On paper Edgbaston v Man/Pont was close - Nick & Matt report on how it all rested on one decision ...
Edgbaston Priory Vs Manchester Pontefract
With a match that looked set to be extremely close on paper it turned out to be almost down to one rally (decision). I think you have to take the rough with the smooth sometimes and Edgbaston were definitely on the rough side in this match. One thing I hope that the boisterous crowd remember, from the night is that they witnessed a great match between two great sides and that the level of squash again was world class!
Sarah Fitz-Gerald Vs Becky Botwright
9/6 9/2 9/5
With Becky up against the task of having to face the mighty Sarah Fitz-Gerald she looked like she was well up for it playing some superb squash at the start while Sarah was a bit slow out of the blocks! Becky was playing some superb drops to the front which were just catching Sarah out, until Sarah started to move that bit better. Sarah then won the next 15 points to go 5 points up in the second game before Becky got back in, but it was to no avail, Becky’s head had dropped and you could see she had lost the form she had in the first game. Sarah is still a force to be reckoned with.
Del Harris Vs James Wilstrop
7/9 11/9 9/5 7/9 10/12
The battle of the giants begins! A match that looked to be full of the unexpected did not disappoint the crowd. Two of the world’s best attacking players clashed here at Edgbaston Priory on 4th November 2003. As the opening game progressed it was James who utilized the court to its full potential taking the edge in a tight opener. Del never strayed too far behind but allowed his younger opponent too much crucial time on the ball and was punished, 7-9 to the visitors.
Del opened the second game with a different attitude, reducing the error rate and turning the table on James to take control of the second. At 7-5 to Harris it looked like it was in the bag, but some unexpected shots from James brought the scores level. The next rallies went point-for-point to 9-9 before Harris regained form and finished clinically to level the games at 1-1. Harris grew in stature executing some tiring rallies on James resulting in some errors from the young magician. Harris took a crucial third game to give him a 2-1 lead.
The fourth game was a tense and exciting game, both players attacking outrageously, and both players retrieving unbelievably, the splits, diving and spinning seemed to be the order of the day, needless to say the crowd loved it. One rally even had Lee Beachill emulating one of Harris’ executions of a perfectly sliced cross-court drop dead winner on the end of an awesome rally. A game which no one wanted to end, but it did and unfortunately for the home crowd it went the wrong way.
The fifth game followed a similar pattern as the fourth with both players neck and neck to 7-7. An awesome rally followed with James playing a reaction shot which lobbed out of court to give Del his first match ball, on the third match ball to Del one moment of madness marred the match. A tense rally by both players resulted in a mid-court ball in James’ lap with Del waiting there with his racket behind James waiting for stroke to be called and therefore match to Edgbaston; let ball, the crowd, both home and away players were left gob-smacked. James recovered to take the match on his first match ball, a fantastic match.
Hadrian Stiff Vs Marcus Berrett 4/9 5/9 4/9
This match was always going to be an up hill struggle for Hadrian as Marcus is by far the strongest number 4 in National League. This didn’t mean that Hadrian was going to sit back in fact he really had a go. In the first Hadrian was just that bit tense and tinned out on a couple of crucial points when Marcus didn’t. The second saw some of the best squash you will see at number 4 in the League, Hadrian was relaxed and focused playing some of his best squash that we’ve seen at Priory, but even so Marcus was just that bit stronger taking the second and the third to clinch the Match for the Manchester side. Great squash to watch!
Olli Touminen Vs Nick Taylor
4/9 9/4 9/7 9/2
The Finland players home debut was fast and furious with which he won the crowd straight away. A nervous opener allowed Taylor to comfortably take the first before Touminem settled and took advantage of his tired opponent. Taylor tried to slow the pace but Touminem kept it fast and attacked with fury leveling the scores at 1-1. The third was controlled by Touminen with a late comeback by the Englishman but the gap was too much, 2-1 to Edgbaston. The fourth game took its toll on Taylor and Touminem ran away to a win on his debut.
Adrian Grant Vs Lee Beachill
2/9 3/9 6/9
With the match poised at 2-2 the crowd were right behind Adrian, but this wasn’t his night. We have no excuses, but it’s extremely hard to play a match against such a player of Lee Beachill’s class when the last match you played you had to withdraw because of a twisted ankle. Adrian was ok, but in the back of his mind he was always thinking of how much he could push himself with out hurting his ankle again. Give Lee a quarter of a second and you are in big trouble. Adrian looked awkward and was unsure of what he was capable of doing, Lee knew the importance of the match and he had that look in his eye. Adrian picked up in the third but its hard work playing Lee, but to give him two start, would be too much for even the likes of Peter Nicol.
Next Match is on the 18th of November against Duffield at Edgbaston and I can assure you that the Team will be up for putting Edgbaston back on top of Group A. Olli Touminen takes player of the match (closely followed by Del) with his electric pace and determination. He certainly won the Edgbaston Crowd over in his debut performance.
