurst reports
The master plan stays on track at Nottingham as the FPD Savills 1st team demolished Wolverhampton in the England Squash National League on Tuesday Night.
With only two rounds to go of the league phase of the competition Nottingham are now 6 points clear of the chasing pack and so a victory at home to Duffield on 18th February should secure a semi-final spot.
All players put in professional workmanlike performances on Tuesday but particular praise goes to Sam Miller who came from 1 - 2 down to beat the reliable, fancied Chris Ryder.
Miller showed great determination in the final two games and used his ability to play tight, hard, low length from the front of the court to race ahead in the decisive 5th.
Tania Bailey, for the second time this season, made light work of England team mate Stephanie Brind, racing to a 3 - 0 win in little over 30 minutes.
Simon Parke, promoted to No. 2 in the squad, was never in too much trouble against Scott Handley. Parke is such a reliable player who seldom loses to lower ranked opponents. Too tight and quick for Handley, Parke soon made the tie secure for the league leaders.
The number 1 and 2 string matches both saw the Wolverhampton player take a game. Liam Kenny was well in the game against Renan Lavigne but the Frenchman is so sharp at times he leaves his opponents a little bewildered, picking up seemingly lost causes with consummate ease.
Lavigne ran out the 3 - 1 winner in 40 minutes but Kenny should prove a difficult opponent for many at No. 3 or 4 in this league in weeks to come.
The final match looked a mis-match on paper - the World No. 4 against the World 253. Nottingham's John White may be prone to lapses in concentration in league this season, often choosing to entertain the crowd rather than digging deep to wear his opponent down.
On this occasion he did both. Numerous reverse corkscrew boasts left the crowd wondering where to look next but Cairns read them all and indeed fed of White's pace - so it was no surprise when he levelled the rubber at 1 - 1.
From then on though it was one sided with White hitting ever harder and lower and producing some inspiring winners.
So FPD Savills 3rd whitewash of the season leaves the door wide open for that coveted semi-final spot.
With all players available for the home match against Duffield on the 18th the home crowd should be celebrating at the end of the night.
However, team manager Phil Songhurst remains cautious. He added, "Duffield are always out to get us - and have often pulled off shock wins. But our players are all well up for these matches this season - so it would be great to qualify for the semis on our home courts rather than relying upon a win in Manchester on 4th March when I know I've got key players unavailable"
Tickets for the Duffield game are in sale at £5 each and as its half term week a special Family Squash and Nosh Night Out offer available.
For further information please call 0115 9417022
Week 7, 28 Jan 03
HLW Solicitors Hallamshire 5-0 FPD Savills Nottingham
Anthony Ricketts beat Simon Parke 7/9, 9/6, 8/10, 11/9, 9/4
Nick Matthew beat Jon Rooney 9/7, 9/6. 7/9, 9/4
Hadrian Stiff beat Jason Nicolle 9/6, 9/3, 12/10
Michael Hopkins beat Sam Miller 9/3, 9/5, 5/9, 5/9, 9/6
Laura Lengthorn beat Wendy Maitland 9/4, 9/6, 8/10, 0/9, 9/7END OF FPD SAVILLS
WINNING STREAK
Phil Songhurst reports
Fielding by far their lowest strength team of the season so far, league leaders FPD Savills Nottingham's 5 match winning streak was brought to an abrupt end at Shefield's Hallamshire Club on Tuesday evening.
Despite gutsy performances from Wendy Maitland, Sam Miller and Simon Parke, all of whom lost 2 - 3, the team failed to collect a point thus allowing the chasing pack to move in a bit too close for comfort.
Maitland, making her Nottingham debut, was nervy and inaccurate in the first two games but managed to show greater resolve and better shot selection in the 3rd & 4th to level at 2 all. She went 4 - 0 up in the fifth but her younger opponent came through to take the decider 9 - 7, the unfortunate Maitland losing the final point to a call from the officials who saw the ball out when it was clearly in.
On the opposing court Sam Miller also went 0 - 2 down before finding some form to level at 2 all. In a physical game, where both players were correctly warned to keep contact to a minimum, it was former Nottingham based player Mike Hopkins who just managed to keep his nose in front in the fifth to take it 9 / 6.
The number 2 and 3 string games were always going to be tough matches for Nottingham with team captain Jason Nicolle lacking the necessary match fitness to compete with Hadrian Stiff. Despite pushing Stiff to 10 - 12 in the 3rd, Nicolle was suffering oxygen debt by this time and had little more to offer.
Nottingham's 2nd debutant of the evening, Irish No. 2, Jon Rooney, Played well against England player Nick Matthew. He exchanged tight rallies with his higher ranked opponent and was close in the 1st & 2nd games and played his best squash in the 3rd to take it 9 / 7. However, Matthews experience at this level proved too much for the Nottingham man and he cruised to take match in the 4th 9/4.
So with the tie already well beyond Nottingham's reach it was down to Simon Parke to try to salvage a point.
Parke and Rickets produced another epic encounter, exchanging rallies of expertly varying pace to fascinate the packed crowd.
Parke, climbing back up the World rankings, can once again live with the ferocious hard hitting and super fit Australians who play in the English League and with performances like this must be a serious contender for the national team who will be competing on his home courts in Nottingham in May in the European Team Championships.
Parke indeed had a match ball in the 4th before Rickets pulled back to take it 11 - 9 and soon pulled to an unassailable lead in the 5th and so reduced Nottingham to a reversal of the 5 - 0 whitewash they dished out to Hallamshire before Christmas.
Nottingham manager Phil Songhurst commented "Realistically I didn't expect to get much out of this match. We were effectively fielding our 2nd team but when Wendy and Sam both stood at 2 - all I thought we could pick up a couple of useful points - but it wasn't to be. Parkey was almost heroic like again and just missed out, but with the form he showed he shouldn't be too troubled for the remainder of the season at the number 2 slot if John White is available. Before the match I thought we could afford to lose 2 of the final 4 matches and still qualify for the semis - but bringing nothing away from Sheffield makes it much tighter and we'll be looking for big wins in our next two matches against Wolverhampton and Duffield"
The team travel to Wolverhampton next Tuesday and entertain East Midlands rival Duffield on 18th February.
Week 6, 07 Jan 03
Nottingham 3-2 Edgbaston
John White lt Del Harris 9-7, 5-9, 2-9, 5-9
Renan Lavigne bt Adrian Grant 9-7, 4-9, 5-9, 9-7, 9-7
Jason Nicolle lt Paul Lord 4-9, 3-9, 1-9
Sam Miller bt Nick Hynes 9-1, 9-5, 12-10
Tania Bailey bt Vicky Lankester 9-4, 10-8, 9-0LAVIGNE HELPS NOTTINGHAM PULL CLEAR
It was always billed as a decisive encounter at the top of Pool A in the England Squash National League - the meeting of top placed Nottingham against their closest and oldest midlands rivals Edgbaston Priory.
Both teams were missing top players - Priory - Stuart Boswell and Sarah Fitzgerald and Nottingham Simon Parke.
On paper therefore the Park team started out as slight favourites but it was always going to be tight.
After the first round of matches the tie was level at one all.
Nottingham's captain Jason Nicolle put in a dismal performance against Paul Lord, ,going down 3 - 0 in a little over 30 minutes. Nicolle never looked in the game, making numerous errors and setting up his opponent for winning shots following loose play at the front of the court.
Meanwhile, Tania Bailey was made to work hard to beat Vicky Lancaster. Lancaster indeed had game balls in the second before Bailey came back decisively to take the match without dropping a further point.
Debutant Sam Miller made relatively light work in the first two against late stand in Nick Hynes. However, Miller tired in the 3rd and found himself games ball down before pulling back to take the game 12 / 10 and therefore the match.
The pivotal match of the evening was the number two string game between Nottingham's Frenchman Renan Lavigne and the young England player Adrian Grant.
Both players displayed great agility around court and deft touches in the front left hand corner to provide great entertainment for the packed Park crowd. Lavigne took the first 9 / 7 before Grant pulled 2 - 1 ahead. The Nottingham player then scrapped the 4th to draw level.
The all important 5th saw Lavigne move 3 - 0 ahead with 3 stunning drops. Grant rallied and was 6 - 5 ahead before Lavigne levelled it.
The tuning point of the match saw a decision in the front corner go in Nottingham's favour - when many expected quite the opposite.
Lavigne stayed ahead to take the crucial tie for Nottingham before World runner - up, John White, failed to live up to his World Number 4 billing, surprisingly going down in a hard hitting match against a rejuvenated Del Harris.
Nottingham now have a 7 point cushion at the top of the league and this could come in handy as both Lavigne and Tania Bailey are unavailable for the next match on 28th January at Hallamshire.
Nottingham manager Phil Songhurst commented "We were lucky to win tonight - but maybe that's what you need to win the league. we'll see!!"
NOTTINGHAM MARCH ON
Week 5 , 03 Dec 02FPD Savills Nottingham 4-1 Manchester
John White lost Lee Beachill 10/8, 10/12, , 8/10, 8/10
Renan Lavigne beat Nick Taylor 9/3, 10/8, 9/4
Simon Parke beat Marcus Berrett 7/9, 6/9, 9/3, 11/9, 9/3
Jason Nicolle beat Derek Ryan 6/9, 9/4, 9/6, 3/9, 9/7
Tania Bailey beat Janie Thacker 9/1, 9/1, 9/1
FPD Savills Nottingham recorded their 4th successive win to overcome a strong Manchester side and maintain a healthy lead at the top of the England Squash National League
Pre-match notes from team Manager Phil Songhurst stated that the tie was too close to call. All 4 men's matches could have gone either way but the gritty resolve of the Nottingham team this season shone through to produce another memorable victory.
Perhaps the only certain win of the evening was quickly delivered as Tania Bailey overcame Janie Thacker 3 / 0 in little over 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, on the opposing court, Simon Parke was 0 -2 down against a dangerous looking Marcus Berrett. Berrett beat Parke in a similar encounter last season but on this occasion Parke, roared on by the vociferous home support, dug out a 3 /2 victory. The 4th was crucial with both players exchanging points before Parke took it 11/9. Running away with the 5th 9/4 the crowd sensed that luck was again with the home side.
Team captain Jason Nicolle was underdog against World 67 player Derek Ryan but the British Over 35 Champion dug as deep as he has done for several years to eventually take a 3 / 2 victory and therefore win Nottingham the match. It wasn't a particularly pretty affair with the final game in particular littered with lets, strokes and histrionics. However both Nicolle and Songhurst breather a sigh of relief when the referee awarded a stoke on the final point to give Nottingham an unassailable lead.
Renan Lavigne arrived from Paris 4 days early for this match. This was the most prepared he has looked all season, taking a comfortable 3 / 0 victory over the higher ranked Nick Taylor. Taylor's only glimmer of hope came at 8 - all in the second but successive winners from Lavigne launched Nottingham 4 - 0 ahead.
The final match was always going to be intriguing with the steady pace of British Champion Lee Beachill up against the hard hitting, crowd pleasing Scot John White.
White took the first 10/8 with mesmerising rallies contributed to by both players. Beachill dug deep to take the second 12/10. White failed to capitalise on an 8 - 3 lead in the 3rd and Beachill came back to take it 10 / 8.
With both players perhaps having an eye on the World Championships starting later in the week the rallies didn't perhaps live up to the bill - however a thoroughly entertaining night was rounded off with a deserved consolation point for Manchester with Beachill running out the 3/1 victor.
This win has capped off an excellent first half of the season for FPD Savills Nottingham.
4 wins out of 5, players showing great resolve and team spirit, full houses and good local and national exposure of the sponsors.
Team Manager Phill Songhurst added "Whilst we've all got a busy few weeks ahead what with the World Championship, Christmas and New Year, we're already looking forward to the crunch tie on 7th January when we take on Edgbaston Priory. I've got confirmation that all players are available yet again - although we may opt to give our Junior player and 2nd string lady a run out, we'll see. For now though we're happy - a similar effort in the New Year and we'll be well on the way to bringing cup back to Nottingham"
24-Hour Squashathon to support "Children Today"
19 Nov 02 - Week FOUR
Duffield 0-5 FPD Savills Nottingham
Alex Gough lt John White 6/9, 9/7, 9/5, 3/9, 8/10
Dan Jenson lt Renan Lavigne 9/2, 6/9, 4/9 rtd
Paul Hargrave lt Simon Parke 9/6, 6/9, 7/9, 2/9
Kevin White lt Jason Nicolle 7/9, 7/9, 3/9
Laura Hill lt Tania Bailey 2/9, 0/9, 2/9
FPD Savills winning combination - photo by Rob LoweDuffield Whitewash puts Notts Top ...
Phil Songhurst reportsBrian Hargrave reports from the losers' bench ...
Local rivals Duffield had not been a happy hunting ground for Nottingham in recent years in the England Squash National League.
However, the records were set straight on Tuesday night as the FPD Savills players completed a 5 - 0 whitewash to move 4 points clear at the top of the league.
Nottingham were 1 ahead in quick time as World No. 7, Tania Bailey made light work of Duffield's Laura Hill.
On the adjacent court, local hero Paul Hargrave made an impressive start against Simon Parke, taking the first game 9 / 6. Hargrave was hitting winners from all over the court but Parke's resolve and experience gradually wore him down an the Nottingham star took the second and third tight games and the 4th with ease.
Nottingham captain found little resistance against his former team mate Kevin White, winning 3 - 0 in little over 30 minutes.
The top two games always looked the tightest on paper and Frenchman Renan Lavigne looked uncomfortable against up a dn coming Dan Jenson. Jenson took the first 9 / 2 and was up in the second before sustaining a knee injury whilst twisting to retrieve a deceptice cross court flick from his opponent. Jenson lost all mobility after this and eventually retired after losing the third.
With Nottingham 4 - 0 up Nottingham Manager reminded his No. 1, John White, that every point counted in the reckoning at the end of the season. White, looking a little jaded at times, took the first game before dropping the 2nd & 3rd to his lower ranked Welsh opponent. Gough saw White was tiring and a number of telling rallies in the 4th game could quite easily have seen White off. But somehow he went on to produce some of his best squash at this stage and took the match to the decisive 5th game.
The players traded points up to 6 - all before Gough went ahead 8 - 7. On his match ball Gough's dying serve was somehow scraped out of the corner to loop to the opposite front corner and the inevitable rolling nick. Gough's despair soon led to disbelief as White produced two further winners to seal a memorable 5 - 0 win for the former champions.
This third win on the trot puts FPD Savills clear at the top of the league but they will be looking to consolidate their position when they face their toughest test yet as they entertain Manchester on the Park courts on 3rd December.
The tie will include the mouthwatering prospect of World No. 5 John White taking on British Champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lee Beachill.
Tickets are now on sale priced at £5.
05-Nov-02 Week THREE
Renan Clinches Park win over fighting WolvesFPD Savills Nottingham 3 - 2 Wolverhampton
John White lost David Palmer 9/7, 9/7, 7/9, 9/11, 7/9
Renan Lavigne bt Scott Handley 9/6, 7/9, 3/9, 9/6, 9/3
Simon Parke bt Joey Barrington 11/9, 9/4, 9/1
Jason Nicolle lost Chris Ryder 5/9, 9/5, 3/9, 9/7, 3/9
Tania Bailey bt Stephanie Brind 9/2, 9/4, 9/2In another nail biting night of squash on the Park courts, FPD Savills Nottingham ran out 3 / 2 winners over lowly Wolverhampton in Pool A of the England Squash National League
Frenchman Renan Lavigne, for the second match in succession, came from 1 - 2 down to clinch the all important 3rd rubber for Nottingham who now move up to second position in the league.
Lavigne should have beaten Scott Handley convincingly but ranked nearly 40 places lower than his opponent, Handley had nothing to lose and unnerved Lavigne who failed to capitalise on rally winning positions he found himself in on numerous occasions.
However, after pulling back to 2 - all Lavigne took on a wholly more positive attitude in the 5th to take it 9 / 3 and win the match for Nottingham.
The match following was an epic between two of the worlds top players with Nottingham's John White just losing out to World No. 3 David Palmer. 2 / 3. In an hour long torrent of hard hitting, both players took the ball unbelievably early and retrieved seemingly lost causes to leave the packed crowd totally mesmerised. White looked to have the match sewn up at 2 - 0 and 6 / 3 up but lost his concentration in the 3rd going down 7 / 9. The long 4th could have gone either way but the Palmer clinched it 11 / 9 to take the match to a deciding 5th. Trading points throughout up to 5 / 6 a rally which saw both players get a succession of back wall boasts ended with White burying a winner that may as well have stuck in the nick. However, Palmer rallied on to take the match on two White tins and reduce the deficit to a single point in the match.
Earlier, Tania Bailey, the rising World No. 7 made light work of her England team mate, Stephanie Brind winning 3 - 0 in under 30 minutes.
Nottingham's Simon Parke also outclassed his opponent, Joey Barrington, winning 3 - 0 in 35 minutes. Despite a valiant effort in the first game when Barrington pushed Parke to 11 / 9, the excessive running done to achieve this scoreline proved too much and he put up little resistance in the final 2 games.
On the opposite court, Nottingham captain, Jason Nicolle lost out 2 / 3 to much younger opponent Chris Ryder 2 / 3 in a game of over 50 minutes. Nicolle, the British Over 35 Champion, still maintains a high level of fitness but on this occasion Ryder proved too fast and strong and wore Nicolle down and took the final game in straightforward fashion.
22-Oct-02 - Week TWO
Nottingham 5 - 0 HLW Hallamshire
John White bt Anthony Ricketts 9/4, 5/9, 9/4, 9/6
Renan Lavigne bt Hadrian Stiff 5/9, 8/10, 9/5, 9/2, 9/7
Simon Parke bt Adam Stevenson 9/5, 6/9, 9/4, 9/3
Jason Nicolle bt Peter Billson 9/5, 9/3, 10/9
Tania Bailey bt Jenny Tranfield 9/6, 10/8, 9/3
FPD Savills off to strong home start
Phil Songhurst reports
FPD Savills Nottingham took their first victory of the season in convincing style against previous league leaders Hallamshire on the Park courts on Tuesday night and so moved up to third place in Pool A of the England Squash National League
In front of a packed audience the Nottingham players went about their business in a professional fashion – despite a couple of doubtful moments along the way.
On court first was tram captain Jason Nicolle who beat Peter Bilson in straight set inside 30 minutes
However, on the adjacent court Frenchman, Renan Lavigne got off to a very slow start, dropping the first two games to Hadrian Stiff before turning on the style, upping the pace and clawing his way back into contention eventually taking the rubber in the fifth game 9 / 7
Lavigne needed this victory after a disappointing match in Birmingham two weeks ago and should now move on to produce similar results throughout the remainder of the season.
Local hero Simon Parke was never under too much pressure against Yorkshireman Adam Stevenson. Having returned from tournament duty in South Africa only a few hours earlier, Parke was too tight and quick and won 3 – 1 in 35 minutes.
The second game on the show court involved Nottingham’s World No. 9 Tania Bailey taking on Jenny Tranfield. In a scrappy match Bailey had too much power and time and ran her opponent ragged. Tranfield put up a spirited but eventually went down 3 – 0 in 35 minutes.
With FPD Savills Nottingham already 4 – 0 Ahead it was down to John White, the World No. 5 and Anthony Rickets, the World 9 to provide the fitting finale. This clash brought together two of the world’s biggest hitters and shot makers and both lived up to their reputation, mesmerising the crowd with winning shots from all over the court.
Despite a little altercation between Rickets and a member of the audience in the 4th game the match was played in great spirit and it was the Nottingham player who proved too strong in the end to complete the whitewash.
Nottingham manager, Phil Songhurst commented: “We were very keen for the team to put in a big performance tonight for the sake of the supporters and our new sponsors FPD Savills. If we carry on like this I’m confident we can go on to repeat the achievements of 1999 and take the league title”
FPD Savills Nottingham’s next home match is on Tuesday 5th November when they take on Wolverhampton who are currently at the foot of the table.
Tickets are priced at £5 and can be reserved by calling 0115 9417022
