HLW Solicitors
Club Tel: 0114 266 2153
Manager: Hedley Matthew
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HLW Solicitors Club Tel: 0114 266 2153 |
| Photo: Jenny Tranfield, Peter Billson, Ashley Flathers, Mike Hopkins, Hadrian Stiff. |
Manager: Hedley Matthew |
Tue 04 Feb - Week EIGHT
Benz-Bavarian Duffield 3 - 2 HLW Solicitors Hallamshire
Alex Gough beat Anthony Ricketts 5/9, 7/9, 9/4, 9/4, 11/9
Paul Hargrave lost Nick Matthew 9/4, 5/9, 9/5, 7/9, 7/9
Jonathan Kemp beat Hadrian Stiff 9/4, 9/5, 9/2
Matt Lowery lost Adam Stevenson 4/9, 4/9, 4/9
Cassie Jackman beat Jenny Duncalf 9/3, 9/5, 9/1GOUGH ENDS PLAY-OFF HOPES
Nick Matthew reports
HLW Solicitors Hallamshire were left needing a minor miracle to qualify for the second stage after Alex Gough defeated Anthony Ricketts 3-2 in the deciding rubber at Duffield last night. In doing so, Gough gained revenge for his defeat at the hands of Ricketts in the semi finals of the recent Dayton Open and in the corresponding rubber earlier in the season.
Cassie Jackman had set the tone for Duffield earlier in the evening with an impressive 9-3, 9-5, 9-1 victory over Jenny Duncalf. Cassie is clearly on the road to recovery and a few more matches should see her in good shape to defend her National title in Manchester next week. She dominated Jenny from the start with low, crisp drives and despite glimpses of Jenny's potential, ran out comfortable winner.
The side court at Duffield saw two relatively quick matches with Adam Stevenson defeating Matt Lowery 3-0, and Jonathan Kemp gaining a 3-0 victory over Hadrian Stiff. Jon Kemp looked in particularly good form for the Nationals, taking advantage of a less-than-mobile Hadrian Stiff and registering winners from all over the court to win in only 17 minutes!
Another player registering winners from all angles was Paul Hargrave in taking the first game 9-4 against Nick Matthew. The battle of the managers sons was always a close battle after that with Paul's attacking play in contrast with Nick's more defensive display & retrieving. Paul led 1-0 & 2-1 before being pegged back from 7-6 up in the 4th, and then seemed to tire in
the 5th, allowing a relieved Nick to take the match 9-7.
Again the scene was set, as it was earlier in the season, for the deciding match between Anthony Ricketts and Alex Gough. Hallamshire looked to have the match in the bag when Ricketts led 2-0 but by the time Goughy had pulled it back to 2 all it would have taken a brave man to bet on the eventual outcome. It stayed this way for much of the 5th with the match at times resembling an exhibition match rather than the 5th game of a deciding rubber. At 8-5 Goughy, Ricketts saved 3 matchballs including a forehand cross-court nick which Alex could not believe as he would surely have pushed the ball into the empty court had it not rolled. At 9-8, Ricketts reached matchball of his own and a backhand volley drop would have been a winner had it not just clipped the top of the tin. In the end it was Goughy who ran out 11-9 winner when Ricketts hit a forehand straight past himself for a stroke.
Another terrific night of squash ending with a more than fitting match. Big wins are needed from our remaining 2 matches (against Manchester & Edgbaston) if we are to have any chance of reaching the play-offs. Many thanks go to Brian Hargrave for his hospitality and despite what he may say, his never ending enthusiasm.
Tue 28 Jan - Week SEVEN
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, 9/7
Nick Matthew reports
HLW Solicitors Hallamshire were looking for a big win against a Nottingham side weakened by the absence of World Open runner-up John White to close the gap at the top of group A. Squash at Hallamshire is really buzzing at the moment after the recent night with World number 1 Peter Nicol & the announcement of the English Open and another capacity crowd was in evidence.
Both of the number 1 ladies, Jenny Tranfield & Tania Bailey, were away in America, so first up on the show court was Laura Jane Lengthorn, who had impressed the Hallamshire crowd on her debut last season, against Wendy Maitland. Laura had scored her first win over Wendy in a recent WISPA event and Wendy was up for revenge. However, Laura had clearly gained confidence from this recent win and set out playing attacking squash to take the first two games 9-4, 9-6. No-one expected what was to come when Laura found herself 8-6 matchball up in the 3rd, but a gritty fightback saw Wendy not only win the 3rd 10-8 but also take the 4th 9-0 against a seemingly tiring Laura. The 5th was a see-saw battle with Wendy establishing a 6-3 lead before Laura rediscovered her length and battled back to 7-7. The home crowd saw the importance of an early point on the board and were now really spurring Laura on, which pushed her to match point. The match ended on a disputed note when Wendy's ball was called out when even the most biased Hallamshire supporter would have called it in.
Meanwhile on court 6 the crowd knew what to expect when both Mike Hopkins and Sam Miller were warned for unnecessary physical contact after the 1st rally! The physical nature of this match seemed to suit Mike, who could be called an aggressive character to say the least! Mike was literally the dominant force in games 1 & 2 pushing his opponent deep into the back corners & playing some of his best squash of the season to lead 9-3, 9-5. But, just as Wendy Maitland began her fightback so did Sam Miller. Encouraged by the vocal travelling fans Sam brought more subtlety into his game and errors crept in from Mike & suddenly from Hallamshire being 2-0 up on both courts the scores both stood at 2 all. Fortunately, just like Laura, Mike found his length again in the 5th and Sam, not having learnt from the first 2 games, left 4 in a row mid-court forehand which the left-handed Mike duly despatched into the nick.
At number 2 for Nottingham, John Rooney started out at a frantic pace against Nick Matthew. The first 2 games were closely contested with Nick playing the big points better to take a 2 game lead, 9-6, 9-7. A conduct stroke for being late on court seemed to spur John on at the start of the 3rd and he rediscovered the pace at which he started the match. When moving well John is a deceptive player and it was this deception that started to trouble Nick in the 3rd before he himself pushed back up the court in the 4th to take the match 9-4.
In the meantime Hadrian Stiff had settled the match with a convincing 9-6, 9-3, 12-10 victory over British Over 35 Champion Jason Nicolle. Despite a brief fightback from Jason in the 3rd , Hadrian hung on to provide another valuable point for the home team.
Last match on was Anthony Ricketts , who was fresh (if that is the right word) from his success in the Dayton Open, against Simon Parke. Ricketts had only arrived home from Ohio that morning and it showed in the 1st game with Parkey taking it 9-7. Ricketts, who is fast approaching legendary status with members of the Sheffield club, was back to his bustling best in game 2, pummeling Parkey into the back corners & despatching any loose ball into the nick. Parkey though is one of the toughest competitors in the game & through typical dogged retrieving and some quality squash of his own stretched Ricketts to all parts of the court in games 3 & 4. In what was turning out to be a very exciting game, Parkey reached matchball and after his exerts the past week & the team being 4-0 up you could have forgiven Anthony for throwing in the towel, but he wasn't having any of it! A backhand volley drop saved matchball, then fists were clenched as Ricketts tied it at 2 all. The 5th started at an amazing pace with neither player giving an inch but it was Parkey who tired first giving Ricketts a 9-4 victory. 'Pure bottle' from Anthony as one member was heard to describe it.
An excellent night and an excellent 5-0 victory, gaining revenge for our 5-0 loss at Nottingham earlier in the season. Thanks to everybody for their support and to the noisy Nottingham supporters who contributed to a great evening. Next stop Duffield. Lets hope our own Barmy Army can lead us to an away victory!
Tue 08 Oct - Week ONE
HALLAMSHIRE TITLE CONTENDERS ??
Peter Kramer asks the $64,000 question ...
HLW Hallamshire 4 v 1 Wolverhampton
Anthony Ricketts beat David Palmer 9-6, 9-2, 5-9, 5-3 rtd (calf strain)
Nick Matthew beat Mark Cairns 9-5, 9-1, 6-9, 9-7
Hadrian Stiff beat Scott Handley 10-8, 9-2, 9-2
Mike Hopkins lost Chris Ryder 9-11, 6-9, 7-9
Jenny Tranfield beat Lisa McKenna 9-1, 9-1, 9-0A full house at HALLAMSHIRE squash club last night saw them off to great new National League campaign, by beating WOLVERHAMPTON 4-1.
The Hallamshire side sponsored by 'HLW Solicitors' first match on the show court lasted just 12 mins. Jenny Tranfield showed no mercy as she dominated her match against Lisa McKenna (9/1 9/1 9/0) who was brought in as a late replacement. On the other court Hadrian Stiff was made to work hard in the first game against Scott Handley (10/8), but then Handley was feeling the full effects of an illness that kept him in bed over the weekend (10/8 9/2 9/2).
Next up on the show court was 'local boy' Nick Mathew against his former team mate Mark Cairns. Nick ran away with the first 2 games within 22 mins (9/5 9/1).Cairns started to to work his way back into the game taking the 3rd 9/6. Mathew knew he had to take control again, he got the home supporters to get behind him at 6/4 in the 4th and won 9/7. Nick will take some beating this year in the league.
Next on court was the all Australian clash, World No 9 Anthony Ricketts against former World No 1 and now World No 3 David Palmer.Ricketts who is now based in Ilkley (North Yorkshire) took full control of the match, hitting winners from every angle. He won the first game 9/6. In the 2nd game he won 8 rallies on the trot, winning that game 9/2.
The crowd were loving it. Palmer staged a mini recovery taking the 3rd 9/5. But then in the 4th trailing 5/3 conceded due to slight calf strain.
Title contenders? Who knows.
Hedley Mathew, team manager for Hallamshire who has just recovered from a spell in hospital was overjoyed on the nights events.
