10/05/2004
INSIDE the final
Brian Hargrave goes inside one last time in Sheffield ...
“INSIDE”
the National Squash League Final 2004,
Abbeydale Squash Club, Sheffield
Manchester-Pontefract 4 Edgbaston
Priory 1
The eagerly awaited clash of the NL giants provided a rich feast of
squash before a full house at Abbeydale.
Madeline Perry lost to Sarah
Fitz-Gerald 0-9, 4-9, 0-9
Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the former world No1, set off as though she had a
train to catch to Birmingham with the aim of being on and off court in
record time. Fitz-Gerald looked in excellent shape covering the court
and blitzing the first game 9-0. The Irish Champion, Madeline Perry,
must have wondered whether Fitz-Gerald had really retired from
full-time squash 15 months ago. Fitz-Gerald was taking the ball so
early and her opponent was never allowed to settle. Perry’s
meagre reward for her brave effort was just 4 points in the second
game. The third game following the same pace and pattern as the first
and in just 22 minutes it was all over and Priory, the defending
champions, had the first point on the board.
Marcus Berrett beat Peter
Barker 9-4 7-9 9-2 9-3
On the outside court, the reliable Marcus Berrett, levelled the
tie when, in just over half – hour he beat Peter Barker, one of
England’s best young players who has reached the top 40 in the world.
Berrett’s was always calmly in control despite letting the second game
slip 9-7. The Manchester-Pontefract No 4’s greater experience stood him
in good stead and he comfortably took the third and fourth games in a
rubber which was expected to be much closer.
Nick Taylor beat Del Harris 7-9, 9-4,
12-10, 7-9, 9-3
The two recently “retired” stalwarts produced a quality match with
Harris rolling back the years pushing himself to the limit diving all
over the court and hitting some magnificent winners from every angle
Harris came back from well down the take the first game 9-7 and the
Priory captain made light of a conduct stroke in the second awarded for
what some might regard as a fairly mild expletive. The crucial third
game could have gone either way as the players both realized the
importance of this crucial rubber. Harris ran himself into the ground
fighting back to take the fourth when the rubber looked all over. It
was later revealed that Harris had sustained a bruised thigh in the
fourth which slowed him down. This allowed to Taylor race into a 5-0
lead in the fifth to quieten the noisy Priory supporters and there was
no way back for Harris. The hour long rubber was played in very good
and competitive sprit. I came away wondering just how Taylor had
managed to win but Manchester’s favourite son had also hit some great
winners and his court coverage suggested that he had trained hard for
the final.
James Willstrop beat Adrian
Grant 11-9, 7-9, 9-2, 9-6
The clash of the two young players who had both representing England in
the European Championships was expected to be worth the admission money
on its own. The supporters were not disappointed. The world
rankings suggested
that Willstrop’s deception might just be too much for
Grant’s amazing athleticism and this proved to be the case. Willstrop
looked at times as though he might be feeling the effects of a hard
season which has seen him make a significant move and several giant
strides towards the top of the world rankings. However, he also gave
the impression that he could still have stepped up another gear and the
talented youngster clinched victory in the second string match in just
45 enjoyable minutes.
Lee Beachill beat David Palmer 8-10,
9-3, 10-8
The neutrals hoped that World No 4 playing World No 5 would decide the
NL final. The final top string clash between England's Lee Beachill and
Australia's British Open champion David Palmer certainly entertained
the spectators. Beachill won the best of three dead rubber give
his team a deserved 4-1 win as Manchester-Pontefract consortium won the
National League Title for the first time in addition to completing the
season undefeated.
In Conclusion, the best team on
the day and over the season had won and few would begrudge manager
Yawar Abbas the success he deserved after many years of trying.
Priory contributed to a most entertaining and competitive final.
Six of the players on view have at one stage or another played with
distinction for my own small Duffield Club. Beachill, Willstrop and
Grant were all signed as promising juniors to help with their
development and Duffield members and supporters are delighted with
their subsequent success and the fact that, together with Nick Matthew,
they were all members of the current England team which won the
European Championships. Marcus Berrett would also surely still
have been in the England frame if he had continued on the PSA circuit.
These talented players have all moved on for various reasons
demonstrating the need to retain the right balance in the NL
regulations to ensure that the top players are evenly spread around all
the NL teams. It is only in this way that the smaller clubs such as
Chichester, Guildford, Lee on Solent and us can remain competitive
keeping within a sensible budget and playing a full part in the
development of promising players.
To quote from a buzz phrase of Iain
Dowie the innovative Crystal Palace manager:
"You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give" .
Provided the players give it their best shot the managers
cannot ask for more.
Brian Hargrave
Contributor: Brian Hargrave
Club: Trivia
Link:
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