Chapel Allerton 3-2 Probuild Bristol

8th Round
New Champions In Mixed Fortunes For Clubs In PSL

The two new British National Squash champions Nick Matthew and Jenny Duncalf maintained their winning form in the eighth round of the Premier Squash League (PSL) - but, while Matthew's four-game victory helped lift former champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield back to the top of the Group A table, the win by fellow Yorkshire player Jenny Duncalf failed to prevent Chapel Allerton going down 2/3 to Esporta Oxford with two rounds to go in the season of the world's most prestigious squash league.

Derbyshire club Duffield notched up an impressive 5/0 home win over East Midlands rivals MB Nottingham.  The 2007 champions' first whitewash of the season consigned Group A leaders Nottingham to third place - while Leeds-based Chapel Allerton hold onto second place despite their home loss to Oxford

Probuild Bristol return to the top of the Group B table for the first time since the beginning of the season after beating reigning champions PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC 4/1 at home - while UniSport Guildford secured only their second win of the season by beating former table-toppers Exeter Diamonds, weakened by the last-minute withdrawal of squad No1 Stewart Boswell.  Last season's runners-up PNH Properties Chichester suffered their fourth defeat in a row, going down 2/3 to TWP St George's Hill.

Just 48 hours after regaining his men's British National crown in Manchester, Sheffield's Nick Matthew recorded his sixth successive PSL win when he beat French international Renan Lavigne 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8 to clinch the 5/0 win for Duffield.  Nottingham also fielded two new National champions, Simon Parke and Donna Vardy, the British Over-35 title winners.  Parke, a long-time Nottingham stalwart was beaten 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 by the home side's 27-year-old Andrew Whipp, while Vardy - the 37-year-old former nationally-ranked player who stopped playing for ten years before picking up a racket again, then played in her first tournament for 15 years to win the Over-35 crown - went down 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 to England international Tania Bailey.

Jenny Duncalf repeated her Manchester semi-final win over Madeline Perry when she beat the Irish number one 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 to put Chapel Allerton ahead in their home match against Esporta Oxford.  But the visitors' Scott Handley, Chris Ryder and Borja Golan were too strong for the Leeds club's middle order as Oxford built up an unassailable lead.

Thierry Lincou restored some pride for the home team, however, when the newly-crowned French champion defeated Australian international Cameron Pilley 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 in the final match of the day.

Probuild Bristol recorded their fourth PSL win in a row when they defeated PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC - the Croydon club weakened by the unavailability of squad number one Peter Barker, who withdrew from the Nationals with bronchitis.

After Vicky Botwright gave a the visitors a temporary lead, the Bristol hosts took full advantage of the opportunity as Peter Marshall, team manager Hadrian Stiff, David Evans and Nationals' runner-up Adrian Grant all earned hard-fought victories to take the team back to the top of the Group B table.

It was also the last-minute loss of their top-string that led league newcomers Exeter Diamonds to only their second defeat of the season.  Team regular James Snell, celebrating his 21st birthday, gave the hosts some hope with a straight games win over UniSport Guildford's Mick Biggs - but the Surrey University team already had a win under the belt via women's national championship runner-up Alison Waters - and club stalwarts Stephen Meads and Stacey Ross soon ensured the overall win with victories over Exeter's Tom Pashley and Rob Sutherland, respectively.

There was further Surrey success when TWP St George's Hill beat PNH Properties Chichester - but it was all-square when the hosts' top string Daryl Selby took on Chichester's now-retired Welsh international Alex Gough.  Selby, a quarter-finalist in Manchester, had to work hard to keep Gough at bay - but, spurred on by a capacity St George's Hill crowd, battled to a 12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6 victory to clinch a 3/2 outcome for the home club.

RESULTS:            8th round, Tuesday 17 February 2009

    Group A:

Chapel Allerton 2  Esporta Oxford 3

  Thierry Lincou bt Cameron Pilley  11-6, 11-6, 11-7

  Laurence Delasaux lost to Borja Golan  11-7, 4-11, 9-11, 9-11

  Chris Truswell lost to Chris Ryder  2-11, 8-11, 10-12

  Rudi Willemse lost to Scott Handley  11-13, 11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 6-11

  Jenny Duncalf bt Madeline Perry  9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9

Benz-Bavarian Duffield 5  MB Nottingham 0

  Nick Matthew bt Renan Lavigne  11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8

  Joey Barrington bt John Rooney  7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8

  Andrew Whipp bt Simon Parke  11-6, 11-8, 11-5

  Joel Hinds bt Lewis Walters  11-7, 11-3, 11-6

  Tania Bailey bt Donna Vardy  11-5, 11-5, 11-3

    Group B:

Probuild Bristol 4  PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC 1

  Adrian Grant bt Davide Bianchetti  4-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5

  David Evans bt Simon Rosner  11-5, 6-11, 11-4, 11-9

  Hadrian Stiff bt Ben Ford  13-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8

  Peter Marshall bt Adrian Waller  11-7, 3-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9 (74m)

  Sarah-Jane Perry lost to Vicky Botwright  8-11, 2-11, 6-11

Exeter Diamonds 2  UniSport Guildford 3

  Mohamed El Shorbagy bt Jesse Engelbrecht  9-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-7

  Rob Sutherland lost to Stacey Ross  8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6, 4-11

  Tom Pashley lost to Stephen Meads  7-11, 9-11, 3-11

  James Snell bt Mick Biggs  11-4, 11-3, 11-1

  Emma Chorley lost to Alison Waters  3-11, 6-11, 2-11

TWP St George's Hill 3  PNH Properties Chichester 2

  Daryl Selby bt Alex Gough  12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6

  Tom Richards bt Tim Vail  11-2, 10-12, 11-4, 11-7

  Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan bt Robbie Temple  11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8

  Joe Lee lost to Olivier Pett  11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 11-13, 3-11

  Rachel Willmott lost to Dominique Lloyd-Walter  4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 5-11

PSL TABLES (after 8th round)

                                 Ties       Matches     Games     Pts

                               P   W   L    W    L     W     L

   Group A:

Benz-Bavarian Duffield         6   4   2   19   11    63    44    83

Chapel Allerton                6   3   3   19   11    64    44    79

MB Nottingham                  7   3   4   14   21    61    70    76

Esporta Oxford                 7   3   4   15   20    59    75    74

Pontefract                     6   3   3   13   17    48    62    63

   Group B:

Probuild Bristol               8   6   2   26   14    89    62   119

Exeter Diamonds                8   6   2   24   16    82    68   112

Surrey H&RC                    8   5   3   22   18    85    70   110

TWP St George's Hill           8   3   5   14   26    64    95    79

UniSport Guildford             7   2   5   15   20    61    71    71

PNH Properties Chichester      7   1   6   14   21    59    74    64

7th Round
 

Nottingham & Exeter Reclaim Top Positions In PSL Tables

The freezing weather might have caused the postponement of one of the ties, but the conditions failed to prevent former champions MB Nottingham and newcomers Exeter Diamonds from gaining convincing victories in Tuesday's 7th round of the Premier Squash League (PSL) to reclaim their table-topping positions early in the second half of the season of the world's most prestigious squash league.

Nottingham, in fourth place in the Group A going into the home tie against Esporta Oxford, crushed their visitors 5/0 to leap to the top of the table - ahead of Chapel Allerton, the Leeds-based club enjoying a 'rest-day'.  Meanwhile former world number one Lee Beachill led Pontefract to a 4/1 home win over former champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield - a victory which lifts the Yorkshire club off the bottom of the Group A table.

Exeter journeyed to Croydon to face league champions PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC - and pulled off their second victory over the title-holders this season, winning 4/1.  While snowbound PNH Properties Chichester were forced to postpone their fixture with UniSport Guildford, the remaining tie Group B clash saw Probuild Bristol move up to second place in the standings for only the second time this season after despatching TWP St George's Hill 5/0 at home.

It was one-way traffic at the Park Squash Club when MB Nottingham entertained Esporta Oxford.    Emma Beddoes and Eddie Charlton clinched straight games wins over their Oxford opposition before Nottingham stalwart Simon Parke - who will be seeking to gain his first Over-35 Masters title at the British National Championships next week in Manchester - defeated Kristen Johnson 11-7, 11-4, 11-2 to put the tie beyond the visitors' reach.

To the delight of the packed Nottingham crowd, Irishman John Rooney and Frenchman Renan Lavigne followed Parke's example by beating Jaymie Haycocks and Scott Handley, respectively,  to guarantee maximum points.

It was a less-than-full-strength Benz-Bavarian Duffield squad that set off for Pontefract, hoping to open their 2009 campaign in Yorkshire in winning form.  But the home side piled on the pressure from the outset - former world number one Vanessa Atkinson defeating the Derbyshire club's rising star Millie Tomlinson 11-8, 11-3, 11-8, before team-mates Neil Cordell and Harinder Pal Sandhu clinched victory for the home side.

Duffield picked up a consolation win when local star Joel Hinds beat James Earles in straight games - but Pontefract number one Lee Beachill played the perfect captain's innings to round off the night, beating the Duffield top string Andrew Whipp 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 to record a 4/1 win for his club.

PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC replaced Exeter Diamonds at the top of the Group B table towards the end of last year - and held a nine-point cushion ahead of their Devon rivals going into the seventh round clash.  And the Croydon club's star Vicky Botwright put the hosts into the driving seat with an 11-7, 11-4, 11-8 win over Exeter's Emma Chorley.

But the tables turned thereafter as visitors James Snell, Tom Pashley and Jonathan Kemp battled to notable wins over their home opponents to ensure Exeter's victory.  And Australian star Stewart Boswell - who had raced back from this week's Motor City Open in Detroit, where he made the quarter-finals - defeated Surrey's Italian ace Davide Bianchetti 11-7, 11-5, 11-4 to ensure the Diamonds return to the top of the points table.

Probuild Bristol marked up a first this season by recording their maiden 5/0 win - a victory made even more notable as it was achieved by a squad led by three 'part-time' players.  The Avon side were already 2/0 up on TWP St George's Hill, thanks to wins by Sarah-Jane Perry and Lewys Hurst, when former world No2 Peter Marshall, now 37, took on rising star Joe Lee, aged 19. 

Lee led the famed double-handed back-hander 2/1, but canny Marshall held his nerve to beat the youngster 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4 in 59 minutes.  "Not bad for a 37-year-old physiotherapist," commented Bristol captain Hadrian Stiff.

Stiff, last a Tour player more than six years ago, also had significant cause for celebration following his 11-7, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9 win in 51 minutes over Malaysian international Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan.  The tie finished on a high note for the hosts when former British Open champion David Evans, who retired from the Tour in 2004, recovered from a game down to beat world No33 Daryl Selby 6-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-3.

RESULTS:            7th round, Tuesday 3 February 2009

    Group A:

Pontefract 4  Benz-Bavarian Duffield 1

  Lee Beachill bt Andrew Whipp    11-9, 11-7, 11-9

  Harinder Pal Sandhu bt Alex Stait    13-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6

  Neil Cordell bt Peter Billson    15-13, 11-5, 11-1

  James Earles lost to Joel Hinds    4-11, 9-11, 5-11

  Vanessa Atkinson bt Millie Tomlinson    11-8, 11-3, 11-8

MB Nottingham 5  Esporta Oxford 0

  Renan Lavigne bt Scott Handley    12-10, 11-9, 8-11, 12-10

  John Rooney bt Jaymie Haycocks    15-13, 11-1, 11-4

  Simon Parke bt Kristen Johnson    11-7, 11-4, 11-2

  Eddie Charlton bt Anthony Graham    11-6, 11-8, 11-3

  Emma Beddoes bt Deon Saffery    11-3, 11-4, 11-4

      Group B:

Probuild Bristol 5  TWP St George's Hill 0

  David Evans bt Daryl Selby    6-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-3

  Hadrian Stiff bt Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan    11-7, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9 (51m)

  Peter Marshall bt Joe Lee    11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4 (59m)

  Lewys Hurst bt Neil Hitchens    8-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6

  Sarah-Jane Perry bt Julie Peachey    9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 13-11

PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC 1  Exeter Diamonds 4

  Davide Bianchetti lost to Stewart Boswell    7-11, 5-11, 4-11

  Tim Garner lost to Jonathan Kemp    3-11, 7-11, 8-11

  Ben Ford lost to Tom Pashley    14-12, 6-11, 4-11, 11-6, 4-11

  Adrian Waller lost to James Snell    4-11, 11-4, 9-11, 7-11

  Vicky Botwright bt Emma Chorley    11-7, 11-4, 11-8

6th Round

Champions Surrey HR&C Stretch Lead In PSL Group Tables

Title-holders PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC stretched their lead at the top of the Group B tables after beating county rivals TWP St George's Hill 4/1 in the sixth round of the Premier Squash League - but Leeds-based Chapel Allerton restored their supremacy in Group A after a 4/1 home victory over MB Nottingham in the opening round of the second half of the season of the world's most prestigious squash league.

Esporta Oxford also secured a 4/1 home win in Group A, over Yorkshire club Pontefract, while Exeter Diamonds consolidated their second place in Group B with a 3/2 win over PNH Properties Chichester, and Probuild Bristol scored a 4/1 win from their visit to UniSport Guildford.

Recently retired England international Vicky Botwright put Surrey H&RC into the lead with a crushing 11-0, 11-3, 11-5 defeat of her St George's Hill counterpart Rachel Willmott.  Team-mates Davide Bianchetti and Peter Barker wrapped up the Croydon club's win before Tom Richards - playing as top string for St George's Hill for only the second time this season - almost caused a notable upset in his match against the visitors' world No8 from Egypt Wael El Hindi. 

Rising English star Richards, the world No43 from Walton-on-Thames, led 2/1 and had several match balls in the fifth game before El Hindi denied the hosts a consolation point by winning 11-4, 11-13, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10.

League newcomers Exeter Diamonds had to recover from 2/0 down before beating PNH Properties Chichester for the second time this season.  And it was left to the battle between the two top strings to decide the outcome of the tie as the home side's Stewart Boswell faced Malaysian star Mohd Azlan Iskandar.  It was the first significant match of the year for both world top twenty-ranked players - but Australian Boswell held his nerve to win 11-2, 7-11, 11-4, 11-2 and give the home crowd a popular 3/2 victory.

UniSport Guildford were hoping to improve on their 4/1 first round defeat as they hosted Probuild Bristol in the other tie in Group B.  England international Alison Waters extended her unbeaten run for the Surrey club into a fourth year with an 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 defeat of junior international Sarah-Jane Perry.  But that was to be the home side's only win as Peter Marshall, Bristol captain Hadrian Stiff, David Evans and Adrian Grant despatched their Guildford opposition to repeat their earlier 4/1 win.

There was a great sense of anticipation from Chapel Allerton supporters when the club introduced its new top string Thierry Lincou, the former world number one from France who was not only making his debut for the Leeds club but also his maiden appearance in the PSL.  But things started badly in their fixture against MB Nottingham when their England number one Jenny Duncalf went down to the visitors' Sarah Kippax - ranked more than 25 places lower in the world - 6-11, 11-6, 8-11, 7-11.

Chris Simpson, Aaron Frankcomb and Alister Walker steadied the ship for Chapel Allerton with wins which guaranteed home success.  And Lincou also did not disappoint, though the world No7 from Marseille had to save match balls against Ong Beng Hee before beating the Malaysian number one 11-7, 12-10, 10-12, 9-11, 14-12 to ensure a 4/1 victory - reversing the result of their opening season clash.

Esporta Oxford also avenged their round one defeat when they beat Pontefract 4/1.  Irish international Madeline Perry set the home team on their way with an 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 win over Pontefract stalwart Lauren Siddall before Anthony Graham - an 18-year-old from Gloucestershire - beat Yorkshireman Neil Cordell 7-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6 in what he later described as his 'best result ever'.

Oxford 'veteran' Scott Handley clinched the tie win by beating the visitors' Harinder Pal Sandhu 11-7, 7-11, 11-3, 7-11, 11-4 before the club's Spanish star Borja Golan delighted the home crowd with a 12-10, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8 victory over Lee Beachill, the former world number one from Pontefract.

"We always seem to get a good match to finish our programme - and Borja and Lee did not disappoint," said Oxford team manager Jason Martin.  "Tonight's win keeps us on track," added Martin, whose team move up to third place in the Group A tables.

6th round, Tuesday 13 January 2009

    Group A:

Esporta Oxford 4  Pontefract 1

  Borja Golan bt Lee Beachill  12-10, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8

  Chris Ryder lost to Saurav Ghosal  7-11, 5-11, 7-11

  Scott Handley bt Harinder Pal Sandhu  11-7, 7-11, 11-3, 7-11, 11-4

  Anthony Graham bt Neil Cordell  7-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6

  Madeline Perry bt Lauren Siddall  11-6, 11-9, 11-9

Chapel Allerton 4  MB Nottingham 1

  Thierry Lincou bt Ong Beng Hee  11-7, 12-10, 10-12, 9-11, 14-12

  Alister Walker bt Renan Lavigne  11-3, 11-3, 11-7

  Aaron Frankcomb bt John Rooney  11-6, 11-6, 12-10

  Chris Simpson bt Simon Parke  11-7, 11-7, 11-13, 11-6

  Jenny Duncalf lost to Sarah Kippax  6-11, 11-6, 8-11, 7-11

     Group B:

UniSport Guildford 1  Probuild Bristol 4

  Jesse Engelbrecht lost to Adrian Grant  11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 4-11, 6-11

  Stacey Ross lost to David Evans  13-11, 3-11, 8-11, 8-11

  Phil Rushworth lost to Hadrian Stiff  8-11, 6-11, 8-11

  Mick Biggs lost to Peter Marshall  11-8, 3-11, 6-11, 0-11

  Alison Waters bt Sarah-Jane Perry  11-7, 11-3, 11-5

TWP St George's Hill 1  PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC 4

  Tom Richards lost to Wael El Hindi  4-11, 13-11, 11-9, 8-11, 10-12

  Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan lost to Peter Barker  6-11, 5-11, 2-11

  Joe Lee lost to Davide Bianchetti  5-11, 12-10, 7-11, 8-11

  Neil Hitchens bt Adrian Waller  8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8

  Rachel Willmott lost to Vicky Botwright  0-11, 3-11, 5-11

Exeter Diamonds 3  PNH Properties Chichester 2

  Stewart Boswell bt Mohd Azlan Iskandar  11-2, 7-11, 11-4, 11-2

  Jonathan Kemp bt Tim Vail  11-4, 11-4, 13-11

  Rob Sutherland bt Robbie Temple  10-12, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6

  James Snell lost to Peter Genever  13-15, 7-11, 11-13

  Emma Chorley lost to Dominique Lloyd-Walter  6-11, 8-11, 6-11

PSL TABLES (after 6th round)

                                 Ties       Matches     Games     Pts

                               P   W   L    W    L     W     L

   Group A:

Chapel Allerton                5   3   2   17    8    55    34    70

Benz-Bavarian Duffield         4   3   1   13    7    44    30    59

Esporta Oxford                 5   2   3   12   13    48    51    58

MB Nottingham                  5   2   3    9   16    44    54    54

Pontefract                     5   2   3    9   16    36    58    46

   Group B:

Surrey H&RC                    6   5   1   20   10    71    46    96

Exeter Diamonds                6   5   1   18   12    62    51    87

Probuild Bristol               6   4   2   17   13    62    48    82

TWP St George's Hill           6   2   4   11   19    46    71    56

PNH Properties Chichester      6   1   5   12   18    50    62    55

5th Round
Duffield & Surrey HR&SC Top Mid-Season PSL Group Tables

Away teams had the edge in all of the ties in the fifth and final round of the first half of the Premier Squash League season - but it was former champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield and reigning champions PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC that will lead the points tables in the two groups going into the second half of the season after resounding wins at Chapel Allerton and UniSport Guildford, respectively.

Derbyshire club Duffield, champions in 2006 and 2007, could have claimed a maximum points victory at Chapel Allerton if former member Laurence Delasaux, now representing the Leeds club, hadn't spoiled the visitors' party by beating Duffield's 'home-grown' Joel Hinds 7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 14-12.

But Duffield stalwart Laura Hill kicked off the visitors' winning run with a straight games success over Jenna Gates - and team-mates Andrew Whipp and Joey Barrington followed her example with positive victories before team number one Nick Matthew - the world No10 from Sheffield - despatched the home side's Alister Walker 11-7, 11-9, 11-1 to give Duffield a 4/1 win and take the club to the top of the Group A points table for the first time this season.

PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC, winners of the PSL title for the first time last season, have spent most of the season making up for a surprise early season loss to PSL newcomers Exeter Diamonds, the Devon club which went on to top the Group B table.

The Croydon club faced county rivals UniSport Guildford - and after World Open runner-up Vicky Botwright gave the visitors an early lead, Guildford regulars Mick Biggs and Stephen Meads survived five-game encounters to give the home side a 2/1 advantage.

But despite the last-minute withdrawal of the Croydon club's Egyptian number one Wael El Hindi, their promoted numbers one and two restored the title-holders' lead - Davide Bianchetti beating Stacey Ross in five games and England international Peter Barker despatching Guildford's top string Jesse Engelbrecht 11-8, 11-3, 11-6 to give Surrey HR&SC a 3/2 win which sees them back in control in the group.

Meanwhile, it was a surprise home defeat which saw Exeter Diamonds lose their supremacy in Group B.  And the defeat was swift as TWP St George's Hill quickly established an unassailable 3/0 lead when Rachel Willmott, Philip Nightingale and Neil Hitchens beat their home opponents.  Later Jonathan Kemp and Australian international Stewart Boswell restored some pride for the home fans by beating Tom Richards and St George's Hill number one Daryl Selby, respectively.

The other Group B tie saw last season's title runners-up PNH Properties Chichester slump to their fourth defeat of the season, losing 3/2 to Probuild Bristol.  The home side were ahead after victories by Dominique Lloyd-Walter and team captain Tim Vail.  But Chichester suffered a setback when squad number two Alex Gough, the now retired former world No5, was forced to retire injured midway through the second game against fellow Welshman David Evans, a former world No3.

World No11 Adrian Grant then clinched victory for Bristol after beating Malaysian Mohd Azlan Iskandar, ranked two places lower, 11-2, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6.

The second clash in Group A saw a welcome return to action for England international Lee Beachill after an injury layoff.  The former world No1 levelled the tie for Pontefract against MB Nottingham by coming back from 2/1 down to beat the former champions' Renan Lavigne 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-4.

In a dramatic decider in Nottingham, England number one James Willstrop battled for five games to overcome Malaysian number one Ong Beng Hee 10-12, 11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4 to give the Yorkshire side their second win of the season.

RESULTS:            5th round

    Group A:

Chapel Allerton 1  Benz-Bavarian Duffield 4

  Alister Walker lost to Nick Matthew                                  7-11, 9-11, 1-11

  Aaron Frankcomb lost to Joey Barrington                      9-11, 10-12, 8-11

  Scott Arnold lost to Andrew Whipp                                  5-11, 11-7, 9-11, 8-11

  Laurence Delasaux bt Joel Hinds                                   7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 14-12

  Jenna Gates lost to Laura Hill                                          5-11, 1-11, 2-11

MB Nottingham 2  Pontefract 3

  Ong Beng Hee lost to James Willstrop                           12-10, 4-11, 6-11, 11-9, 4-11

  Renan Lavigne lost to Lee Beachill                                 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 4-11

  Simon Parke bt Neil Cordell                                             11-4, 11-5, 11-7

  Lewis Walters lost to Harinder Pal Sandhu                   4-11, 4-11, 13-11, 11-9, 5-11

  Emma Beddoes bt Kirsty McPhee                                   7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4

    Group B:

UniSport Guildford 2  PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC 3

  Jesse Engelbrecht lost to Peter Barker                           8-11, 3-11, 6-11

  Stacey Ross lost to Davide Bianchetti                             15-13, 11-6, 3-11, 8-11, 1-11

  Stephen Meads bt Adrian Waller                                     11-7, 3-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6

  Mick Biggs bt Steve Richardson                                       17-19, 11-7, 11-9, 2-11, 11-7

  Harriet Ingham lost to Vicky Botwright                            3-11, 5-11, 3-11

Exeter Diamonds 2  TWP St George's Hill 3

  Stewart Boswell bt Daryl Selby                                        11-7, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7

  Jonathan Kemp bt Tom Richards                                    7-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-8, 11-6

  James Snell lost to Neil Hitchens                                    9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-13

  Tom Pashley lost to Philip Nightingale                           17-15, 6-11, 6-11, 6-11

  Emma Chorley lost to Rachel Willmott                           11-8, 6-11, 7-11, 8-11

PNH Properties Chichester 2  Probuild Bristol 3

  Mohd Azlan Iskandar lost to Adrian Grant                      2-11, 4-11, 11-9, 6-11

  Alex Gough lost to David Evans                                       5-11, 1-6 ret.

  Tim Vail bt Hadrian Stiff                                                    9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 11-5

  Robbie Temple lost to Peter Marshall                             8-11, 7-11, 6-11

  Dominique Lloyd-Walter bt Vicky Hynes                        11-4, 11-5, 11-6

4th Round

Newcomers Chapel Allerton & Exeter Diamonds Head PSL Tables

After convincing away victories in Tuesday's fourth round of the Premier Squash League, PSL newcomers Chapel Allerton and Exeter Diamonds head the Group A and Group B tables, respectively, on the eve of the midway point in the 26th season of the world's most prestigious squash league.

Leeds-based Chapel Allerton faced under-strength fellow Yorkshire club Pontefract, missing their top three players James Willstrop, Lee Beachill and Saurav Ghosal.   The hosts' Vanessa Atkinson, jet-lagged after returning from a major women's Tour event in New York, was no match on the night for Chapel Allerton's Jenny Duncalf, going down 11-6, 11-7, 11-1 to the England number one. 

And the visitors' strong squad continued the Pontefract purge, winning the remaining matches in straight games - with top string Alister Walker enjoying his second win of the season by beating Pontefract's newly-promoted number one and fast-improving Neil Cordell 11-7, 14-12, 11-6.

"We put out a young squad tonight - and I was heartened by their performances," said Pontefract team manager Malcolm Willstrop.  "In a couple of years' time, they'll be something - and tonight they showed their promise."

The maximum points 5/0 win takes Chapel Allerton to the top of the Group A table for the first time.

The other tie in the group finished only minutes before midnight as former champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield ground out a 4/1 home win over Esporta Oxford.  The opening match of the night saw a welcome return to action for England's former world No4 Tania Bailey, playing her first competitive match since July after a troubled year which included knee surgery in April. 

The Duffield star faced the in-form Irish international Madeline Perry, now ranked 11 in the world.  And the sensational comeback saw Bailey win 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 - no doubt raising hopes with the England selectors that the former British champion will be available for next month's Women's World Team Championships in Egypt.

"I just didn't know what to expect," said a delighted Bailey afterwards.  "So I am very encouraged by that win - especially as I know Madeline's really playing well at the moment.  It's the first proper game I've had for ages - and I really enjoyed it.

"It was only last week that I thought I'd be OK to play - but to get a result like this is more than I could have expected.  I'm playing at a level better than I thought," the 29-year-old from Lincolnshire continued.  "2008 has been a pretty horrible year for me.  I've really missed playing.  I'm just looking forward to getting back into it now."

Bailey's performance inspired team-mate Joel Hinds to beat Oxford's experienced Scott Handley in straight games - then new squad number two Joey Barrington played the match of his life to clinch the team's win by beating Spain's newly-crowned Santiago Open champion Borja Golan 8-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5 - fighting back from 5-8 down in the fourth to draw level before clinching the match in the decider. 

The evening-ending top string clash also went to five when Duffield stalwart Nick Matthew eventually overhauled Australian star Cameron Pilley 7-11, 11-9, 12-10, 5-11, 11-6.

The sparkle of Exeter Diamonds in Group B seems to show no signs of fading as the Devon debutants chalked up their fourth successive PSL win by beating South West rivals Probuild Bristol 4/1 away from home.  Both Emma Chorley and Rob Sutherland notched up their first ever wins over Bristol opponents Vicky Hynes and Hadrian Stiff, respectively. 

For the second tie in a row, it was Egyptian teen sensation Mohamed El Shorbagy that clinched victory for Exeter - this time the 17-year-old Millfield School pupil beating Bristol's former British Open champion David Evans 11-6, 4-11, 11-9, 18-16.

"It seems we can't go wrong," said Exeter Diamonds team manager Tony Snell.  "I didn't expect to win tonight, to be truthful, but it just shows the strength we've got in our squad.  I'm very proud of them.  And the crowd at Bristol was fantastic - it was totally sold out!"

PSL title-holders PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC produced their most powerful win of the new season, beating PNH Properties Chichester 5/0 at home in a repeat of last season's final.  But it took determined performances by Adrian Waller, Ben Ford and Davide Bianchetti in matches that went the full distance as the Croydon club trio beat Chichester's Robbie Temple, Tim Vail and Alex Gough, respectively.

Top string Peter Barker - one of four members of the team that won the title in May - finished off the tie in style, dismissing the Chichester No1 Mohd Azlan Iskandar 11-6, 11-5, 11-7.

Just two months short of his 50th birthday, former world champion Ross Norman made his first PSL appearance for more than six years when he turned out for TWP St George's Hill in their home tie against Surrey county rivals UniSport Guildford.  And the popular New Zealander showed that he has not lost his touch when he defeated fellow world champion Jamie Mathews - the reigning World Deaf Champion - 11-3, 11-13, 11-9, 11-5.

The win started the momentum for St George's Hill whose Hungarian star Mark Krajcsak - fresh from victory in last weekend's PSA Tour event in Vancouver - then beat Guildford stalwart Stacey Ross 10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 15-13.  Krajcsak surprisingly agreed to a change of ball at 10-all in the fourth game - and duly sprinted to victory after barely warming up the new ball!

But it was the top strings that were left to decide the outcome of the tie - and the hosts' Daryl Selby recovered from 1-7 and 6-10 down in the decider to beat Guildford's Jesse Engelbrecht 5-11, 11-9, 11-4, 6-11, 12-10 to give St George's Hill a popular 3/2 win.

RESULTS:            4th round, Tuesday 11 November 2008

    Group A:

Pontefract 0  Chapel Allerton 5

  Neil Cordell lost to Alister Walker    7-11, 12-14, 6-11

  Adam Taylor lost to Chris Simpson    3-11, 8-11, 6-11

  James Earles lost to Scott Arnold    9-11, 4-11, 4-11

  Sam Wileman lost to Jonathan Harford    8-11, 9-11, 6-11

  Vanessa Atkinson lost to Jenny Duncalf    6-11, 7-11, 1-11

Benz-Bavarian Duffield 4  Esporta Oxford 1

  Nick Matthew bt Cameron Pilley    7-11, 11-9, 12-10, 5-11, 11-6

  Joey Barrington bt Borja Golan    8-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5

  Andrew Whipp lost to Chris Ryder    6-11, 11-9, 4-11, 6-11

  Joel Hinds bt Scott Handley    11-4, 11-5, 11-9

  Tania Bailey bt Madeline Perry    11-6, 11-8, 11-9

    Group B:

Probuild Bristol 1  Exeter Diamonds 4

  Adrian Grant lost to Stewart Boswell    10-12, 11-8, 7-11, 5-11

  David Evans lost to Mohamed El Shorbagy    6-11, 11-4, 9-11, 16-18

  Hadrian Stiff lost to Rob Sutherland    6-11, 6-11, 11-5, 1-11

  Peter Marshall bt James Snell    11-4, 11-4, 11-9

  Vicky Hynes lost to Emma Chorley    6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 3-11

TWP St George's Hill 3  UniSport Guildford 2

  Daryl Selby bt Jesse Engelbrecht    5-11, 11-9, 11-4, 6-11, 12-10

  Mark Krajcsak bt Stacey Ross    10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 15-13

  Adam Fuller lost to Stephen Meads    9-11, 7-11, 9-11

  Ross Norman bt Jamie Mathews    11-3, 11-13, 11-9, 11-5

  Rachel Willmott lost to Alison Waters    4-11, 5-11, 3-11

PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC 5  PNH Properties Chichester 0

  Peter Barker bt Mohd Azlan Iskandar    11-6, 11-5, 11-7

  Davide Bianchetti bt Alex Gough    8-11, 12-10, 11-2, 9-11, 11-7 (76m)

  Ben Ford bt Tim Vail    11-9, 6-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-6

  Adrian Waller bt Robbie Temple    11-8, 6-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9

  Vicky Botwright bt Annabelle Collins-Ballands    11-6, 11-5, 11-2

PSL TABLES (after 4th round)
                                 Ties       Matches     Games     Pts

                               P   W   L    W    L     W     L

   Group A:

Chapel Allerton                3   2   1   12    3    38    15    48

Benz-Bavarian Duffield         3   2   1    9    6    31    26    41

Esporta Oxford                 4   1   3    8   12    36    43    41

MB Nottingham                  3   2   1    6    9    26    31    36

Pontefract                     3   1   2    5   10    18    34    23

   Group B:

Exeter Diamonds                4   4   0   13    7    43    31    63

Surrey H&RC                    4   3   1   13    7    44    32    59

Probuild Bristol               4   2   2   10   10    39    34    49

UniSport Guildford             4   1   3    9   11    35    38    40

PNH Properties Chichester      4   1   3    8   12    35    42    40

TWP St George's Hill           4   1   3    7   13    28    47    33

PSL Newcomers Exeter Diamonds Sparkle With Lone Unbeaten Run

With only three rounds of the new season completed, newcomers Exeter Diamonds are already the only unbeaten club in the Premier Squash League after securing a 3/2 away win at UniSport Guildford in Tuesday's third round of the world's most prestigious squash league in its 26th season.

But the standout match of the night was in the decider between title-holders PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC and Probuild Bristol - when Peter Barker save a match ball to defeat England team-mate Adrian Grant to clinch a 3/2 win for the Surrey club hosts.  Elsewhere in Group B, last season's runners-up PNH Properties Chichester made up for their poor start to the season by whipping TWP St George's Hill 5/0.

Yorkshire newcomers Chapel Allerton claimed their first win of the season in fine style, beating Esporta Oxford 5/0 away from home in Group A - while former champions MB Nottingham overcame East Midlands rivals Benz-Bavarian Duffield 3/2 to take pole position in the Group A table for the first time.

Vicky Botwright, the surprise runner-up in last month's World Open Championship in her hometown of Manchester, put Surrey H&RC into the driving seat against Probuild Bristol with an 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 win over Warwickshire teenager Sarah-Jane Perry.  But the visitors' Peter Marshall struck back to level the tie after beating the Croydon club's Steve Richardson - and later Bristol's Welsh star David Evans again restored parity when he battled to a four-game victory over the hosts' Tim Garner.

The decider was a mouth-watering affair between fellow London left-handers Barker, the world No10, and Grant, ranked just three places below.  It was the pair's third domestic meeting this year - with underdog Grant boasting a 2/0 advantage.  It was nip and tuck throughout - with both players saving match-balls in the fifth game before Barker finally triumphed 11-9, 11-13, 11-8, 4-11, 13-11 to give Surrey H&RC a 3/2 win to consolidate their mid-table position.

The Exeter Diamonds hero in Guildford was Egyptian teenager Mohamed El Shorbagy.  Welshmen Peter Creed and Rob Sutherland had already put the league's Devon debutants into a 2/1 lead when the 17-year-old Millfield schoolboy took to the court against the experienced UniSport Guildford former top string Stacey Ross.  Shorbagy has been making rapid strides on the senior Tour over the past  few months - and showed the same form in beating Ross 12-10, 11-9, 11-7 to clinch an unbeatable lead - and three wins out of three this season - for Exeter Diamonds. 

Malaysian Delia Arnold ignited a winning streak for PNH Properties Chichester in her debut for the Sussex club against TWP St George's Hill.  Arnold beat the visitors' Rachel Willmott 11-8, 12-10, 11-8 - and victories followed for team mates Peter Genever, Robbie Temple and Tim Vail, the Chichester captain returning to action after the birth of his first-born son Cameron. 

But the bravest performance of the night was delivered by the hosts' Welsh veteran Alex Gough.  The former world No5, now retired from the PSA Tour, faced Tom Richards, a 22-year-old rising English star who celebrated a career-high world No47 ranking this month.  Richards recovered from two games down to level the match - but the wily Welshman kept up the pressure to win 12-10, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9 to ensure a maximum points win for Chichester.

 
In the East Midlands derby at Nottingham, the host club's Emma Beddoes set the scene for the evening by beating higher-ranked opponent Laura Hill 11-9, 11-1, 8-11, 11-4 - a victory which team-mates John Rooney and Renan Lavigne followed to ensure a popular home win.  Rooney exacted revenge on the player who beat him in the final of the West of Scotland Open at the weekend, beating Cheshire star Andrew Whipp 11-8, 11-3, 11-4, while Frenchman Lavigne was leading 2/1 against Duffield's Joey Barrington when the winner of last week's African Open in Nigeria conceded the match.

Like Exeter Diamonds, Leeds club Chapel Allerton also delighted in an impressive maiden season victory - dishing out a 5/0 drubbing at Esporta Oxford.  Again, it was perhaps the opening women's match which set the scene for the flavour of the evening:  Oxford's Irish international Madeline Perry recovered from two games down to take the third against English international Jenny Duncalf and move into the ascendancy.  But at 8-8 in the fourth, Perry sustained an 'adductor twinge' which led to Duncalf clinching the match. 

Chapel Allerton team-mates Adam Murrills, Scott Arnold and Stephen Coppinger built on the score before the visitors' number one Alister Walker survived a 26-minute first game against Oxford's Chris Ryder and went on to win 15-17, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3 to clinch a memorable 5/0 win for Chapel Allerton.

RESULTS:            3rd round, Tuesday 4 November 2008

    Group A:

Esporta Oxford 0  Chapel Allerton 5

  Chris Ryder lost to Alister Walker    17-15, 3-11, 11-7, 8-11, 3-11

  Scott Handley lost to Stephen Coppinger    5-11, 7-11, 3-11

  Kristen Johnson lost to Scott Arnold    5-11, 7-11, 6-11

  Thomas Phipps lost to Adam Murrills    7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 3-11, 5-11

  Madeline Perry lost to Jenny Duncalf    9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 8-11

MB Nottingham 3  Benz-Bavarian Duffield 2

  Ong Beng Hee lost to Nick Matthew    7-11, 5-11, 11-7, 9-11

  Renan Lavigne bt Joey Barrington    7-11, 11-4, 11-4 ret.

  John Rooney bt Andrew Whipp    11-8, 11-3, 11-4

  Eddie Charlton lost to Alex Stait    11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 4-11

  Emma Beddoes bt Laura Hill    11-9, 11-1, 8-11, 11-4

    Group B:

PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC 3  Probuild Bristol 2

  Peter Barker bt Adrian Grant    11-9, 11-13, 11-8, 4-11, 13-11

  Tim Garner lost to David Evans    11-6, 5-11, 10-12, 6-11

  Ben Ford bt Hadrian Stiff    11-8, 11-9, 11-8

  Steve Richardson lost to Peter Marshall    4-11, 9-11, 7-11

  Vicky Botwright bt Sarah-Jane Perry    11-4, 11-3, 11-5

UniSport Guildford 2  Exeter Diamonds 3

  Gilly Lane bt Jonathan Kemp    6-11, 7-11, 11-7 ret.

  Stacey Ross lost to Mohamed El Shorbagy    10-12, 9-11, 7-11

  Stephen Meads lost to Rob Sutherland    14-12, 6-11, 6-11, 4-11

  Jamie Mathews lost to Peter Creed    3-11, 8-11, 4-11

  Alison Waters bt Victoria Temple-Murray    11-0, 11-2, 11-3

PNH Properties Chichester 5  TWP St George's Hill 0

  Alex Gough bt Tom Richards    12-10, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9

  Tim Vail bt Nicolas Mueller    11-6, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10

  Robbie Temple bt Neil Hitchens    11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6

  Peter Genever bt Philip Nightingale    11-7, 11-4, 11-4

  Delia Arnold bt Rachel Willmott    11-8, 12-10, 11-8

PSL TABLES (after 3rd round)
                                 Ties       Matches     Games     Pts

                               P   W   L    W    L     W     L

   Group A:

MB Nottingham                  3   2   1    6    9    26    31    36

Esporta Oxford                 3   1   2    7    8    29    30    34

Chapel Allerton                2   1   1    7    3    23    15    28

Benz-Bavarian Duffield         2   1   1    5    5    18    19    23

Pontefract                     2   1   1    5    5    18    19    23

   Group B:

Exeter Diamonds                3   3   0    9    6    31    23    46

Probuild Bristol               3   2   1    9    6    31    22    41

Surrey H&RC                    3   2   1    8    7    29    26    39

PNH Properties Chichester      3   1   2    8    7    29    27    34

UniSport Guildford             3   1   2    7    8    25    29    30

TWP St George's Hill           3   0   3    4    11   19    37    19

2nd Round

Esporta Oxford Crush Nottingham To Top PSL Group

Esporta Oxford scored the first maximum points win of the season in the second round of the Premier Squash League - beating MB Nottingham 5/0 to head the Group A table in the world's most prestigious squash league.

Elsewhere in the group, former champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield began their 2008/09 season campaign by resisting a strong challenge from Pontefract, fighting back from behind to clinch a 3/2 win over their Yorkshire visitors.  In Group B, league newcomers Exeter Diamonds inflicted the first defeat of the season on title-holders PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC, beating the Croydon club 3/2 - while Probuild Bristol also scored their second win of the season in a 3/2 away win at TWP St George's Hill.  But the biggest smiles were to be found at another venue in Surrey where UniSport Guildford scored their first win in more than two years over PNH Properties Chichester, beating the Sussex club 4/1 at home.

Pontefract, featuring the two highest-ranked players in their stable - James Willstrop and Lee Beachill - arrived at Duffield's Derbyshire base looking for victory.  And Dutch star Vanessa Atkinson put the visitors into the driving seat with a four-game win over local star Laura Hill.  Duffield-based Joel Hinds, playing for his local club for the first time after three years at Birmingham University, levelled the tie - but Leeds-based Indian champion Saurav Ghosal restored Pontefract's lead with a straight games dismissal of Andrew Whipp.

It was a capacity home crowd at Duffield that roared on Joey Barrington as the club debutant beat higher-ranked fellow Englishman Lee Beachill 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, before squad number one Nick Matthew - in his sixth season for Duffield - despatched his England team-mate James Willstrop 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 to clinch victory for the three-time champions.

The last-minute withdrawal of club stalwart Simon Parke left MB Nottingham having to promote Arthur Gaskin to third string and introduce local player Lewis Walter at four in their away fixture at Esporta Oxford.  And it was Irish champion Madeline Perry that kicked off the Oxford onslaught as she beat Emma Beddoes 11-3, 12-10, 11-2 - a win which was followed by straight games defeats of Walters and Gaskin.  In his debut for the hosts, top-ranked Spaniard Borja Golan let slip a two-game lead over Nottingham's Renan Lavigne - but refocused in the decider to beat the Frenchman 12-10, 12-10, 3-11, 6-11, 11-8.

In the final match - described by Oxford team manager Jason Martin as "the best game I've ever seen at the club" - Australian Cameron Pilley beat Malaysian star Ong Beng Hee 11-13, 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 14-12 to round up a 'whitewash' evening.

"I'm the happiest I've been in PSL for a long time," exclaimed the jubilant  UniSport Guildford team manager Ian Robinson after his club's 4/1 home win over last season's runners-up PNH Properties Chichester.  While Guildford's Alison Waters secured an early 3/0 win over English compatriot Dominique Lloyd-Walter, team-mate Jamie Mathews was making a good start in his debut for the club against the visitors' Nafzahizam Adnan.  But the Malaysian - also making his PSL debut for Chichester - fought back to beat Mathew, the World Deaf champion from Surrey, 11-13, 11-5, 11-1, 11-6.

Long-time UniSport campaigners Stephen Meads and Stacey Ross carved out valiant victories against their respective opponents - but the day's standout success came when new club number one Jesse Engelbrecht defeated experienced Chichester top string Alex Gough 11-5, 11-5, 11-2.

While Nafzahizam Adnan was making a successful debut for Chichester, his higher-ranked younger brother Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan was also in winning form for TWP St George's Hill against Probuild Bristol.  But the 22-year-old's four-game win over Bristol captain Hadrian Stiff wasn't enough to lead the home club to victory.

Welsh veteran David Evans clinched Bristol's win after beating rising star Tom Richards 11-6, 11-6, 11-2 - but it was a match perhaps overshadowed by the consolation victory by the Surrey club number one Daryl Selby.  The world No36 from Essex continued the fine form he showed in last week's World Open in Manchester when he beat fellow Englishman Adrian Grant, ranked 13 in the world, 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7.

Some 48 hours after making a surprise appearance in the women's World Open final on Sunday, Manchester squash star Vicky Botwright came down to earth with a bump for champions PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC in their away tie against Exeter Diamonds.   Vicky lost 15-17, 8-11, 4-11 to Australian Natalie Grinham - the 2007 runner-up - but later watched her fiancé Stewart Boswell clinch victory for the opposing team when he battled to an 11-6, 16-14, 5-11, 5-11, 11-5 win over higher-ranked Egyptian Wael El Hindi.

Exeter Diamonds manager Tony Snell was overjoyed with his team's performance:  "In the first round we beat last season's runners-up - and now we've beaten the champions.  It really is unbelievable!"

RESULTS:            2nd round, Tuesday 21 October 2008

     Group A:

Benz-Bavarian Duffield 3  Pontefract 2

  Nick Matthew bt James Willstrop  11-8, 11-5, 11-9

  Joey Barrington bt Lee Beachill  11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4

  Andrew Whipp lost to Saurav Ghosal  9-11, 5-11, 2-11

  Joel Hinds bt Neil Cordell  11-6, 12-10, 11-9

  Laura Hill lost to Vanessa Atkinson  11-5, 4-11, 5-11, 4-11

Esporta Oxford 5  MB Nottingham 0

  Cameron Pilley bt Ong Beng Hee  11-13, 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 14-12

  Borja Golan bt Renan Lavigne  12-10, 12-10, 3-11, 6-11, 11-8

  Chris Ryder bt Arthur Gaskin  11-6, 11-6, 11-2

  Scott Handley bt Eddie Charlton  11-9, 11-9, 11-8

  Madeline Perry bt Emma Beddoes  11-3, 12-10, 11-2

     Group B:

TWP St George's Hill 2  Probuild Bristol 3

  Daryl Selby bt Adrian Grant  11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7

  Tom Richards lost to David Evans  6-11, 6-11, 2-11

  Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan bt Hadrian Stiff  5-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-7

  Joe Lee lost to Peter Marshall  7-11, 11-9, 6-11, 6-11

  Rachel Willmott lost to Vicky Hynes  7-11, 6-11, 7-11

Exeter Diamonds 3  PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC 2

  Stewart Boswell bt Wael El Hindi  11-6, 16-14, 5-11, 5-11, 11-5

  Jonathan Kemp lost to Peter Barker  10-12, 3-11, 9-11

  Rob Sutherland lost to Adrian Waller  9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 6-11

  Tom Pashley bt Nic Birt  11-9, 11-9, 11-8

  Natalie Grinham bt Vicky Botwright  17-15, 11-8, 11-4

UniSport Guildford 4  PNH Properties Chichester 1

  Jesse Engelbrecht bt Alex Gough  11-5, 11-5, 11-2

  Stacey Ross bt Robbie Temple  9-11, 11-6, 12-14, 12-10, 11-8

  Stephen Meads bt Peter Genever  2-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-5

  Jamie Mathews lost to Nafzahizam Adnan  13-11, 5-11, 1-11, 6-11

  Alison Waters bt Dominique Lloyd-Walter  11-4, 14-12, 11-4

While Pontefract and Probuild Bristol top the two group tables after the first round action in the new season of the Premier Squash League, there were mixed fortunes for PSL newcomers Chapel Allerton and Devon & Exeter on the opening night of the 26th season of the world's most prestigious squash league.

Yorkshire club Pontefract, led by England number one James Willstrop, secured their best ever start in the PSL, beating Esporta Oxford 3/2 - while the other tie in Group A saw Nottingham also overcome Leeds-based Chapel Allerton 3/2.  2007 runners-up Probuild Bristol scored the most decisive victory in Group B, with a 4/1 home win against UniSport Guildford - and title-holders PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC recovered from 1/2 down to beat Surrey county rivals TWP St George's Hill 3/2.

Devon & Exeter faced a tough induction away from home against PNH Properties Chichester, last season's beaten finalists weakened on the eve of the tie by the withdrawal of their injured squad No1 Mohd Azlan Iskandar, the world No12 from Malaysia.  And the PSL debutants were 2/0 down after the first two matches at the West Sussex club.

But in a clash described as 'the standout match of the night' by the Exeter club's manager Tony Snell, Welshman Rob Sutherland reduced the deficit by beating the home side's Robbie Temple 11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 12-10.  "I always knew that match between the two Robs would be key - and our Rob played extremely well, he looked strong throughout and thoroughly deserved his win," said Snell.

England number six Jonathan Kemp levelled the tie with an 11-6, 11-8, 13-11 win over Chichester captain Tim Vail, before Australian star Stewart Boswell clinched victory for the visitors by overcoming league veteran Alex Gough, the now retired former world No5, 11-2, 11-13, 11-5, 11-2.

"The absence of their expected number one Azlan certainly gave us more of a chance," conceded Snell.  "But it's been a fantastic start to our PSL campaign - and not really what we expected.  In fact, I had to ring our sponsor Keith White - who is on holiday in Marbella - and he was taken aback too!"

The emphatic home victory by Group B rivals Probuild Bristol over UniSport Guildford was 'what we needed', said team captain Hadrian Stiff.  But the visitors' world No6 Alison Waters was too strong for 18-year-old Sarah-Jane Perry, winning in straight games to give the Guildford club the early lead.  Bristol's cream rose to the top, however, as its manpower took the remaining four matches - squad number two David Evans, recently returned to Wales after two years as the Jersey national coach, taken the full distance by the UniSport second string Stacey Ross before winning 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7.

TWP St George's Hill looked on course to avenge their two defeats by champions PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC last season - firstly when club stalwarts Joe Lee and Tom Richards put the visitors 2/1 ahead, and secondly when squad number one Daryl Selby took a two game lead over the Croydon club's world No11 Peter Barker in the decider.

Lee celebrated his 19th birthday in fine style, beating fellow Englishman Ben Ford - ranked some 50 places higher in the world - 11-4, 11-8, 7-11, 12-10 to level the tie after England international Vicky Botwright put the hosts ahead with a comprehensive 11-7, 11-0, 11-7 defeat of former British Junior champion Rachel Willmott.

But, in the decider at the end of the night, England international Peter Barker showed the talent that has won him two PSA Tour titles in the past month when he came back from two games down to beat St George's Hill's Daryl Selby 11-13, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 to clinch victory for the champions.

Pontefract team manager Malcolm Willstrop proclaimed it a "good night of squash" after his home-grown squad clinched a popular home victory over Esporta Oxford in Group A.  And the Yorkshire club had to come from two matches down after Vanessa Atkinson slid to a 2-9, 9-3, 5-9, 9-7, 6-9 defeat to Irish comeback queen Madeline Perry and newly-recruited 19-year-old Indian Harinder Pal Sandhu lost to the visitors' Jaymie Haycocks.

But promising York teenager Neil Cordell produced one of the best wins of his career when he beat experienced Oxford opponent Scott Handley - ranked more than 150 places higher in the world - 9-5, 9-7, 11-9.  The win spurred the squad's better known Indian Saurav Ghosal, his country's reigning national champion, to beat last weekend's Leinster Open champion Chris Ryder 9-5, 5-9, 9-7, 8-10, 9-7.

And in the decider, Pontefract number one James Willstrop recovered from a game down to beat Cameron Pilley 2-9, 9-6, 10-8, 11-9 in his third successive PSL victory over the rising Australian star over the past two seasons. 

"It was a cracking game which will do both of them good in the lead-up to next week's World Open," said Willstrop senior. 

Like Devon & Exeter, former champions Nottingham may also have benefited from the last-minute reduction in the fire-power of newcomers Chapel Allerton, whose top string Alister Walker was forced to pull out with injury.  The Leeds newcomers romped to a 2/0 lead after wins by England number one Jenny Duncalf and squad latecomer Stephen Coppinger.

But Nottingham regular John Rooney restored order for the hosts, beating Chris Simpson in four games before Julian Illingworth - the US champion making his PSL debut - despatched the visitors' Scott Arnold 11-9, 11-1, 5-11, 11-6.

Malaysian star Ong Beng Hee made the best possible start to his third season for Nottingham by clinching victory for the club with an 11-8, 11-7, 11-3 win over Jonathan Harford.

RESULTS:            1^st round, Tuesday 7 October 2008

     Group A:

Pontefract 3  Esporta Oxford 2

  James Willstrop bt Cameron Pilley    2-9, 9-6, 10-8, 11-9

  Saurav Ghosal bt Chris Ryder    9-5, 5-9, 9-7, 8-10, 9-7 (61m)

  Neil Cordell bt Scott Handley    9-5, 9-7, 11-9

  Harinder Pal Sandhu lost to Jaymie Haycocks   3-9, 7-9, 6-9

  Vanessa Atkinson lost to Madeline Perry    2-9, 9-3, 5-9, 9-7, 6-9

Nottingham 3  Chapel Allerton 2

  Ong Beng Hee bt Jonathan Harford    11-8, 11-7, 11-3

  Julian Illingworth bt Scott Arnold    11-9, 11-1, 5-11, 11-6

  John Rooney bt Chris Simpson    11-6, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7

  Arthur Gaskin lost to Stephen Coppinger    10-12, 0-11, 11-4, 7-11

  Sarah Kippax lost to Jenny Duncalf    5-11, 5-11, 5-11

     Group B:

Probuild Bristol 4  UniSport Guildford 1

  Adrian Grant bt Jesse Engelbrecht    11-9, 11-4, 11-7

  David Evans bt Stacey Ross    11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7

  Hadrian Stiff bt Phil Rushworth    11-8, 11-8, 11-8

  Peter Marshall bt Mick Biggs    11-5, 11-6, 11-5

  Sarah-Jane Perry lost to Alison Waters    4-11, 2-11, 8-11

PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC 3  TWP St George's Hill 2

  Peter Barker bt Daryl Selby    11-13, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5

  Davide Bianchetti bt Mark Krajcsak    11-4, 11-5, 11-6

  Tim Garner lost to Tom Richards    4-11, 6-11, 11-8, 8-11

  Ben Ford lost to Joe Lee    4-11, 8-11, 11-7, 10-12

  Vicky Botwright bt Rachel Willmott    11-7, 11-0, 11-7

PNH Properties Chichester 2  Devon & Exeter 3

  Alex Gough lost to Stewart Boswell    2-11, 13-11, 5-11, 2-11

  Tim Vail lost to Jonathan Kemp    6-11, 8-11, 11-13

  Robbie Temple lost to Rob Sutherland    4-11, 8-11, 11-6, 10-12

  Peter Genever bt James Snell    8-11, 11-3, 11-7, 13-11

  Dominique Lloyd-Walter bt Emma Chorley    11-8, 11-4, 11-6

Devon & Exeter And Chapel Allerton Join PSL For New Season

The Premier Squash League (PSL) welcomes two new teams as the 26th season of the world's most prestigious squash league gets underway with Leeds club Chapel Allerton and Exeter-based Devon & Exeter seeking honours against established opposition.

Croydon-based PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC will begin the defence of the title they won for the first time last season with a squad again led by Egyptian wizard Wael El Hindi, the world No9.  However, England's in-form Peter Barker - ranked just two places lower in the world order - will lead the club's attack in the opening tie in Group B against TWP St George's Hill, from Weybridge. 

Barker, winner of two successive PSA Tour titles in the USA last month in his build up to this month's Hi-Tec World Championships in Manchester, will face fellow Essex player Daryl Selby, the world No36, in the club's home match against their Surrey rivals.

Devon & Exeter, who face last season's runners-up PNH Properties Chichester away from home in their maiden tie in Group B, will be led by Stewart Boswell, the former world No4 who has switched allegiance from former champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield.  Boswell, leading the west country club in the absence of squad No1 David Palmer, also from Australia, will face the home side's Alex Gough, the former world number five of Wales, in the top string clash.

Also in Group B, Probuild Bristol host league stalwarts UniSport Guildford.  Only in their third season in the PSL, the home side will again be led by England international Adrian Grant, the London-born left-hander who will arrive in Bristol fresh from his victory in the Wolverhampton Open at the weekend.  Grant, the world No13, will face the new Guildford number one Jesse Engelbrecht, the London-based world No55 from South Africa who has worked his way up the squad since joining the club four years ago.

With a number of leading international players now based at Chapel Allerton, it is no surprise that the Yorkshire club is returning to the Premier League.  In their opening tie at former champions Nottingham in Group A, the Leeds squad will be led by club member Alister Walker, the fast-improving world No27 who faces the home side's Ong Beng Hee, the world No10 from Malaysia.  The women's clash has much to offer, as Nottingham's Sarah Kippax - winner of her fifth WISPA World Tour title this year at the Leinster Open in Dublin at the weekend - takes on compatriot Jenny Duncalf, the world No5 and top-ranked Englishwoman.

With 2006 and 2007 champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield enjoying a 'rest day' in the opening round, the other tie in Group A sees Yorkshire club Pontefract entertain Esporta Oxford - the visitors no doubt spurred on by squad number two Chris Ryder who won the men's title at the Leinster Open in Ireland at the weekend.  Ryder faces Pontefract's Indian champion Saurav Ghosal, while the top string clash features a world top 20 battle between home star James Willstrop, the England number one, and Australian Cameron Pilley.

1^st round line-up, Tuesday 7 October 2008

    Group A:

Pontefract v Esporta Oxford

  James Willstrop v Cameron Pilley

  Saurav Ghosal v Chris Ryder

  Neil Cordell v Scott Handley

  Harinder Pal Sandhu v Jaymie Haycocks

  Vanessa Atkinson v Madeline Perry

Nottingham v Chapel Allerton

  Ong Beng Hee v Alister Walker

  Julian Illingworth v Jonathan Harford

  John Rooney v Scott Arnold

  Lewis Walters v Chris Simpson

  Sarah Kippax v Jenny Duncalf

    Group B:

Probuild Bristol v UniSport Guildford

  Adrian Grant v Jesse Engelbrecht

  David Evans v Stacey Ross

  Hadrian Stiff v Phil Rushworth

  Peter Marshall v Mick Biggs

  Sarah-Jane Perry v Alison Waters

PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC v TWP St George's Hill

  Peter Barker v Daryl Selby

  Davide Bianchetti v Mark Krajcsak

  Tim Garner v Tom Richards

  Ben Ford v Joe Lee

  Vicky Botwright v Rachel Willmott

PNH Properties Chichester v Devon & Exeter

  Alex Gough v Stewart Boswell

  Tim Vail v Jonathan Kemp

  Robbie Temple v Rob Sutherland

  Peter Genever v James Snell

  Dominique Lloyd-Walter v Emma Chorley

Final Report