Premier League 2006/7

Duffield Retain PSL Title In Nottingham

Derbyshire club Benz Bavarian Duffield beat event newcomers Redwood Probuild Bristol 3/2 in tonight's (Tuesday) Premier Squash League (PSL) final at Nottingham Squash Club to not only extend their unbeaten run to 15 ties, but also became the first club for ten years to successfully defend the title.

Both teams were at full strength for the climax of the England Squash league sponsored by Clowes Insurance: Duffield fielded three players who clinched the 2006 title in Manchester - England number ones Nick Matthew and Tania Bailey, and Jonathan Kemp - while the Bristol squad featured two players making their fourth appearances in PSL finals, Adrian Grant, a former Edgbaston Priory player, and David Evans who appeared in the 1999 final for 2007 final hosts Nottingham!

Lincolnshire's Tania Bailey put the champions ahead with a 9-6, 9-6, 10-8 defeat of rising Australian star Kasey Brown. "She's a really good player, so I knew I'd have to play well to beat her," said the world No4 of her opponent, ranked 12 places lower.

On an adjacent court, Duffield stalwart Andrew Whipp beat Bristol captain Hadrian Stiff 10-12, 9-6, 9-5, 9-6 to give the title-holders a 2/0 lead.

But PSL veteran David Evans, the former British Open champion from Wales who has represented the mid-order strength of league debutants Bristol, pulled back the deficit when he despatched Duffield's newly-married Lee Drew 9-4, 9-2, 9-5.

However, squad No2 Jonathan Kemp - in his 10^th appearance for Duffield this season - clinched the title for his club when he edged out Australian Joseph Kneipp 9-6, 9-4, 7-9, 10-8.

England team-mates Nick Matthew and Adrian Grant faced each other in the best-of-three 'dead rubber' which completed the evening - Grant securing a further consolation point for the west country side by dismissing his higher-ranked national team-mate Matthew 9-6, 9-5 in just 17 minutes.

"I'm glad my team did the important work before I got on court, as Adrian was on fire tonight," said Matthew later.

The Yorkshireman went on to pay tribute to Duffield team manager Brian Hargrave, who was celebrating his third Premier League title for the club since 1998. "Brian does an amazing job - he seems not only to run our club, but the league and the rest of the clubs too - it's a fantastic effort."

Hargrave put his team's success down "a real squad effort."

"Throughout the season, if one player didn't quite perform, others would excel and lead the team to overall success. It is a team in every sense of the word.

"And the supporters have been outstanding too. They have been with us throughout the season, home and away, and this encourages the players - and is probably worth a couple of extra points for each match," Hargrave explained.

The manager also paid tribute to long-time sponsors Benz-Bavarian: "Company owner Felix Frixou has been with us for ten years now - he is very generous. We couldn't have done it without him," added Hargrave.

Despite narrowly losing out, Bristol driving force Hadrian Stiff also had much to be proud of - helping his club become the first ever to reach the final in its debut season: "Our secret was having a squad of players mainly based in the UK - and comprising a nucleus of players who are not playing on the international tour and can therefore focus on our league commitment," said the Devonian who recently set up his base at Redwood Lodge in Bristol.

"But, despite having eight courts at Redwood, we desperately need a glass-back court at the club if we are going to capitalise on this fantastic first season in the PSL," explained the England No19.

"For some time, my aim has been to build a strong squad of elite players here in Bristol - and it would be good to think that this success will help us achieve this soon and attract more top-level squash to the south west," added Stiff.

Final result: Tuesday 15 May

Benz Bavarian Duffield 3 Redwood Probuild Bristol 2

Nick Matthew lost to Adrian Grant 6-9, 5-9 (17m)

Jonathan Kemp bt Joseph Kneipp 9-6, 9-4, 7-9, 10-8 (32m)

Lee Drew lost to David Evans 4-9, 2-9, 5-9 (24m)

Andrew Whipp bt Hadrian Stiff 10-12, 9-6, 9-5, 9-6 (44m)

Tania Bailey bt Kasey Brown 9-6, 9-6, 10-8 (43m)

Semi-Final Leg 2: Report

Newcomers Bristol & Champions
Duffield To Contest PSL Final

Champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield and event newcomers Redwood Probuild Bristol will contest the Premier Squash League (PSL) final next month after contrasting second leg semi-final wins tonight (Thursday) in the England Squash league sponsored by Clowes Insurance.

The manner of the teams' successes could not have been more different: Bristol, going into the home tie with a 4/1 advantage over University of Birmingham from the first leg 48 hours earlier, comfortably took the first two matches of the night to put the overall result beyond doubt.

Duffield, the Derbyshire club which won the title last year and have remained unbeaten throughout this season, journeyed south to take on Surrey Health & Racquets Croydon - holding a slender 3/2 lead.

And it was a gutsy performance from the visitors' Laura Hill - the full-time Derbyshire fire-fighter unable to play in the first leg due to injury - who twice came from behind in the superb opening women's match against Croydon's trainee policewoman Stephanie Brind, then saved two match-balls to win 7-9, 9-2, 7-9, 9-5, 11-9!

The score was soon one-all as Croydon's Ben Ford beat Laurence Delasaux 7-9, 9-7, 9-6, 5-9, 9-6 - then the hosts moved ahead after another dramatic match which went the full distance when Bradley Ball avenged his first leg loss to Andrew Whipp to beat the Duffield stalwart 4-9, 9-7, 9-6, 6-9, 9-7.

A second stunning performance in two days by Jonathan Kemp against the higher-ranked Italian number one Davide Bianchetti put the first straight games score on the results board as Duffield not only delighted in drawing level - but also in a 9-4, 9-4, 9-3 scoreline which did not give any valuable game points to the opponents!

On paper the decider was a banker for the visiting champions - but everybody in the arena knew that Duffield's British Open champion and world No8 Nick Matthew would not be given an easy time by the now-retired legend that is Peter Nicol MBE. The indefatigable Nicol stretched his opponent to a game-ball in the opening game, but was unable to convert it as Matthew kept his cool to forge a 12-10, 9-5, 9-7 victory which gave Duffield their 14th successive tie win - and took the club into the final for the second year in a row.

It was an impressive performance from the Duffield No1 who not only clinched the decider in the first leg, but also the decider in last year's two semi-final clashes - AND in the final!

A delighted Duffield team manager Brian Hargrave was not only full of praise for his victorious squad, but also for the performance of the home side's Peter Nicol: "Nick Matthew has played some tough matches for us this season, but two of his hardest must have been the two this week against Peter. He may be retired, but he played out of his skull on both occasions - he really is one hell of a guy!

"But we owe it to Laura Hill - the fire-fighter fighting for her life against Stephanie Brind in a superb women's match. If Laura had lost that, we wouldn't be in the final!"

Nick Matthew refused to take credit for his successive decisive victories for Duffield: "I just happen to comeon last - but it's the other guys who've survived the five-setters - particularly Andy Whipp on Tuesday and Laura tonight," said the modest Yorkshireman. "They're the ones who deserve the credit."

Bristol team captain Hadrian Stiff and squad number one Adrian Grant will also be looking forward to a second successive year in the final - but this time it will be representing Redwood Probuild Bristol, the Avon club enjoying a sensational maiden season in the PSL.

It was Stiff's 6-9, 9-1, 9-4, 9-2 victory over the Birmingham visitors' Jaymie Haycocks, and team newcomer Daniela Schumann's 11-9, 9-7, 9-7 win over Leonie Holt, that relieved the early pressure in the other semi-final tie in Bristol.

The University of Birmingham team fought back to level the tie when the squad's South African star Stephen Coppinger beat the home side's former British Open champion David Evans 9-3, 9-4, 6-9, 9-4, and 19-year-old Joel Hinds recorded an impressive 9-5, 12-10, 4-9, 10-12, 9-5 win over experienced Australian Joseph Kneipp - both Birmingham players avenging first leg defeats.

In the evening's decider, Bristol's Adrian Grant also made up for a surprise loss on Tuesday when he beat the visitors' Joey Barrington 5-9, 9-7, 9-5, 9-1.

Semi-Final Leg 2: Results

Semi-Finals, 2nd leg Results:

Surrey Health & Racquets Croydon 2 Benz-Bavarian Duffield 3
Peter Nicol lost to Nick Matthew 10-12, 5-9, 7-9
Davide Bianchetti lost to Jonathan Kemp 4-9, 4-9, 3-9
Bradley Ball bt Andrew Whipp 4-9, 9-7, 9-6, 6-9, 9-7
Ben Ford bt Laurence Delasaux 7-9, 9-7, 9-6, 5-9, 9-6
Stephanie Brind lost to Laura Hill 9-7, 2-9, 9-7, 5-9, 9-11

Duffield win 6-4 on aggregate

Redwood Probuild Bristol 3 University of Birmingham 2
Adrian Grant bt Joey Barrington 5-9, 9-7, 9-5, 9-1
Joseph Kneipp lost to Joel Hinds 5-9, 10-12, 9-4, 12-10, 5-9
David Evans lost to Stephen Coppinger 3-9, 4-9, 9-6, 4-9
Hadrian Stiff bt Jaymie Haycocks 6-9, 9-1, 9-4, 9-2
Daniela Schumann bt Leonie Holt 11-9, 9-7, 9-7

Bristol win 7-3 on aggregate

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Semi-Final Leg 1: Report
Champions Duffield & Newcomers
Bristol Take Early Advantage In PSL Semis

Event newcomers Redwood Probuild Bristol and title-holders Benz-Bavarian Duffield hold the early advantage after tonight's (Tuesday) first leg semi-finals in the Premier Squash League (PSL) - the west country debutants securing a valuable 4/1 away win at University of Birmingham, while the Derbyshire club clinched a 3/2 home win over Surrey Health & Racquets Croydon.

The teams will meet again in reverse fixtures on Thursday (26 April) in the second semi-final legs - to decide the line-up of the final of the England Squash league sponsored by Clowes Insurance on 15th May.

It was a night of pure drama in Duffield where the champions were hoping to maintain the unbeaten record which stretches back to last season. But Tim Garner, a last-minute stand in for Ben Ford, celebrated his 37th birthday in some style when he put Croydon into the lead with a 7-9, 9-6, 9-7, 9-5 win over former European Junior champion Laurence Delasaux. "I kept telling myself it was a long way to come to lose on my birthday!" said the Sussex champion afterwards.

Duffield bounced back when Jonathan Kemp - a stalwart of last season's title-winning squad - scored a notable win over Italian No1 Davide Bianchetti, twice coming from behind to beat the opponent ranked five places higher in the world 8-10, 9-3, 7-9, 9-7, 9-1 in 45 minutes.

"We're both a bit tired from playing three tournaments in a row, so I wanted to go out fast, step up the court and play at a fast pace," said Kemp. "It was working and not working equally, I was making too many errors, so I decided to try to slow it down, cut out the mistakes, and that was more effective."

Another stunning win came Duffield's way when part-timer Andrew Whipp came back from two games down to beat the Surrey club's world No32 Bradley Ball 6-9, 2-9, 9-2, 9-5, 9-3. "I can't really explain what happened," said Ball, candidly, later.

The delighted victor joked: "I'm a bit of a slow starter these days, someone suggested I should play a match before my match."

Duffield's lead was brief, however, as Croydon's soon-to-be policewoman Stephanie Brind showed that she still possesses some of the flair that took her to No4 in the world five years ago by beating the hosts' Vicky Hynes 9-6, 9-6, 9-7.

And so the top string clash between former England team-mates Nick Matthew, Duffield's reigning British Open champion, and the now retired former world number one Peter Nicol, was to be the decider. The packed crowd was treated to a gripping display of world-class squash as Nicol summoned every drop of skill and magic he could to keep at bay the 'youngster' whom he beat six times out of eight when on the Tour. Miraculously, Nicol clinched the third game - but victory came after 47 minutes to the home star as Matthew won 9-3, 9-3, 6-9, 11-9 to keep alive Duffield's chances of reaching a second successive final.

It was a much more one-sided affair in Birmingham where both sides were experiencing semi-final action for the first time. Bristol charged into the lead as team captain Hadrian Stiff and Germany's Daniela Schumann, making her debut for the visitors, beat the University side's Jaymie Haycocks and Leonie Holt, respectively.

Welshman David Evans, the former British Open champion, piled on the pressure by beating Birmingham's Stephen Coppinger 9-7, 9-7, 9-3 to clinch victory for the visitors - then Australian regular Joseph Kneipp stretched Bristol's lead with a 4-9, 10-8, 3-9, 9-4, 9-3 win over Joel Hinds.

Perhaps the most surprising result - but one which gave the home team some consolation - was when Birmingham number one Joey Barrington inflicted the first PSL defeat of the year on Adrian Grant. The former Birmingham student beat Bristol's world No15, ranked 12 places higher, 9-2, 5-9, 6-9, 10-9, 9-3 in 54 minutes - saving a match-ball in the fourth game.

Semi-Final Leg 1: Results
Semi-Finals, 1st leg Results:

Benz-Bavarian Duffield 3 Surrey Health & Racquets Croydon 2
Nick Matthew bt Peter Nicol 9-3, 9-3, 6-9, 11-9 (47m)
Jonathan Kemp bt Davide Bianchetti 8-10, 9-3, 7-9, 9-7, 9-1 (45m)
Andrew Whipp bt Bradley Ball 6-9, 2-9, 9-2, 9-5, 9-3 (36m)
Laurence Delasaux lost to Tim Garner 9-7, 6-9, 7-9, 5-9 (35m)
Vicky Hynes lost to Stephanie Brind 6-9, 6-9, 7-9 (20m)

University of Birmingham 1 Redwood Probuild Bristol 4
Joey Barrington bt Adrian Grant 9-2, 5-9, 6-9, 10-9, 9-3 (54m)
Joel Hinds lost to Joseph Kneipp 9-4, 8-10, 9-3, 4-9, 3-9 (51m)
Stephen Coppinger lost to David Evans 7-9, 7-9, 3-9 (38m)
Jaymie Haycocks lost to Hadrian Stiff 6-9, 2-9, 2-9 (29m)
Leonie Holt lost to Daniela Schumann 5-9, 8-10, 9-6, 9-6, 3-9 (37m)

Round 10 Report
Bristol, Croydon & University of Birmingham Join Duffield In PSL Play-Offs

Three clubs claimed places in the play-offs of the Premier Squash League (PSL) for the first time after a night of dramatic action in the tenth and final round of the group stages of the England Squash league sponsored by Clowes Insurance.

Defending champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield, leaders of Group A and already assured of a play-off place, stormed to a 5/0 win at Esporta Oxford - which not only extended the Derbyshire club's unbeaten run this season, but denied Oxford a place in the play-offs in their debut season in the league. The other tie in the group saw University of Birmingham, in only their second season in the PSL, battle to a 4/1 home win over former champions Nottingham to secure runners-up position - and the second place in play-offs.

The balance of power in Group B was finely poised throughout the evening. But when Redwood Probuild Bristol overturned a 1/0 deficit to beat Surrey Health & Racquets Croydon - leaders of the group for most of the season - 4/1 away from home, it became clear that both teams would qualify, Bristol finishing on 113 points and Croydon with 109.

Elsewhere in Surrey, Luxfords St George's Hill had home advantage as they reversed an early match defeat to claim a hard-fought 4/1 win over county rivals UniSport Guildford. According to Guildford team manager Ian Robinson, the result could easily have been 4/1 in the visitors' direction. But it was a disappointed St George's Hill team manager Danny Lee who eventually conceded that, despite also finishing with more than 100 points in the season, and sharing five winning ties over the season with both Bristol and Croydon, they would not be experiencing play-off action in their maiden PSL season.

England number one Tania Bailey was in powerful form as she put Duffield in the driving seat against Esporta Oxford with a 9-3, 9-3, 6-9, 9-5 win over Irish champion Madeline Perry. Lee Drew then avenged his loss to World University champion Chris Drew in the teams' earlier clash in the season when he beat the Oxford No3 9-6, 7-9, 9-7, 5-9, 9-2.

In the final two matches, Jonathan Kemp and squad No1 Nick Matthew both repeated their mid-season victories over the home side's Scott Handley and Cameron Pilley, respectively, to ensure maximum points for Duffield.

There was jubilation at the University of Birmingham when it became clear that their 4/1 win over Nottingham would take the young squad into the play-offs in their first season in the country's elite league. And nowhere was the determination more in evidence than in the opening match between the home team's Laura-Jane Lengthorn and Nottingham's Dominique Lloyd-Walter, ranked 10 and 20, respectively, in the world and separated by only two positions in the English list. Incredibly, it was the longest match of the tie, with Lancashire's Lengthorn prevailing 6-9, 10-8, 10-8, 7-9, 9-5 in 53 minutes.

Nottingham's Peter Marshall, the former world number two making his competitive comeback after five years of 'retirement', was in devastating form to clinch the second game against Birmingham's Stephen Coppinger, but the fast-improving South African ultimately got the upper hand to win 9-5, 0-9, 9-5, 9-6.

Joel Hinds, the 19-year-old squad No3 from Derbyshire clinched the all-important tie victory for the hosts, beating Irishman Arthur Gaskin 9-5, 9-7, 9-1 - but Nottingham stalwart Simon Parke restored some pride for the visitors when he beat world No27 Joey Barrington 9-6, 9-3, 4-9, 3-9 9-5 in the final match.

When Malaysia's world No1 Nicol David beat Australia's up-and-coming Kasey Brown 9-7, 9-6, 9-5, it looked as if Surrey Health & Racquets Croydon would extend their leadership of the Group B points table to clinch the group's top place in the play-offs. But visitors Redwood Probuild Bristol arrived with strength in depth - and Chris Clare, team captain Hadrian Stiff and Welshman David Evans took out Chris Simpson, Tim Garner and Bradley Ball, respectively, to ensure their play-of place - Evans beating world No28 Ball for the second time in 24 hours!

In the final top string match, Italian number one Davide Bianchetti needed a straight games win in order for Croydon to pip Bristol by a single point. But it was the visitors' Australian international Joseph Kneipp who prevailed, winning 9-5, 8-10, 10-8, 9-6 to ensure Redwood Probuild's top place finish.

Despite being out of the running for a play-off place, UniSport Guildford made a powerful start against play-off hopefuls Luxfords St George's Hill when England international Alison Waters crushed the home side's Isabelle Tweedle 9-0, 9-2, 9-1. The visitors showed determination in the remaining clashes, but all went to the hosts - the most dramatic of which saw Guildford's Stephen Meads fail to convert more than ten match balls against Alister Walker before the St George's Hill world No32 finally pulled through in an incredible 9-4, 2-9, 7-9, 17-15, 15-13 scoreline!

"I thought that our team played their hearts out," said a dejected Danny Lee afterwards. "Alister battled through a scrappy match with Meadsy, saving tons of match balls. John Rooney got us off to a magnificent start and Daryl maintained his excellent form against Jesse. Renan fought like a man possessed to nick it from Stacey in the fifth and thanks to Isabelle for being brave enough to stand in against the top class Alison Waters. We are gutted not to make the play-offs - but thanks to the team for all their efforts and to our sponsors Luxfords for their support."

10^th round Results, Tuesday 27 March 2007

Semi-finals Play-offs line-up:

Benz-Bavarian Duffield v Surrey Health & Racquets Croydon

Redwood Probuild Bristol v University of Birmingham

1st leg: Tuesday 24 April

2nd leg: Thursday 26 April

10^th round results

Group A:

University of Birmingham 4 Nottingham 1

Joey Barrington lost to Simon Parke 6-9, 3-9, 9-4, 9-3, 5-9

Jonathan Harford bt Jethro Binns 9-7, 11-9, 9-1

Joel Hinds bt Arthur Gaskin 9-5, 9-7, 9-1 (34m)

Stephen Coppinger bt Peter Marshall 9-5, 0-9, 9-5, 9-6 (41m)

Laura-Jane Lengthorn bt Dominique Lloyd-Walter 6-9, 10-8, 10-8, 7-9, 9-5 (53m)

Esporta Oxford 0 Benz-Bavarian Duffield 5

Cameron Pilley lost to Nick Matthew 7-9, 6-9, 7-9

Scott Handley lost to Jonathan Kemp 5-9, 2-9, 9-7, 9-4, 5-9

Chris Ryder lost to Lee Drew 6-9, 9-7, 7-9, 9-5, 2-9

Kristen Johnson lost to Andrew Whipp 10-12, 4-9, 6-9

Madeline Perry lost to Tania Bailey 3-9, 3-9, 9-6, 5-9

Group B:

Luxfords St George's Hill 4 UniSport Guildford 1

Renan Lavigne bt Stacey Ross 9-3, 7-9, 6-9, 9-7, 9-6

Alister Walker bt Stephen Meads 9-4, 2-9, 7-9, 17-15, 15-13

Daryl Selby bt Jesse Engelbrecht 9-5, 6-9, 9-7, 9-5

John Rooney bt Phil Rushworth 9-5, 9-3, 9-4

Isabelle Tweedle lost to Alison Waters 0-9, 2-9, 1-9

Surrey Health & Racquets Croydon 1 Redwood Probuild Bristol 4

Davide Bianchetti lost to Joseph Kneipp 5-9, 10-8, 8-10, 6-9

Bradley Ball lost to David Evans 7-9, 3-9, 5-9

Tim Garner lost to Hadrian Stiff 5-9, 3-9, 4-9

Chris Simpson lost to Chris Clare 9-5, 6-9, 3-9, 4-9

Nicol David bt Kasey Brown 9-7, 9-6, 9-5

PSL TABLES (after 10^th and final round)

Ties Matches Games Pts

P W L W L W L

Group A:

Benz-Bavarian Duffield 8 8 0 30 10 101 49 141

University of Birmingham 8 4 4 24 16 83 61 103

Esporta Oxford 8 4 4 19 21 76 73 96

Nottingham 8 4 4 19 21 66 77 86

Pontefract 8 0 8 8 32 39 105 39

Group B:

Redwood Probuild Bristol 8 5 3 25 15 88 63 113

Surrey H&R Croydon 8 5 3 23 17 84 65 109

Luxfords St George's Hill 8 5 3 22 18 80 78 105

Tinos Homes Chichester 8 4 4 19 21 75 82 95

UniSport Guildford 8 1 7 11 29 56 95 61