First Leg results & Reports

Semi-final Preview banter

  National League Final 2003 
7pm Tue 15th April, Abbeydale, Sheffield.

Semi-Finals Second Leg - Tue 01 Apr

TVS Broxbourne  3-2  FPD Savills Nottingham
   Mark Chaloner lost to John White  9-7, 9-5, 4-9, 7-9, 6-9
   Rodney Durbach lost to Simon Parke  9-6, 10-12, 4-9, 7-9
   Alex Stait beat Renan Lavigne  9-7, 9-6, 9-3
   Danny Meddings beat Jason Nicolle  10-8, 9-5, 9-3
   Natalie Pohrer beat Jane Fletcher  9-0, 9-1, 9-0

   Nottingham win 6-4 on aggregate

Edgbaston Priory  4-1  Chichester
   Stewart Boswell beat Peter Genever  9-6, 9-6, 9-2
   Del Harris beat Mohamed Azlan Iskandar  9-5, 7-9, 9-6, 9-2
   Adrian Grant beat Tim Vail  5-9, 9-7, 9-5, 9-3
   Paul Lord lost to Ben Garner  11-9, 7-9, 9-3, 3-9, 3-9
   Vicky Lankester beat Suzie Pierrepont  9-5, 9-1, 1-9, 2-9, 9-6

   Edgbaston win 7-3 on aggregate

EDGBASTON AND NOTTINGHAM
TO CONTEST NSL FINAL
but it's down to the wire @ Broxbourne ...

Howard Harding reports ...

Also see: Ian McKenzie reports on a wild night at Broxbourne
And ... Humble Pie were a Great Band  the Crabtree report

Edgbaston Priory, the 2001 champions from Birmingham, and 1999 champions FPD Savills Nottingham will contest the 2003 National Squash League final after contrasting fortunes in Tuesday's high-drama second leg semi-final play-offs.

Edgbaston exploited home advantage to extend their lead over Chichester, beating the Sussex side 4-1 to record a 7-3 aggregate win - while Nottingham forfeited the first three matches of the best-of-five tie against Hertfordshire's home side TVS Broxbourne before the clash went to the wire and visitors' hero John White overturned a 2/0 deficit to salvage the final match and claim a 6-4 overall win for Nottingham.

HIGH DRAMA AT BROXBOURNE
There was a profound sense of 'deja-vu' for Nottingham as the East Midlands team saw their 4-1 first leg lead slip away at Broxbourne - just as it had done three years ago when the Hertfordshire team reversed Nottingham's semi-final lead and went on to lift the national title. With neither Scottish champion Wendy Maitland nor world No4 regular Tania Bailey available for Nottingham, club champion Jane Fletcher made her league debut for the club - and was duly beaten by Broxbourne's mighty Natalie Pohrer. Flown in especially from her US base with the expectation of a tough battle with Bailey, the world No2 crushed Fletcher 9-0 9-1 9-0.

The newcomer's team-mates fared no better - Nottingham stalwart Jason Nicolle went down 10-8 9-5 9-3 to Danny Meddings, and French No2 Renan Lavigne, ranked 25 in the world, collapsed lamely 3-0 to Gloucestershire's Alex Stait, ranked 44 places lower.

With the tie score at 3/0, Broxbourne now simply required a further match to complete a remarkable turnaround. Nottingham club 'veteran' Simon Parke, with nine league wins behind him this season, was unlikely to concede easily however - and duly stopped the rot with a 6-9 12-10 9-4 9-7 win over Broxbourne's South African Rodney Durbach.

With everything hanging on the final match between Nottingham's world No5 John White and the home team's world No11 Mark Chaloner, the Broxbourne crowd went into overdrive and lifted their star into a 2/0 lead. Hard-hitting White kept his cool under the extreme pressure and eventually, at the third match ball, crafted a 7-9 5-9 9-4 9-7 9-6 victory which had his team-mates bursting onto the court to hug their hero.

"It was unbelievable," said the Scottish No1 afterwards. "Every winner Chip (Chaloner) got and every ball I hit down was greeted by thunderous cheers from the Broxbourne crowd - it was bedlam in there. The emotion when I finally hit the winner was incredible as I was immediately overwhelmed by all my team-mates."

PRIORY POWER PAST CHICHESTER
Edgbaston Priory's success was a more disciplined affair, with squad members determined to exert maximum pressure on their Sussex visitors following their slender first leg lead. In the absence of Priory's unbeaten Sarah Fitz-Gerald, who is nursing a calf strain, and Chichester's world No3 Linda Charman (recovering from an infection), the women's battle featured Birmingham-based world No33 Vicky Lankester and Sussex junior Suzie Pierrepont, with Lankester squeezing a 9-5 9-1 1-9 2-9 9-6 win for Priory.

Ben Garner gained Chichester's sole point, fighting back from 2-1 down to beat experienced Paul Lord 9-11 9-7 3-9 9-3 9-3. Priory's middle order ensured the vital victory, however, with Adrian Grant establishing a more convincing win than two weeks earlier over Tim Vail 5-9 9-7 9-5 9-3, and 'veteran' Del Harris making up for a disappointing first leg loss to Mohamed Azlan Iskandar by beating the in-form Malaysian 9-5 7-9 9-6 9-2. So incensed had Harris been by his earlier loss that the 33-year-old had undergone exhaustive training sessions last week in Broxbourne with Messrs Chaloner and Durbach!

In what was described by team manager Matt Suckling as an 'awesome display', Priory star Stewart Boswell wrapped up the night and the club's 4-1 victory with a clinical 9-6 9-6 9-2 defeat of Chichester No1 Peter Genever.

Nottingham and Edgbaston Priory will meet in the final on Tuesday 15th April at a venue yet to be confirmed.

Also see: Ian McKenzie reports on a wild night at Broxbourne
And ... Humble Pie were a Great Band  the Crabtree report

After the emphatic 4 – 1 win over semi-final opponents Broxbourne two weeks earlier, the FPD Savills team had every right to be confident of picking up the 2 points needed to secure a place in the National League Final in Tuesday’s 2nd leg.

However, there was a profound sense of ‘deja-vu’ for Nottingham as the East Midlands team saw their first leg lead slip away– just as it had done three years ago when the Hertfordshire team reversed Nottingham’s semi-final lead and went on to lift the national title.

With neither Scottish champion Wendy Maitland nor world No4 regular Tania Bailey available for Nottingham, club champion Jane Fletcher made her league debut– and was duly beaten by Broxbourne’s mighty Natalie Pohrer. Flown in especially from her US base with the expectation of a tough battle with Bailey, the world No2 crushed Fletcher 9-0 9-1 9-0.

Fletcher, a stalwart of the Nottingham Ladies teams, put up a great fight and played with confidence, attacking the ball when allowed. Cheered on by a vociferous Nottingham following, Fletcher will be proud to announce that she got a point off the World No. 2 in a National League semi-final.

The newcomer’s team-mates fared no better – Nottingham captain, Jason Nicolle, went down 10-8 9-5 9-3 to Danny Meddings in a little under half an hour. Nicolle led 8 – 3 in the first but had no answer for Meddings tenacity as he raced through to take a vital 3 – 0 victory.

French No2 Renan Lavigne, ranked 25 in the world, collapsed lamely 3-0 to Gloucestershire’s Alex Stait, ranked 44 places lower.

Lavigne had dug out a crucial 3/2 win over his young opponent in Nottingham and should have done better in the return tie. Perhaps nerves and the tremendous support Stait received from the Broxbourne faithful contributed to his 34 minute downfall but as Lavigne came off court things clearly weren’t going to plan for Nottingham.

0 – 3 down and not a single game won. The inevitable calculations started in case of a tie in rubbers with the result that both Parke and White both had to win if the 1999 champions were to take the final stage again and prevent Broxbourne completing a remarkable turnaround.

Its at this stage of a match that team Manager, Phil Songhurst, is grateful he’s got Simon Parke in his team. With nine league wins behind him this season, Parke was unlikely to concede easily – he never does! However – Broxbourne’s South African Rodney Durbach had other ideas. Durbach had been the hero in 2000 with a decisive win over Peter Marshall and he started well against Parke. He was 1 – 0 up and at 8 – 5 in the second before a gruelling rally saw Parke come back into contention. He chased every seemingly lost ball and somehow managed to take the second 12 – 10.

Now in charge, Parke cleaned up in 56 minutes by 3 games to 1 using his lob & drop game to great effect to tire Durbach in the 3rd & 4th games.

With everything hanging on the final match between Nottingham’s world No5 John White and the home team’s world No11 Mark Chaloner, the both sets of supporters crowd went into overdrive. Chaloner is a dependable, great team player and moved into a 2 – 0 lead and the Nottingham heads started to drop again – but not White’s.

In the third, Chaloner seemed to take a rest, allowing White to find more rhythm, and by relaxing slightly his array of unbelievable winning shots started to appear. But Challoner fought back again in the 4th and was two points from victory before a series of ferociously fought rallies saw White pull through 9 / 7.

Now the Nottingham crowd drowned out the home support as they sensed a remarkable victory

Hard-hitting White kept his cool under the extreme pressure and eventually, at the third match ball, crafted a 75 minute 7-9 5-9 9-4 9-7 9-6 victory which had his team-mates bursting onto the court to hug their hero.

“It was unbelievable,” said the Scottish No1 afterwards. “Every winner Chip (Chaloner) got and every ball I hit down was greeted by thunderous cheers from the Broxbourne crowd – it was bedlam in there. The emotion when I finally hit the winner was incredible as I was immediately overwhelmed by all my team-mates.”

These heroics now put the FPD Savills team in a Midlands derby match against Edgbaston Priory on 15th April at the Abbeydale Club in Sheffield (7pm).

With a slack time in the tournament calendar, all players will now start to prepare for this big match with expectations high. The only doubt in the Nottingham team selection is again with the Lady player with Tania Bailey struggling to get fit and Wendy Maitland possibly unavailable, perhaps Jane Fletcher might get a second chance to go in search of glory.

Tickets for the National League final will go on sale on Friday 4th April. Call 0115 9417022 for reservations
 

Also see: Ian McKenzie reports on a wild night at Broxbourne
And ... Humble Pie were a Great Band  the Crabtree report

Semi-final Preview banter

Semi-Finals First Leg - Tue 18 Mar

FPD Savills Nottingham   4 - 1  TVS Broxbourne
  John White bt Mark Chaloner   8-10, 9-6, 9-6, 9/7
   Simon Parke bt Rodney Durbach  9-2, 2-9, 9-7, 9-6
   Renan Lavigne beat Alex Stait   4-9, 9-6, 7-9, 9-4, 11-9
   Jason Nicolle beat Alister Walker   10-8, 9-5, 9-4
   Wendy Maitland lost to Natalie Pohrer   3-9, 0-9, 0-9

Chichester  2 - 3   Edgbaston Priory
   Peter Genever lost to Stewart Boswell  10-8, 10-12, 4-9, 5-9
   Mohamed Azlan Iskandar beat Del Harris  9-4, 9-2, 9-6
   Tim Vail lost to Adrian Grant   5-9, 9-6, 10-8, 6-9, 5-9
   Ben Garner beat Paul Lord   9-6, 9-4, 9-7
   Suzie Pierrepont lost to Sarah Fitz-Gerald   3-9, 1-9, 0-9

2 Hatched Chickens ... Peter Crabtree explains the headline ...

Nottingham & Edgbaston Priory Take Early Honours
Howard Harding's first leg roundup ...

FPD Savills Nottingham, the 1999 champions, and Birmingham's 2001 champions Edgbaston Priory claimed the early advantage in the final stages of the 2002/03 season of the National Squash League after victories over Hertfordshire's TVS Broxbourne and Chichester, respectively, in Tuesday's first leg semi-final play-offs.

The clash in Nottingham was a replay of the semi-final battle three years ago which narrowly went Broxbourne's way before the Hertfordshire club progressed to take the National League title for the first time. Natalie Pohrer, then Nottingham-based, provided two valuable points for her home club over the two legs. Now US-based, Pohrer was visiting her old club for the first time as Broxbourne's leading female force. Currently enjoying her best ever form, the world No2 romped to a 9-3 9-0 9-0 victory over the home team's Scottish champion Wendy Maitland, who was standing in for the virus-stricken world No4 Tania Bailey.

Nottingham quickly fought back as Jason Nicolle, runner-up in last month's British National Over-35 Championships, utilised his experience to overcome the visitors' Alister Walker 10-8 9-5 9-4 in an unexpected loss by the talented youngster from Gloucestershire. Frenchman Renan Lavigne continued his good form for Nottingham, but twice had to come from behind before narrowly claiming his eighth successive league win in a 4-9 9-6 7-9 9-4 11-9
victory over Broxbourne's Alex Stait.

It was left to Nottingham stalwart Simon Parke, the former world No3, to clinch victory for the hosts with a 9-2 2-9 9-7 9-6 win in 47 minutes over the visitors' South African Rodney Durbach. In a fitting climax to the hard-fought battle between the two former National League champions, Scotland's Nottingham-based world No5 John White played out a high-paced top string tussle against Broxbourne captain Mark Chaloner, the England international ranked 12 in the world.

"Mark played the best I've seen him all season, so John had to be at the top of his game to beat him," said Nottingham team manager Phil Songhurst after White registered his 8-10 9-6 9-6 9-7 victory in 66 minutes to give the home team a 4-1 win.

Celebrating their first appearance in the semi-finals since 1998, Chichester entertained 2001 champions Edgbaston Priory. The Birmingham club claimed their 'banker' point in quick style when Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the five-times world champion from Australia, crushed Chichester's 18-year-old Suzie Pierrepont, runner-up in the British Junior Championships earlier this month, 9-3 9-0 9-1. It was the formidable Fitz-Gerald's 21st successive National League victory in three seasons.

Chichester struck back as Ben Garner claimed his seventh win in a row for the club by beating the visitors' experienced Paul Lord 9-6 9-4 9-7. A nail-biting third string clash between Chichester part-timer Tim Vail, 25, and full-time pro Adrian Grant, 22, saw the home team hero lead 2-1 before Grant, boasting a career-high world No31 ranking, clinched a crucial 9-5 6-9 8-10 9-6 9-5 victory for Edgbaston in 57 minutes.

The see-saw contest swung back in Chichester's favour when young Malaysian Mohamed Azlan Iskandar, the 20-year-old former Asian Junior Champion who is in his debut season in the National League, dismissed experienced Priory stalwart Del Harris, the former world No5 from Essex, 9-4 9-2 9-6 to level the tie.

With 45 world ranking positions separating the pair, few would have bet against Priory's world No4 Stewart Boswell strolling to victory in the top string decider against the home team's Peter Genever, boasting seven wins out of nine this season. Indeed, the Chichester hero was a single point away from a 2-0 lead at 10-9 in the second game, but the Australian stepped up a gear to storm to a 8-10 12-10 9-4 9-5 win to gave Edgbaston Priory a 3-2 victory in the tie.

The second leg ties will be held on Tuesday 1st April when Broxbourne host Nottingham and Edgbaston Priory entertain Chichester.

2 HATCHED CHICKENS IN THE BAG ARE BETTER THAN 4 THAT DIDN’T ACTUALLY HAPPEN!
Peter Crabtree explains ...

Which is a roundabout way (and the Brummies had to negotiate a few of them that we cunningly laid in their path – both metaphorical and actual) of saying – yah booh! 4-1 to the Priory eh? Hmmm, not so, and it could so easily have been right, but the wrong way round (for the Brummies, that is!).

In front of a 100% sell-out at Oaklands Park, the first time in 4 years, the teams combined to put on a display of squash that was in 1 case, brutally efficient, and in another, rather closer than one suspected it would be, and all the different permutations in between. In any case, the crowd were treated to some of the finest matches of the season, and an absolute treat by way of entertainment. At great expense (and we’re not talking of a few hundred quid to fly a player in from the Outer North East) Unknown Artists’ Matt Swansong again provided musical and humorous introductions for the players. The visitors were initially somewhat bemused (apart from Fitzy, that is, who didn’t bat an eyelid) and then amazed and astounded in turns at the entertainment on hand. From Paul “praise the” Lord, to the rather more predictable Del “Boy” Harris by way of a few others, we were treated to some first class banter, and a few revelations about players previously thought to have no secrets – jay walking indeed, Mr Boswell!

Having made a complete *@#k up of his Middle East peace negotiations, Cookie Anan turned up to provide some negotiating skills between the players and the officials. Just as well, as we had been warned that the Bozza could be a bit fiery in these matches, especially when his unbeaten run was on the line, and we all know what a young tartar the Vole is when his sarcastic tongue is working (given, of course, that he has enough wind left to work it!). So it was that we eventually got around to some squash.

Suzie Pierrepont, 1 defeat in 4 I would point out, took on Sarah Fitz-Gerald in a match that turned out to be closer than we may have reasonably expected. Having only lost to Natalie Pohrer, she went on court full of confidence, which was only exceeded in volume by the butterflies that infested her whole body!

Kakking? Damn right, mind you, I wouldn’t fancy playing Fitzy, well not at squash anyway. Oh, I know what you’re thinking, but no – I have golf on my mind, but she’d probably stuff me at that too! Anyway, after a few nervous tins and mishits – mind you, the pace that the ball was flying around was something to behold – she settled down, and to cut a not very long story even shorter, she did bloody well, relaxed, and got a few points. Mind you, after the first game when she had the impudence to take a few, the pace hotted up somewhat – you’re a bully Fitzy!

Vole had begun one of his marathons against the Grant Man on the show court, and it was a mix of the stunning nick, and the garbage mid-court feed, and we all know what AG’s front court game is like. But it ebbed and flowed, and it was an increasingly weary Vole that started struggling with the pace of the game, which although fairly slow in ball speed, it was being worked all over the court, and Timmy struggled more and more with some amazingly tight drops as the game went on. He probably should have won, and he knows it.

Benjy saw off Paul Lord in short order, playing at his normal pace, for a 3-0, whilst Azzi, the Lion, took on Del Harris. I first met Del at Portsmouth in the mid-80’s with Paul Gregory and (I think) Robert Graham, with Graham Stevenson and Brian Patterson on a National Squad session, and he hasn’t really changed his style of play since then. Incredibly agile for such a big man, he still moves really well, but he had no answer to probably the best, or certainly most dominating, performance we have seen from the young Malaysian. 4, 2 and 6 is a bit of a whipping in this style of game, and I think Del may be a bit more up for it in the next match. Mind you, nobody could have got to Azzi’s forehand crosscourt feathered roller!

The finale brought Peter Genever on court against the World No.4 Stewart Boswell. No chance? This is Jelly at Chi remember, and as Mr Swansong reminded us – “he can do anything he wants”. What a game – pace, skill, retrieving, and Jelly definitely in with a sniff. Bozza looked a bit slow, and I am told that this is almost a unique event, but was still controlling the game, although he seemed a little perturbed that the ball kept coming back. But he should have known, after all, Jelly has beaten him before. But could he again? He sensed that he could, and despite the fact that he looked to have the edge as the rallies went on, he kept going for the winner, and kept hitting the tin. We measured it after the match, but it was at the correct height. 10-8 to the Chi number 1, and at 10-9 in the second, he had a chance, but Bozza took control, and levelled the match.

After that, the error rate increased, and Bozza looked more relaxed, but young Jelly kept the pace up, and it was a closer finish than it looked. So 3-2 to the Northerners, but it could easily have been the other way round. So to the 2nd leg. With Lindy back, it has to be a close thing, and with the game tally level, we just have to win 3-2, and win more games than them. Vole should have won, and knows what he has to do next time, Jelly certainly won’t be worried about taking on the Bozz, and in reverse, Del will know what is coming his way.

The outcome will be close I think, and we shall have a small posse up there to out-shout the brummies, and, of course, to celebrate our place in the finals – think I’m dreaming? Come and see!

FPD Savills Nottingham Take Early Honours
Phil Songhurst reports for Nottingham

FPD Savills Nottingham, the 1999 champions, claimed the early advantage in the final stages of the 2002/03 season of the National Squash League after a convincing victory over Hertfordshire’s TVS Broxbourne in Tuesday’s first leg semi-final play-off on The Park courts.

The clash in Nottingham was a replay of the semi-final battle three years ago which narrowly went Broxbourne’s way before the Hertfordshire club progressed to take the National League title for the first time. Natalie Pohrer, then Nottingham-based, provided two valuable points for her home club over the two legs. Now US-based, Pohrer was visiting her old club for the first time as Broxbourne’s leading female force. Currently enjoying her best ever form, the world No2 romped to a 9-3 9-0 9-0 victory over the home team’s Scottish champion Wendy Maitland, who was standing in for the virus-stricken world No4 Tania Bailey.

Nottingham quickly fought back as team captain, Jason Nicolle, runner-up in last month’s British National Over-35 Championships, utilised his experience to overcome the visitors’ Alister Walker 10-8 9-5 9-4 in an unexpected for the Nottingham veteran. Nicolle played on Walkers seemingly nervous start and simply let him make mistake after mistake, keeping the game tight and uncomplicated.

Frenchman Renan Lavigne continued his good form for Nottingham, but twice had to come from behind before narrowly claiming his eighth successive league win in a 4-9 9-6 7-9 9-4 11-9 victory over Broxbourne’s Alex Stait. Stait had two match balls in the 5th – points that could prove to be critical at the final count. Lavigne was firm favourite to win this encounter and kept the packed Park crowd on edge throughout

It was left to Nottingham stalwart Simon Parke, the former world No3, to clinch victory for the hosts with a 9-2 2-9 9-7 9-6 win in 47 minutes over the visitors’ South African Rodney Durbach. Parke has a never say die attitude in these league matches and, as always, chased down seemingly lost causes. This tenacious play, combined with effective use of his ever-reliable back-hand volley wore Durbach down – and not many players have been able to do that this season.

In a fitting climax to the hard-fought battle between the two former National League champions, Scotland’s Nottingham-based world No5 John White played out a high-paced top string tussle against Broxbourne captain Mark Chaloner, the England international ranked 12 in the world.

Up until the latter part of the 4th game this rubber could have gone either way. Chaloner, still coming back to full fitness following a shoulder injury, moved around the court with unbelievable speed, forcing White to make a number of errors or loose shots in frustration. But eventually White’s pace and sparcely used deft drops won him the match and his 8-10 9-6 9-6 9-7 victory in 66 minutes gave the home team a 4-1 win.

“Mark played the best I’ve seen him all season, so John had to be at the top of his game to beat him,” said Nottingham team manager Phil Songhurst “however, John, like the rest of the team, knew just how important it was to secure a good lead in this first leg. Everybody put in professional workmanlike performance tonight. We now travel to Broxbourne in 2 weeks time with the luxury of knowing we need only collect a couple of rubbers to secure that coveted final spot”.

Priory dig deep -
looking good for second leg
Nick Hynes & Matt Suckling report ...

The Edgbaston Priory dig deep to pull off a good away win, as they now look forward to the 1st April at home!

Suzie Pierrepont Vs Sarah Fitz-Gerald  3/9, 0/9, 1/9

Chichester’s England junior player was up against her toughest ever test to date (and possibly for a good few years to come). An early point for the young Chichester girl would surely have settled some early nerves. Suzie trying to impose a slow pace on her opponent was succumbed to vast amounts of pressure of pace and accuracy. A brave fight, but Sarah was too strong, and an early lead for Edgbaston Priory.

Tim Vail Vs Adrian Grant  9/5 6/9 8/10 9/6 9/5

Edgbaston needed a positive start from the talented Grant who looked comfortable in the first controlling the ball well to a length not giving the local player Vail any opening. As the crowds voice picked up so did Vail’s game with some quality shots to the nick after some accurate lengths and widths, winning 9/6. Adrian picked up the pace, which didn’t give Vail time to play, but a few tins came in from Grant, which gave the opening and with the crowd behind Vail he cruised to through 10/8, 2/1 Vail and the pressure was on! With Grant not looking comfortable he had to gather all his wits to claw his way back into the match which he did well taking the fourth and then the fifth leaving the crowd very quite, excellent comeback against a well committed player in Vail.

Ben Garner Vs Paul Lord  6/9, 4/9, 7/9

Paul Lord flew to Southampton, but Garner flew into an early lead! The pace of the opener was electric with both players battling to control the other. Garner gained the early initiative by attacking the ball with venom on the home court. Lord replied with some clever shots in the second but lacked the killer instinct, failing to punish the hard work applied, at this level the result is that you get punished yourself, 9/4 and two up to Chichester. Both the players fought hard in the third and were neck and neck throughout with some tight squash by both players. It was Garner who took the last two crucial points at 7-7 to take the match.

Azlan Iskandar Vs Del Harris  9/4, 9/2, 9/6

The young Malaysian imposed a slow pace from the start on his more experienced opponent, which clearly worked. Azlan worked a good length and chipped in tight short balls working Del into a weak position, the first two games followed this pattern which went Azlan’s way. A bemused Del tried to pick himself up but Azlan matched the pace, a tight 9/6 to Azlan.

Peter Genever Vs Stewart Boswell  10/8, 10/12, 4/9, 5/9

On paper I think anyone would put his/her money on the world number 4, but as I’ve said before at this stage with the pressure on any player can come out victorious and after Pete had won the first 10/8 with Boswell looking slow (yes I did say slow!) and out of sorts then anything could happen. The second was tight Genever was up for the challenge and was showing true grit and determination as Boswell was still out of sorts making unforced errors!!!!!! It was tight and the crowd were calling for an upset but Boswell proved that there is a reason for this no4 world ranking lasting the longer rallys well as Genever was on the back foot 12/10 Boswell. With the crowd pushing Genever to dig deep it was moving to one way traffic as Boswell moved Genever so well over the court as Genever’s legs were starting to slow up. The pace wasn’t the fastest but Boswell’s accuracy with his length created opening for him to push the ball in short which was to much for Genever as he couldn’t stop Boswell how won the next two games 9/4 9/5 and the match 3-2.

Semi-final Preview banter