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07/10/2004
GUILDFORD SUFFER IN WEEK ONE
Ian Robinson takes his Guildford team to Chichester in round one ...
Chichester 4 beat UniSport Guildford 1
Azlan Iskander 1 lost to Stacey Ross 3 (8-10, 7-9, 9-3, 6-9)
Peter Genever 3 beat Stephen Meads 1 ( 8-10, 9-4, 11-9, 9-1)
Ben Garner 3 beat Neil Frankland 0 (9-3, 9-6, 9-5)
Tim Vail 3 beat Jesse Engelbrecht 0 ( 9-2, 9-7, 10-8)
Linda Elriani 3 beat Alison Waters 0 (9-3, 9-7, 9-0)
GUILDFORD SUFFER IN WEEK ONE
Ian Robinson
reports ...
UniSport Guildford made a losing start to the new National League
season. There were some bright moments but ultimately winning
points were denied. Chichester fielded a familiar but powerful
full strength line up, whereas UniSport were denied the services of
Fiona Geaves who came back from the World team championships in Holland
unable to take her place in the ranks. Overall it would not have
affected the results but it did provide the opportunity to assess the
performances of 2 young debutantes in UniSport colours, Jesse
Engelbrecht and Alison Waters.
Chichester are favourites to make the play off places in Group B of the
National Squash League and have seen players improve their world
rankings to add to.the potency of their challenge. Azzi Iskander
(Malaysian number 2) has moved ahead of Peter Genever in the rankings
thereby taking the number 1 spot for Chichester and there is a strong
case for the improving Ben Garner moving up to number 2 in their
playing order based on the world rankings. Nevertheless Peter
Genever is a long time hero for Chichester and his determination is no
less reduced now than it has ever been.
Waters tests Elriani
Linda Elriani opposed Alison Waters for UniSport and was a firm
favourite heavily outranking the young Guildford player. The
youngster was not overawed and, showing what a good athlete she
is, made a good fist of the contest. Many of the rallies were on
an even footing, it was Elriani's experience that helped her to the win
even after the exhausting week she enjoyed with the England team in
Holland. In many respects Waters matched her shots but was too
injudicious in her shot selection at crucial times. There were a
few too many loose balls under pressure. In the second game
Waters took the game to Elriani and with a little more belief might
well have pinched that game.
Unfortunately the third game was the result of some sustained Elriani
pressure with too many errors leading to the UniSport player's downfall
without troubling the scorers. This was valuable experience for
Waters and augurs well for the future.
Jesse's efforts in vain
Jesse Engelbrecht, the Durban born Zimbabwe number 1 with a British
passport, was also making his debut for UniSport up against the gritty
Tim Vail who looks a strong number 4 on the evidence of his form from
previous seasons. Increased coaching duties may well blunt his
competitive instincts in the end, but on this form it has not so
far. Engelbrecht took his time to get started and surrendered the
first game for only 2 points, succumbing to the volleying powers of
Vail. But although patchy, Engelbrecht managed to get his teeth
into the game and force his way back after being behind for long
periods. However he left himself too much to do to have any
chance of nosing in front at the end of the second game. 2-0 down
and still Engelbrecht was charging around the court trying to impose
himself on the game. In the end Vail had just too much control
but it would have been a lot more interesting if he had dropped a
game.
This was a tough first outing for Engelbrecht but having spent the
summer training with team mate Neil Frankland he looks better prepared
for the contests ahead and is certainly a prodigious athlete for when
his stroke play catches up. Nonetheless through all the future
optimism, the here and now said 2 matches 0 against UniSport.
Garner gains Chi victory
Neil Frankland had the most difficult task taking on the young and
improving Ben Garner. The Chichester man has become stronger and
quicker in thought and deed since last season and smashed the ball
heavily around the court normally to the back corners, forcing the play
and making Frankland cough up loose balls,which he then dispatched for
winners in the front of the court. Not pretty but brutally
effective.
Frankland was especially loose early on and seemed to be slow off the
mark, but then was under constant pressure. As the match
progressed Frankland did manage to find a better range of shot and did
enough to suggest that there are still weaknesses in Garner's game, but
not enough for him to exploit on this occasion. This was a heavy
defeat and effectively ended UniSport's night with the 3 matches enough
to give the match to Chichester.
Genever makes it four
While the number 3s were in progress, the veteran Steve Meads was
taking on another warrior of the game Peter Genever. These have
often been clumsy matches in the past and while this was not too
attractive on the eye, at least it was more open than some previous
encounters. The match tilted back and forth as first the UniSport
man nosed in front by the tightest of margins, then Genever came back
with a more dominant performance in the second. The 3rd game was
crucial to Meads' cause as he eventually lost it 11-9 and with that his
night collapsed around him with Genever comfortably mopping up the last
9-1 for a 3-1 win to Chichester. Now a 4-0 lead left
UniSport fighting to salvage a point.
Stacey Salvages a Point
Salvage a point they did with an impressive display from new number 1
Stacey Ross. Azzi Iskander had a strange night making a lot more
errors than is good for a player of his ability, but the form of his
opponent had something to do with it. The first game was a mix of
drop shot errors from Azzi mingled with some tight, controlled shots
from Ross. It was a strange 'bits and pieces' sort of game at
best and it seemed to be over in a flash.
The second almost continued where the first had left off with never too
much between the 2 players. In the end Ross managed to find just
the right mix of winners and errors from his opponent and he took a 2-0
lead. As close as the first 2 had been Azzi found himself well
away in the 3rd and it looked as though the higher ranked player might
start to control proceedings after reducing the deficit to 2-1.
However Ross with a better level of concentration in the 4th kept
himself in front and managed to pick up an unlikely result against the
odds on a night when his team mates were losing all around him.
Next: Team Solent
Not a great start by UniSport but Guildford but some bright
moments. The next match is against Team Solent who have recruited
well in the close season and represent a difficult tie, but is one to
win to be on target for the play offs at the end of the season.
It is the only home match before Christmas so those non-travelling
UniSport Guildford fans need to book early for their tickets.
It promises to be a good night of world class squash. See you
there.
Contributor: Ian Robinson
Club: Guildford
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