In
a shock conclusion to a dramatic Premier Squash League (PSL)
final at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford, defending
champions Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets recovered from
2/0 down to beat favourites Benz-Bavarian Duffield 3/2 - and
win the world's most prestigious squash league, supported by
Dunlop, for the fifth successive year and the sixth time in all.
The Croydon club's hero was top string Peter Barker, the
world No8 from London who celebrated his first ever straight games
win over world champion Nick Matthew when he beat his England
team-mate, ranked two in the world, 12-10, 18-16, 11-5.
With two world champions in their line-up, Duffield were firm
favourites to clinch a fourth title - but their first since 2007.
It
took little more than an hour for the Derbyshire club to establish a
2/0 lead - retired former world No64 Andy Whipp showing that
he still has what it takes as he despatched Surrey Health's Italian
number one Davide Bianchetti, formerly ranked 24 in the
world, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8, and England's recently-crowned women's
world champion Laura Massaro seeing off her England team-mate
Alison Waters, the reigning British National champion, in
five games.
It
was the 28th match between Massaro and Waters since the pair
contested the British Junior U14 Championship final in 1997.
But world No2 Massaro edged ahead 16-12 in the head-to-head tally,
twice coming from behind to conquer the world No6 8-11, 11-4, 8-11,
11-5, 11-8 in 64 minutes.
"I
really wanted to win for the team - I knew my match could make a
difference," said the 30-year-old from Preston (pictured above in
action with Waters), believing at the time that her team was
heading for a straightforward victory. "The crowd was great, and
when I realised that Whippy had won, that gave me a real boost."
The animated crowd settled back to watch the 'decider' - with
Sheffield's world champion Matthew expected to clinch the title for
Duffield, beating Barker for the 29th time in 31 meetings since
2006.
"I
don't know where that came from - some days it just all comes
together, and today was one of those days," was how left-hander
Barker summed up his stunning demolition of the seemingly invincible
Yorkshireman - a result which brought to an
end Matthew's PSL record 40-match unbeaten run!
The second game had the crowd on the edges of their seats - with
Barker (pictured above in action with Matthew) having the
first game-ball at 10-9, and both players having four each as they
traded points before the underdog finally took it 18-16 to the sheer
delight of the Surrey Health supporters.
"I
felt quite relaxed - and when you've got nothing to lose, it becomes
easier," continued the Londoner. "I played well and executed my
game-plan.
"But Nick is a phenomenal player - it's only the third time I've
ever beaten him. He's amazing and what he's achieved in the game is
incredible. He's the one!"
During Barker's win, team-mate Adrian Waller had also secured
a further point for Surrey Health, after beating Duffield's
home-grown Joel Hinds, a former World University champion,
11-3, 11-8, 11-6.
And the fifth and final match - initially widely predicted to be a
'dead rubber' - was also well underway before the conclusion of the
epic Barker/Matthew encounter.
Attention rapidly turned to the second of the two adjacent courts as
Surrey Health's Adrian Grant, the world No24 from London,
battled against Stephen Coppinger, Duffield's six-time South
African champion ranked four places higher.
The crowd reaction of utter disbelief was entirely evident as Grant
came away with a 13-11, 11-6, 11-9 triumph which kept the PSL trophy
in Surrey Health's hands - against the odds - for a fifth year in a
row.
"Pete was 1/0 up when I went on - and this was good for me as I
didn't feel any pressure, not like I would have done if it had been
two-all and I knew I was playing a decider!
"Playing Steve is like playing seven people! He just doesn't let go.
That first game could have gone either way.
"In the second, I was much more focussed - I kept my intensity up. I
could hear the crowd cheering a winner on the other court - but I
didn't know who it was!
"He was ahead in the third - I think I got a bit too confident - but
I was feeding off the support of the crowd, which really gee'd me
up," continued the former world No9, a Commonwealth Games Doubles
gold medallist (with Matthew).
"There's a great spirit in our team - all of us have played for the
club for a long time and we're good friends on and off the court,
and socialise a lot.
"Our manager Pete Smith has done an unbelievable job,
organising us and getting us funding, etc. I'm glad we've been able
to pay him back."
Smith (pictured above, holding trophy, with his triumphant team)
was almost lost for words: "Of the six, it's probably the best win
we've had," said the jubilant Surrey Health team manager. "We were
underdogs, for certain.
"I
haven't seen Pete play like that before. He played the right game
throughout the match.
"The second game was pivotal. If Nick had won, it could have changed
the whole evening."
After receiving the trophy, Smith paid tribute to team sponsors Burn
& Warne, PCL Whitehall, and G.E.N.T.
Some hours after receiving the runners-up trophy, Duffield team
manager Felix Frixou admitted: "It still hasn't sunk in yet.
We were so close!"
A
dejected Nick Matthew told his Twitter followers later:
"Gutted for Felix, our great crowd & the @BenzBavarian team that we
couldn't do it tonight. Snatched defeat from the jaws of victory! #psl"
RESULTS: Premier Squash League (PSL), Guildford, England
Final: Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets 3 Benz-Bavarian Duffield 2 Peter Barker bt Nick Matthew 12-10, 18-16, 11-5 (61m) Adrian Grant bt Stephen Coppinger 13-11, 11-6, 11-9
(55m) Adrian Waller bt Joel Hinds 11-3, 11-8, 11-6 (41m) Davide Bianchetti lost to Andy Whipp 8-11, 8-11, 8-11
(55m) Alison Waters lost to Laura Massaro 11-8, 4-11, 11-8,
5-11, 8-11 (64m)
Group A: Air-IT Nottingham
London
Alan Clyne
Eddie Charlton
Chris Fuller
David Wardle
Emma Beddoes
Coolhurst
Simon Rosner
Ong Beng Hee (tbc)
Ben Coleman
Adam Auckland
Lauren Selby
Benz-Bavarian Duffield v AJP
Pontefract Nick Matthew v James Willstrop (probably Saurav Ghosal)
Steve Coppinger v Harinderpal Sandhu
Andy Whipp v Lee Beachill
Declan James v Chris van der Salm
Laura Massaro v Sarah Kippax
University of Birmingham v Chapel Allerton
Cameron Pilley v Daryl Selby
Chris Ryder v Chris Simpson
Jaymie Haycocks v Shaun Le Roux
Peter Creed v James Earles
Olga Ertlova v Carrie Ramsey
Group B: Team Chichester v Winchester Health & Racquets
Jonathan Kemp v Marwan El Shorbagy
Rex Hedrick v Rob Downer
Robbie Temple v Scott Fitzgerald
Anthony Graham v Daniel Poleshuck
Lauren Briggs v Emily Whitlock
Luxfords St George’s Hill v Exeter Diamonds
Tom Richards v Omar Mosaad
Joe Lee v Olli Tuominen
Henrick Mustonen v Joey Barrington
Charles Sharpes v Tim Vail
Dom Lloyd Walter v Tory Temple Murray
UWE/Elite Squash Bristol v Integrity
Surrey H&R
Mohamed El Shorbagy v Peter Barker
David Evans v Adrian Waller
Tom Ford v Raphael Kandra
Michael Harris v Richie Fallows
Camile Serme v Katie Wilson
Surrey Health & Duffield To Contest Second Successive
PSL Final
Defending champions Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets and
Benz-Bavarian Duffield will contest the Premier Squash League
(PSL) final for the second season in a row after claiming
decisive victories in Tuesday's semi-finals of the world's most
prestigious squash league, supported by Dunlop.
Early victories by Surrey teenager Nada Elkalaawy
(pictured above, left), Italian number one Davide Bianchetti
and former British Junior Champion Adrian Waller clinched the
win for Croydon-based Surrey Health over Yorkshire opponents
Chapel Allerton - but Guernsey-born world No20 Chris Simpson
later gained a consolation point for the visitors after recording
his first ever win over Surrey Health's former world No9 Adrian
Grant.
In
the final match of the night between Essex and England team-mates
Peter Barker and Daryl Selby, it was world No7 Barker who
delighted the home crowd with a 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 victory which
produced the 4/1 result which takes Surrey Health into their sixth
final since 2008, and their fifth in a row!!
"It doesn't get any easier," said Pete Smith, the Surrey
Health team manager who has led his club to five titles since 2008.
"Everybody wants to beat you!
"Tonight's tie had the potential to be close - but we got off to a
good start and got the win after the first three matches. The team
played well - and Nada was exceptional. This was only her third
match for us and she's still only 18!
"I'm pleased for the team - it gets harder every year, but the team
spirit is fantastic."
In
Derbyshire, Duffield took full advantage of their historic
presentation of two world champions when the first, Laura Massaro,
put the home side into the lead over Exeter Diamonds with a
3/0 win over Victoria Temple Murray. The home crowd were
treated to quick wins by Andy Whipp and Joel Hinds to
seal victory for the three-time former champions - and later South
African Stephen Coppinger made it 4/0 with a four-game win
over Finnish champion Olli Tuominen.
But arguably the best was saved to last for the capacity crowd at
Duffield when club stalwart Nick Matthew, the reigning men's
world squash champion from Sheffield (pictured above with
Massaro) who is celebrating his 11th successive season for the
team, stormed to an 11-7, 11-6, 11-9 win over Egypt's world No13
Omar Mosaad.
The victory not only give his side a triumphant 5/0 whitewash, but
also notched up Matthew's 40th match win in a row - a PSL record!
The conclusion to Duffield's 21st successive season in the league -
itself a PSL record - takes the team into its seventh final since
1995.
"I
couldn't have asked more from the team tonight," said a delighted
Duffield team manager Felix Frixou. "I'm very happy with the
result - 5/0 was more than I could have hoped for.
"There was a great atmosphere in the club tonight and we did what we
had to do. We're ready for a repeat battle with Surrey Health - and
we're looking forward to it!"
Matthew was also proud of the outcome, but keen to pay tribute to
the team's strength in depth over the season. "After all the talk
about the team's two world champions, it was great for Laura and I
to actually play alongside each other tonight - but it's a testament
to the strength of the squad that the team has reached this far even
though we haven't played all the matches this season.
"It's such a great set-up here at Duffield - it's a very special
club - and this success is down to Felix's great leadership, and
before him Brian Hargrave."
Matthew was also keen to highlight the significance of team's
semi-final kit colours: "I insisted we played in red tonight as this
was the team colour we used when we won the titles in 2006 and
2007," said the Yorkshireman.
"It certainly paid off tonight and we will definitely be in red for
the final!"
RESULTS: Premier Squash League,
semi-finals, Tuesday 8 April 2014
Benz-Bavarian Duffield 5 Exeter Diamonds 0 Nick Matthew bt Omar Mosaad 11-7, 11-6, 11-9 Stephen Coppinger bt Olli Tuominen 11-9, 6-11, 11-6,
11-9 Joel Hinds bt Joey Barrington 11-7, 11-6, 11-9 Andy Whipp bt Tim Vail 8-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-9 Laura Massaro bt Victoria Temple Murray 12-10, 11-7,
11-3
Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets 4 Chapel Allerton 1 Peter Barker bt Daryl Selby 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 Adrian Grant lost to Chris Simpson 5-11, 7-11, 4-11
(40m) Adrian Waller bt Shaun le Roux 10-12, 11-7, 12-10,
11-6 (57m) Davide Bianchetti bt James Earles 11-8, 11-9, 11-5
(38m) Nada Elkalaawy bt Carrie Ramsey 11-3, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6
(42m)
In
contrasting styles and after a dramatic night of high-level squash in
the tenth and final round of the Premier Squash League (PSL),
Yorkshire club Chapel Allerton and Devon team Exeter Diamonds
clinched the final two slots in this season's semi-final play-offs of
the world's most prestigious squash league.
Chapel
Allerton emerged triumphant ahead of three potential rivals in Group A -
all four of whom were in the running for second place behind invincible
leaders Benz-Bavarian Duffield.
Indeed
University of Birmingham pulled off a shock 3/2 away win over
Duffield - but the West Midlands hopefuls ended three points adrift of
Leeds club Chapel Allerton's 134-point tally for the season.
Chapel
A took on fellow hopefuls Coolhurst London away from home and,
after dropping behind when the hosts' Irish champion Madeline Perry
despatched Carrie Ramsey in straight games, the visitors
established a 2/1 lead following wins by Yorkshiremen James Earles
and Shaun le Roux.
It
then took Chapel A stalwart and world No20 Chris Simpson - one of
only three players in the entire league to have played in all 10 rounds
this season - 72 minutes to earn an 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 win over
Londoner Ben Coleman to ensure the former champions a place in
the play-offs for the first time since 2011.
"I'm
absolutely delighted to make the playoffs for the first time with Chapel
A," said team manager Simon Parke, the former world No3 from
Yorkshire. "All five players gave a sterling performance and we
literally can't wait for next week's semi. Bring it on!"
The
team will face Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets after the
defending champions extended their Group B leadership by beating
Winchester 4/1 away from home. The Croydon club, PSL champions last
season for a record fourth year in a row, will be celebrating their
eighth successive appearance in the play-offs.
Meanwhile, Exeter needed just two points from their tenth round home tie
against Team Chichester - and achieved this in the opening match,
despite Irish international Aisling Blake ultimately going down
11-4, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 8-11 to the visitors' Lauren Briggs.
But
wins by Tim Vail and Finnish number one Olli Tuominen
delighted the packed home crowd before Chichester sneaked a late 3/2 win
when semi-retired number one Jonathan Kemp produced an impressive
four-game upset over Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema, the world No16.
Exeter, now in the semi-finals for the second successive season, will
face Duffield for a place in their first ever final. Duffield, champions
in 1998, 2006 and 2007, will be marking their eighth semi-final
appearance in the past nine seasons.
PSL
semi-finals, Tuesday 8 April:
Benz-Bavarian Duffield v Exeter Diamonds
Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets v Chapel Allerton
RESULTS: Premier Squash League, 10th
round, Tuesday 1 April 2014
Group
A: AJP Pontefract 1 Air-IT Nottingham 4 James Willstrop lost to Alan Clyne 0-11, 2-11, 10-12 Chris van der Salm lost to Eddie Charlton 5-11, 7-11,
11-7, 8-11 Lance James Beddoes lost to Ollie Holland 4-11, 14-12,
9-11, 11-6, 4-11 (60m) Taminder Gata-Aura lost to Mark Fuller 9-11, 9-11, 10-12 Sarah Kippax bt Anna Openshaw-Blower 11-2, 11-2, 11-2
Benz-Bavarian Duffield 2 University of Birmingham 3 Joel Hinds lost to Chris Ryder 10-12, 9-11, 6-11 Andy Whipp lost to Jaymie Haycocks 9-11, 5-11, 5-11 Declan James lost to Peter Creed 10-12, 11-7, 13-15, 9-11 Scott Handley bt Nathan Lake 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 Laura Massaro bt Sarah-Jane Perry 16-14, 8-11, 11-7,
10-12, 11-5
Coolhurst London 2 Chapel Allerton 3 Simon Rosner bt Daryl Selby 11-6, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7
(82m) Ben Coleman lost to Chris Simpson 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11
(72m) Yann Perrin lost to Shaun le Roux 8-11, 7-11, 10-12 (55m) Adam Auckland lost to James Earles 7-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5,
5-11 Madeline Perry bt Carrie Ramsey 11-8, 11-8, 11-4
Group
B: Exeter Diamonds 2 Team Chichester 3 Laurens Jan Anjema lost to Jonathan Kemp 11-3, 9-11,
10-12, 6-11 (44m) Olli Tuominen bt Rex Hedrick 11-9, 1-11, 11-7, 11-7 (61m) Joey Barrington lost to Robbie Temple 7-11, 8-11, 8-11
(36m) Tim Vail bt Miles Jenkins 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 (25m) Aisling Blake lost to Lauren Briggs 11-4, 9-11, 8-11,
12-10, 8-11 (60m)
Luxfords St George's Hill 0 UWE/Elitesquash Bristol 5 Henrik Mustonen lost to Lucas Serme 4-11, 7-11, 6-11 Alex Ingham lost to David Evans 11-7, 6-11, 5-11, 6-11 Reuben Phillips lost to Tom Ford 11-9, 4-11, 5-11, 8-11 James Simpson lost to Michael Harris 6-11, 9-11, 0-11 Dominique Lloyd-Walter lost to Tesni Evans 11-4, 11-4,
2-11, 4-11, 5-11
Winchester 1 Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets 4 Gregory Gaultier bt Peter Barker 11-2, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9 Greg Lobban lost to Adrian Waller 3-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-13 Robert Downer lost to Davide Bianchetti 11-8, 12-10, 6-11,
5-11, 5-11 Scott Fitzgerald lost to Richie Fallows 8-11, 7-11, 11-8,
12-10, 8-11 Katrina Burrows lost to Nada Elkalaawy 7-11, 1-11, 3-11
Duffield & Surrey Health Clinch Early PSL Play-Off Slots
Last
season's finalists Benz-Bavarian Duffield and Integrity Surrey
Health & Racquets made sure of places in this season's Premier
Squash League (PSL) semi-final play-offs despite contrasting
fortunes in the ninth and penultimate round of the world's most
prestigious squash league.
Derbyshire's three-time champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield went down 3/2
away from home to East Midlands rivals Air-IT Nottingham but are
assured of top place in the Group A tables.
Like
most of the ninth round teams in contention, Duffield were without key
players participating in the PSA World Series Finals in the USA
or the Penang Women's World Championship in Malaysia - but
victories by former women's number one Tania Bailey and former
European Junior Champion Declan James gave the visitors vital
points.
"I
thought it may go 3/2 to Nottingham, and in fairness they played well,"
said Duffield team manager Felix Frixou. "We just needed six
points to mathematically make the play offs and play a home tie, happy
to get the extra one point.
"Really pleased to have won the group once again, and look forward to
welcoming our southern runners up, whoever if may be, to our humble
Squash club at Duffield."
Nottingham are one of four teams in contention for the other play-off
slot from the Group, though Coolhurst London suffered their
heaviest defeat of the season - a 5/0 home drubbing by University of
Birmingham - which moved the league debutants down from second to
fourth in the tables.
The
Birmingham team move up to third place in the tables - but Yorkshire
club Chapel Allerton boosted their play-off bid with a 4/1 home
win over county rivals AJP Pontefract to reclaim second place.
Numerous permutations could result from April's tenth round clashes.
Defending champions Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets emerged
victorious in a top-of-the-table clash with Exeter Diamonds in
Group B, winning 3/2 at home.
Londoner Adrian Grant clinched victory for the Croydon club after
beating Finnish number one Olli Tuominen 12-10, 13-15, 11-6,
6-11, 11-5.
"It
was a very well-contested high class match tonight between two strong
teams," said the jubilant Surrey Health manager Pete Smith.
"Adrian won a brilliant match 3/2 to secure the win and a semi-final
spot for us.
"It's
fantastic to reach the semi's again and congratulations to the team."
Exeter
need just two points from their final tie against Team Chichester
to be sure of a first ever place in the play-offs.
Chichester claimed a tight 3/2 home win over Luxfords St George's
Hill which almost certainly ended the Weybridge club's play-off
aspirations.
In the
other Group B tie, UWE/Elitesquash Bristol secured an impressive
3/2 away win at Winchester.
RESULTS: Premier Squash League, 9th
round, Tuesday 18 March 2014
Group
A: Air-IT Nottingham 3 Benz-Bavarian Duffield 2 Alan Clyne bt Joel Hinds 12-10, 11-5, 11-8 Eddie Charlton bt Andy Whipp 11-4, 11-7, 11-9 Chris Fuller lost to Declan James 10-12, 2-1 ret. Ollie Holland bt Scott Handley 10-12, 12-10 ret. Vaidehi Reddy lost to Tania Bailey 1-11, 3-11, 3-11
Chapel
Allerton 4 AJP Pontefract 1 Daryl Selby bt Saurav Ghosal 12-10, 11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 11-6 Chris Simpson bt Chris van der Salm 11-7, 12-10, 11-9 Shaun le Roux bt Alex Hodgetts 11-2, 11-3, 11-8 Simon Parke bt Jack Brian Cooper 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 Carrie Ramsey lost to Kirsty McPhee 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 8-11
Coolhurst London 0 University of Birmingham 5 Omar Abdel Meguid lost to Chris Ryder 11-7, 7-11, 11-8,
8-11, 7-11 Ben Coleman lost to Jaymie Haycocks 15-17, 6-11, 11-6,
8-11 Adam Auckland lost to Peter Creed 6-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5,
4-11 Steven London lost to Joel Makin 1-11, 11-13, 7-11 Rachel Willmott lost to Chloe Mesic 2-11, 7-11, 7-11
Group
B: Team Chichester 3 Luxfords St George's Hill 2 Jonathan Kemp bt Tom Richards 11-4, 11-8, 11-13, 12-10 Rex Hedrick lost to Joe Lee 9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 6-11 Olivier Pett bt Henrik Mustonen 11-8, 12-10, 11-8 Stephen Wykes lost to Charles Sharpes 2-11, 6-11, 5-11 Lauren Briggs bt Dominique Lloyd-Walter 11-6, 16-14, 12-10
Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets 3 Exeter Diamonds 2 Peter Barker lost to Omar Mosaad 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 8-11,
7-11 Adrian Grant bt Olli Tuominen 12-10, 13-15, 11-6, 6-11,
11-5 Gregoire Marche bt Tim Vail 11-6, 11-9, 11-3 Adrian Waller bt James Snell 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 Nada Elkalaawy lost to Aisling Blake 10-12, 10-12, 8-11
Winchester 2 UWE/Elitesquash Bristol 3 Greg Lobban bt Lucas Serme 14-12, 4-11, 11-6, 11-7 Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi bt David Evans 12-10, 11-8, 11-7 Robert Downer lost to Tom Ford 11-3, 11-2, 5-11, 4-11,
4-11 Scott Fitzgerald lost to Michael Harris 11-9, 10-12,
10-12, 3-11 Alison Thomson lost to Yathreb Adel 2-11, 2-11, 6-11
10th
Round line-up (1 April)
Group A:
AJP Pontefract v Air-IT Nottingham
Benz-Bavarian Duffield v University of Birmingham
Coolhurst London v Chapel Allerton
Group B:
Exeter Diamonds v Team Chichester
Luxfords St George's Hill v UWE/Elitesquash Bristol
Winchester v Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets
Despite there being two rounds still to go, the contenders for next
month's Premier Squash League (PSL) semi-final play-offs have
significantly reduced after Tuesday's drama-filled eighth round of the
world's most prestigious squash league.
Three-time champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield stretched their lead
at the top of the Group A tables to 36 points ahead of the third-placed
team to make it almost impossible to fail to finish in the top two and
thereby secure a place in the semi-finals. The Derbyshire team beat
Yorkshire opponents Chapel Allerton 3/2 in one of the evening's
three ties settled on a top-string decider.
Nick
Matthew,
the world number one from Sheffield, showed little sign of the back
injury which curtailed his campaign in the second PSA World Series event
of the year earlier this month in Chicago when he beat England team-mate
Daryl Selby 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 13-11 to clinch Duffield's crucial
home win.
It was
a 5/0 away win at AJP Pontefract in Yorkshire that put this
season's PSL debutants Coolhurst London into second place in the
tables - a rise of two places. The visitors took full advantage of a
home team weakened by the absence of its leading players through
overseas commitments or injury.
An
East v West Midlands derby saw former champions Air-IT Nottingham
snatch a 3/2 away win at University of Birmingham after the
newly-crowned Scottish champion Alan Clyne recovered from a game
down to beat the home side's number one Chris Ryder in four games
in the top string decider.
Nottingham will host Duffield in the ninth round in a bid to keep their
play-off hopes alive.
It
seems to be a two-horse race in Group B where just a single point
separates leaders Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets and
Exeter Diamonds - reversing the one-point lead the Devon side had
after the previous round! Both teams claimed tense 3/2 wins -
title-holders Surrey Health, from Croydon, clinching victory over
Weybridge-based county rivals Luxfords St George's Hill away from
home when Peter Barker, the world No9 from London, beat Spanish
number one and world No6 Borja Golan 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 11-2 in
the decider.
It was
top-ranked Finn Olli Tuominen who made sure of a home win for
Exeter when he beat Qatar teenager Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi 11-7,
11-8, 10-12, 11-8 to consign visitors Winchester to their eighth
consecutive PSL defeat this season.
A
further 3/2 home win saw UWE/Elitesquash Bristol triumph over
higher-placed Team Chichester - the Avon team's winning heroes
being 18-year-old Egyptian schoolgirl Yathreb Adel, Exeter-based
24-year-old Michael Harris, and 39-year-old retired Welsh pro
David Evans.
9th
Round line-up
(18 March)
Group A:
Air-IT Nottingham v Benz-Bavarian Duffield
Chapel Allerton v AJP Pontefract
Coolhurst London v University of Birmingham
Group B:
Team Chichester v Luxfords St George's Hill
Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets v Exeter Diamonds
Winchester v UWE/Elitesquash Bristol
RESULTS: Premier Squash League, 8th
round, Tuesday 11 March 2014
Group
A: University of Birmingham 2 Air-IT Nottingham 3 Chris Ryder lost to Alan Clyne 11-8, 11-13, 10-12, 2-11 Jaymie Haycocks bt Eddie Charlton 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 Peter Creed bt Lewis Walters 11-3, 11-3, 15-13 Nathan Lake lost to Chris Fuller 10-12, 5-11, 12-14 Chloe Mesic lost to Emma Beddoes 1-11, 6-11, 2-11
AJP
Pontefract 0 Coolhurst London 5 Chris van der Salm lost to Omar Abdel Meguid 5-11, 8-11,
6-11 David Campion lost to Ben Coleman 4-11, 6-11, 7-11 (42m) Alex Hodgetts lost to Adam Auckland 3-11, 4-11, 3-11 Taminder Gata-Aura lost to Steven London 8-11, 11-7, 7-11,
11-7, 5-11 (58m) Sarah Kippax lost to Nicolette Fernandes 9-11, 15-17,
10-12
Benz-Bavarian Duffield 3 Chapel Allerton 2 Nick Matthew bt Daryl Selby 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 13-11 Joel Hinds lost to Chris Simpson 12-14, 7-11, 8-11 Andy Whipp lost to Shaun le Roux 14-12, 6-11, 4-11, 1-11 Aqeel Rehman bt Simon Parke 12-10, 11-6, 11-9 Laura Massaro bt Carrie Ramsey 11-6, 11-5, 11-2
Group
B: UWE/Elitesquash Bristol 3 Team Chichester 2 Lucas Serme lost to Jonathan Kemp 13-11, 5-11, 6-11, 6-11 David Evans bt Robbie Temple 11-7, 15-13, 11-5 Tom Ford lost to Olivier Pett 6-11, 8-11, 10-12 Michael Harris bt Anthony Graham 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 6-11,
11-8 (67m) Yathreb Adel bt Lauren Briggs 11-5, 11-5, 12-10
Exeter
Diamonds 3 Winchester 2 Omar Mosaad lost to Marwan Elshorbagy 11-9, 9-11, 4-11,
11-4, 8-11 (72m) Olli Tuominen bt Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi 11-7, 11-8, 10-12,
11-8 (46m) Tim Vail bt Robert Downer 11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5 (45m) James Snell bt Scott Fitzgerald 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9
(50m) Aisling Blake lost to Emily Whitlock 8-11, 6-11, 5-11
(32m)
Luxfords St George's Hill 2 Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets 3 Borja Golan lost to Peter Barker 7-11, 11-7, 5-11, 2-11 Tom Richards lost to Adrian Grant 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 9-11 Joe Lee bt Gregoire Marche 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7 Henrik Mustonen bt Adrian Waller 10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 4-11,
12-10 Dominique Lloyd-Walter lost to Alison Waters 4-11, 4-11,
5-11
A
resounding 5/0 away triumph by former champions Chapel Allerton
in Tuesday's seventh round of the Premier Squash League (PSL)
sees the Leeds club leap to second place in the Group A tables - their
highest position this season in the world's most prestigious squash
league.
Yorkshire's former world No2 Jenny Duncalf led the visitors'
attack against Air-IT Nottingham's Emma Beddoes, winning
11-2, 14-12, 11-6. Victories by James Earles, Shaun le Roux
and Chris Simpson followed before top string Daryl Selby,
the world No10 from Essex in his maiden season for Chapel Allerton,
recovered from a game down to beat the home side's Eddie Charlton
8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 13-11 to clinch the 2009 champions' biggest win this
season.
"Late
but great night at The Park for @ChapelAClub with a 5-0 win!" tweeted
England captain Duncalf later.
Chapel
Allerton move up two positions to second place in the Group - but are
still 28 points adrift of top-of-the-table Benz-Bavarian Duffield,
the Derbyshire club which defeated Coolhurst London 4/1 at home
despite a less-than-full-strength squad.
The
three-time former champions rested top string Nick Matthew, the
world No1 and world champion from Sheffield who claimed a record sixth
British National Championship title at the weekend. But sterling
performances by world No2 Laura Massaro and team-mates Ashley
Davies, Scott Handley and Andy Whipp saw Duffield
clinch victory and extend their lead at the top of the tables.
Indeed
the club's stand-in top string Joel Hinds looked on course for a
remarkable victory over Coolhurst's Simon Rosner when he led the
world No11 from Germany by two games - and, at eight-all, was just three
points away from a sensational upset.
But
Rosner, fresh from his eighth German national championship title success
at the weekend, took control of the match and gained a consolation point
for the visitors with a 10-12, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9 victory.
National champions were out in force across the land as PSL teams
battled for glory - and ultimately a top two position in the Group
tables for a place in the end-of-season semi-finals.
The
other tie in Group A saw University of Birmingham claim a 3/2
home win over AJP Pontefract. Welsh champions Deon Saffery
and Peter Creed had mixed fortunes for the home side - Saffery
going down in five to Pontefract's Sarah Kippax while Creed
defeated Chris van der Salm 3/0. After Jaymie Haycocks
clinched the win for the hosts when Pontefract's Lee Beachill was
forced to retire injured after one game, Indian national champion
Saurav Ghosal scored an extra consolation point for the visitors
when he beat Chris Ryder in five games.
There
was high drama in Group B where rivals Exeter Diamonds and
defending champions Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets - who
shared leadership of the group on the eve of the action - both claimed
4/1 wins away from home, with Exeter moving a single point ahead of the
Croydon club.
Joey
Barrington
was an early Exeter hero - fighting back from 2/0 down in the tie
against UWE/Elitesquash Bristol to beat experienced Welshman
David Evans 7-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-7. Olli Tuominen, the
Finnish national champion for the 15th time at the weekend, beat
Frenchman Lucas Serme to ensure the Exeter win - but it was the
new nine-time Dutch champion Laurens Jan Anjema who guaranteed
the Devon club's table-topping points total when he upset the home
side's Egyptian world No3 Mohamed Elshorbagy in four games.
"It
was a great result tonight," said Exeter team manager Adam Lings. "Joey
played a blinder and LJ played out of his skin. I am very happy with the
result and look forward to carrying this run through to the
semi-finals."
Londoner Alison Waters, winner of a fourth women's British
National title on Sunday, put Surrey Health in the driving seat at
Team Chichester when she beat Lauren Briggs 3/0. Further wins
by Surrey stalwarts Adrian Waller and Adrian Grant
confirmed the visitors' overall win - but top string Peter Barker
proved that he has recovered from the injury that caused his withdrawal
from the National Championships in Manchester when he beat former
England international Jonathan Kemp in straight games.
The
other Group B tie saw Luxfords St George's Hill earn a
confidence-boosting 4/1 home win over Winchester - one which
takes the Weybridge club back to third place in the tables, and in
contention for the play-offs.
"It
was a good crowd tonight - and good squash," said St George's team
manager Danny Lee. "Everybody wants us to be in contention for
the semi-finals so I hope we can carry on this form."
RESULTS: Premier Squash League, 7th
round, Tuesday 18 February 2014
Group
A: Benz-Bavarian Duffield 4 Coolhurst London 1 Joel Hinds lost to Simon Rosner 12-10, 11-5, 8-11, 6-11,
9-11 Andy Whipp bt Yann Perrin 12-14, 11-3, 11-3, 3-11, 11-1 Scott Handley bt Steven London 11-3, 11-3, 11-7 Ashley Davies bt Nick Sutcliffe 9-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-3 Laura Massaro bt Madeline Perry 11-1, 11-9, 11-5
University of Birmingham 3 AJP Pontefract 2 Chris Ryder lost to Saurav Ghosal 9-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-8,
6-11 Jaymie Haycocks bt Lee Beachill 15-13 ret. Peter Creed bt Chris van der Salm 11-5, 11-3, 11-5 Joel Makin bt Taminder Gata-Aura 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 Deon Saffery lost to Sarah Kippax 7-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8,
7-11
Air-IT
Nottingham 0 Chapel Allerton 5 Eddie Charlton lost to Daryl Selby 11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 11-13 Chris Fuller lost to Chris Simpson 9-11, 4-11, 11-7, 6-11 Ollie Holland lost to Shaun le Roux 11-5, 8-11, 5-11, 5-11 Mark Fuller lost to James Earles 7-11, 8-11, 11-13 Emma Beddoes lost to Jenny Duncalf 2-11, 12-14, 6-11
Group
B: Luxfords St George's Hill 4 Winchester 1 Borja Golan bt Marwan Elshorbagy 11-9, 12-14, 11-5, 11-9
(57m) Tom Richards bt Robert Downer 11-6, 11-2, 11-3 (35m) Henrik Mustonen bt Alex Phillips 11-7, 11-7, 11-4 (22m) Charles Sharpes bt Scott Fitzgerald 11-7, 11-3 ret. Dominique Lloyd-Walter lost to Emily Whitlock 11-13, 8-11,
7-11 (33m)
UWE/Elitesquash
Bristol 1 Exeter Diamonds 4 Mohamed Elshorbagy lost to Laurens Jan Anjema 9-11, 11-8,
8-11, 3-11 (46m) Lucas Serme lost to Olli Tuominen 7-11, 10-12, 5-7 ret.
(45m) David Evans lost to Joey Barrington 11-7, 11-8, 3-11,
9-11, 7-11 (57m) Michael Harris bt Tim Vail 4-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9
(50m) Kip Quiney lost to Victoria Temple Murray 1-11, 11-13,
4-11 (18m)
Team
Chichester 1 Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets 4 Jonathan Kemp lost to Peter Barker 11-13, 5-11, 8-11 (32m) Rex Hedrick lost to Adrian Grant 13-15, 6-11, 6-11 (51m) Robbie Temple lost to Adrian Waller 6-11, 2-11, 11-4,
12-14 (59m) Anthony Graham bt Raphael Kandra 11-7, 6-11, 13-11, 11-7 Lauren Briggs lost to Alison Waters 4-11, 9-11, 3-11
UWE/Elitesquash
Bristol
produced their biggest Premier Squash League (PSL) win in eight
years when they despatched champions Integrity Surrey Health &
Racquets 3/2 in Tuesday's sixth round of the world's most
prestigious squash league.
The
opening round of the second half of the 30th PSL season produced a night
of high drama - with all but one of the ties ending in 3/2 scorelines
and four resolved by the top string decider. The sole tie which ended in
a 5/0 whitewash, for former champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield, saw
the Derbyshire club's new world number one Nick Matthew celebrate
his 50th career meeting with former world number one James Willstrop
by beating his fellow Yorkshireman, the AJP Pontefract top
string, in straight games.
The
Bristol team arrived at the Surrey Health's Croydon club without an away
win in over four years. On paper the likelihood of victory was slim -
and, after falling 2/0 down following home wins by Richie Fallows
and world No4 Alison Waters, the chances seemed even slimmer.
But
the visitors' Thomas Ford rallied for 67 minutes to overcome
world No29 Adrian Waller and long-retired Welshman David Evans
rolled back the years to see off Surrey Health's England international
Adrian Grant in five games.
The
decider saw home favourite Peter Barker, the world No8 from
London making his comeback after injury, take on Bristol's Mohamed
Elshorbagy, the 22-year-old Egyptian now ranked four in the world.
Elshorbagy was in powerful form, taking out left-hander Barker 11-9,
11-6, 11-8 to seal a shock Bristol victory.
Bristol team members Mohamed Elshorbagy, Sam Ellis,
Thomas Ford and Camille Serme celebrate their win (picture by
Jordan Mansfield)
"I'm
absolutely delighted for UWE/Elitesquash Bristol's second win of the
season," said team spokesman Richard King. "It was a great team
effort. Times are changing in the west!"
Surrey
Health hang onto top place in the Group B tables, but now share the
honour with Exeter Diamonds, whose Egyptian international Omar
Mosaad, ranked 12 in the world, pulled off a stunning 11-9, 12-10,
11-8 win over Spain's Borja Golan - ranked five places higher -
to clinch the Devon side a 3/2 win over Luxfords St George's Hill.
"It
was always going to be tight," said Exeter team manager Adam Lings.
"In fact at the start of the night I said it could easily be either 4/1
to us or 4/1 to them. We had an absolutely packed house tonight so It
couldn't have ended better than Omar playing the game of his life to
beat Borja and clinch the tie for us.
"It's
the first time we've topped the group tables at this stage of the season
- so our aim now is to put out the strongest team we can for the
remainder of the season so that we can keep this going and earn
ourselves a home semi-final, and then a place in the final for the first
time.
"We
had great news tonight when Omar told me he is planning to move to
Somerset to train - which means he will be available to us for the rest
of the season."
Team
Chichester
move up to third position in the Group B tables after recovering from
the loss of the opening match to win the next three to beat South Coast
rivals Winchester 3/2.
Benz-Bavarian Duffield
headed the Group A tables going into the second half of the season - but
extended their lead to 21 points after their 5/0 away win at AJP
Pontefract. But the match the packed crowd wanted to see more than
any other was the top string encounter between their hero James
Willstrop and Sheffield rival Nick Matthew - the 50th in a
long and illustrious series of meetings which have taken place in all
corners of the globe since the first in the British Open qualifiers in
June 2001.
In
previous PSL meetings, the head-to-head tally was 3/0 in Matthew's
favour - the score being 38/11 over all meetings, with Willstrop looking
for his first individual win since December 2007. But, despite the
heartiest home support, Willstrop was unable to make the long-awaited
breakthrough, going down 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 to his imperious opponent from
the steel city.
"Obviously we know each other like the back of our hands and I think the
goal for both of us was to get some match practice for this month's
Tournament of Champions in New York - and we both achieved that!" said
Matthew afterwards.
Coolhurst London
claimed the most nerve-wracking win of the night when Egyptian Omar
Abdel Meguid survived a dramatic 6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5
decider over Scottish number one Alan Clyne to give the PSL
debutantes a 3/2 home win over former champions Air-IT Nottingham.
"For a
newly-formed team, it can often prove challenging to function together
as a coherent unit from the outset, as players get to know each other's
strengths, weaknesses and foibles," said Coolhurst team manager Nick
Sutcliffe later.
"Coolhurst
is very proud of its squad members not only for their individual
performances tonight, which were exceptional, but also for their
camaraderie and natural willingness to work together.
"Huge
thanks also to our vociferous Coolhurst supporters who played a crucial
part in helping us maintain an unbeaten home match record - long may it
continue!"
There
was further Yorkshire misery in Leeds where Chapel Allerton went
down 3/2 to University of Birmingham. Recent England
international debutante Sarah-Jane Perry gave the West Midlands
side a strong start when, in her first match after a four-month injury
layoff, she defeated seasoned England international Jenny Duncalf,
a former world No2, 3-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-9.
Later
five-game victories by Nathan Lake and Welshman Peter Creed
sealed the tie for the Birmingham visitors.
RESULTS: Premier Squash League, 6th
round, Tuesday 7 January 2014
Group
A: Coolhurst London 3 Air-IT Nottingham 2 Omar Abdel Meguid bt Alan Clyne 6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 8-11,
11-5 Ben Coleman lost to Eddie Charlton 6-11, 5-11, 7-11 Adam Auckland bt Ollie Holland 6-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4,
11-1 Steve Richardson lost to Mark Fuller 12-10, 4-11, 5-11,
6-11 Madeline Perry bt Emma Beddoes 11-8, 11-13, 15-13, 10-12,
11-4
AJP
Pontefract 0 Benz-Bavarian Duffield 5 James Willstrop lost to Nick Matthew 9-11, 8-11, 8-11 Lee Beachill lost to Joel Hinds 4-11, 6-11, 10-12 Chris van der Salm lost to Andy Whipp 11-8, 7-11, 6-11,
5-11 Mohd Syafiq Kamal lost to Declan James 2-11, 9-11, 7-11 Sarah Kippax lost to Laura Massaro 12-14, 10-12, 6-11
Chapel
Allerton 2 University of Birmingham 3 Daryl Selby bt Chris Ryder 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 Chris Simpson bt Jaymie Haycocks 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-5 James Earles lost to Peter Creed 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 5-11,
5-11 Simon Parke lost to Nathan Lake 13-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-13,
6-11 Jenny Duncalf lost to Sarah-Jane Perry 11-3, 4-11, 3-11,
9-11
Group
B: Winchester 2 Team Chichester 3 Marwan Elshorbagy bt Jonathan Kemp 11-8, 15-13, 11-6 Greg Lobban lost to Rex Hedrick 11-6, 9-11, 6-11, 11-8,
6-11 (82m) Scott Fitzgerald lost to Robbie Temple 12-14, 12-10, 11-8,
9-11, 4-11 Daniel Poleshchuk lost to Olivier Pett 10-12, 4-11, 4-11 Emily Whitlock bt Lauren Briggs 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9
Exeter
Diamonds 3 Luxfords St George's Hill 2 Omar Mosaad bt Borja Golan 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 (60m) Laurens Jan Anjema bt Tom Richards 11-4, 11-8, 5-11, 12-10
(58m) Joey Barrington lost to Joe Lee 5-11, 8-11, 6-11 (37m) Tim Vail lost to Charles Sharpes 14-12, 7-11, 4-11, 5-11
(45m) Victoria Temple Murray bt Judith Allgrove 11-4, 11-3, 11-3
(17m)
Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets 2 UWE/Elitesquash Bristol 3 Peter Barker lost to Mohamed Elshorbagy 9-11, 6-11, 8-11
(44m) Adrian Grant lost to David Evans 7-11, 13-11, 9-11, 13-11,
8-11 (63m) Adrian Waller lost to Thomas Ford 8-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-6,
7-11 (67m) Richie Fallows bt Sam Ellis 8-11, 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3
(46m) Alison Waters bt Camille Serme 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 (34m)
Duffield & Surrey Health Top Tables At Halfway Point In
PSL Season
Benz-Bavarian Duffield
and Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets - the two teams that
contested last season's final - top the Group A and B tables in the
Premier Squash League (PSL), respectively, going into next year's
second half of the 30th season of the world's most prestigious squash
league.
South
African Stephen Coppinger clinched a 3/2 away win for former
champions Duffield over University of Birmingham when he beat
experienced Englishman Chris Ryder in straight games in the top
string decider. Ryder, a 33-year-old former world No33 from Leamington
Spa - and the World University champion in 2006 - surprised the crowd by
announcing his retirement from professional squash after the match.
The
fifth round win extends the Derbyshire club's Group A lead to 16 points
head of nearest rival Coolhurst London.
"I'm
pleased to have a good lead going into the Christmas break," said
jubilant Duffield team manager Felix Frixou. "The team did really
well, especially without our long-standing number one Nick Matthew,
who only arrived back today from Hong Kong where his title success in
the Hong Kong Open takes him back to No1 in the world next year.
"In
fact we were delighted that Coppinger made it back in time, or otherwise
we would have really struggled."
A
blistering 5/0 home win over Winchester takes title-holders
Surrey Health back to the top of the Group B tables - overtaking west
country rivals Exeter Diamonds - who suffered their first defeat
of the season, going down 3/2 to Team Chichester away from home.
"It
was a good response to our defeat to Exeter in the last round," said
Croydon club Surrey Health's team manager Pete Smith. "We needed
a win, and the team did it - which was especially good as we haven't had
our number one Peter Barker for most of the season."
Surrey
Health No4 Tim Garner celebrated his 25th consecutive season in
the league with an impressive straight games win over 23-year-old
full-time player Phillip John Bull. Garner was presented with a
specially-engraved bottle of champagne by team manager Smith.
"I
still remember making my national league debut at Bromley Town all those
25 years ago - at the time so excited to have the chance to play in the
top league," said 43-year-old Garner, a former world No26. "And it's
brilliant to still have that chance a couple of decades on, though it is
still disconcerting when you play someone who wasn't born on your debut!
"It
was a great win for the team tonight. Maybe I will retire on the back of
a five nil ... but maybe not!"
Chichester celebrated their win over Exeter after the first three
matches - with wins by Robbie Temple, Olivier Pett (over
long-time coach and 'birthday boy' Tim Vail) and Jaclyn Kemp
ensuring the Devon club's first defeat of the season.
"It
was nice to end Exeter's unbeaten run," said Chichester team manager
Mike Phillips. "We've got good strength in depth and thought we
could win at 3, 4 and 5. Ollie's win was particularly good, against Tim,
his coach, and will be very good for his confidence."
The
other Group B tie also saw a comprehensive 5/0 win when Luxfords St
George's Hill snatched an away victory at UWE/Elitesquash Bristol.
The win sees the Weybridge club share second place in the tables with
Exeter - both just five points adrift of Surrey Health, on 71 points.
League
newcomers Coolhurst London hold onto second place in Group A,
despite going down 3/2 to Chapel Allerton. There was everything
to play for when the Leeds club's Chris Simpson took on the
visitors' aptly-named Steven London - and won 11-1, 11-6, 11-4 to
clinch victory for Chapel Allerton.
But
just a single point behind Coolhurst are former champions Air-IT
Nottingham, who crushed Yorkshire visitors AJP Pontefract
5/0. It was Nottingham's in-form Emma Beddoes who put the hosts
ahead with an 11-9, 11-4, 13-11 victory over higher-ranked English rival
Sarah Kippax.
RESULTS: Premier Squash League, 5th
round, Tuesday 10 December 2013
Group
A: Air-IT Nottingham 5 AJP Pontefract 0 Alan Clyne bt Lee Beachill 11-4, 11-9, 11-6 Eddie Charlton bt Adam Taylor 11-1, 11-1, 11-0 Chris Fuller bt Chris van der Salm 11-6, 11-6, 15-13 Ollie Holland bt George Wileman 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 Emma Beddoes bt Sarah Kippax 11-9, 11-4, 13-11
University of Birmingham 2 Benz-Bavarian Duffield 3 Chris Ryder lost to Stephen Coppinger 11-13, 8-11, 7-11 Jaymie Haycocks bt Joel Hinds 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 11-3 Bradley Hindle bt Scott Handley 10-12, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6,
11-7 Scott Young lost to Adam Murrills 5-11, 12-10, 4-11, 10-12 Deon Saffery lost to Laura Massaro 11-3, 4-11, 4-11, 8-11
Chapel
Allerton 3 Coolhurst London 2 Chris Simpson bt Steven London 11-1, 11-6, 11-4 Shaun le Roux bt Joshua Masters 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 Matthew Sidaway lost to Joe Green 8-11, 11-13, 2-11 Julian Tomlinson bt Nick Sutcliffe 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5 Carrie Ramsey lost to Madeline Perry 6-11, 7-11, 11-5,
2-11
Group
B: Team Chichester 3 Exeter Diamonds 2 Jonathan Kemp lost to Laurens Jan Anjema 4-11, 9-11, 11-9,
6-11 Rex Hedrick lost to Olli Tuominen 7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 8-11 Robbie Temple bt Joey Barrington 2-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-8 Olivier Pett bt Tim Vail 11-3, 11-7, 11-8
Jaclyn Kemp bt Victoria Temple Murray 11-7, 11-8, 11-1
UWE/Elitesquash
Bristol 0 Luxfords St George's Hill 5 David Evans lost to Borja Golan 11-13, 8-11, 11-7, 4-11
(44m) Michael Harris lost to Tom Richards 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 9-11
(36m) Hadrian Stiff lost to Joe Lee 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 3-11, 0-11
(51m) Thoboki Mohohlo lost to Charles Sharpes 9-11, 14-12, 7-11,
6-11 (46m) Lea van der Zwalmen lost to Dominique Lloyd-Walter 7-11,
7-11, 6-11 (18m)
Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets 5 Winchester 0 Adrian Grant bt Robert Downer 11-3, 11-13, 11-6, 8-11,
11-1 Adrian Waller bt Alex Phillips 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 Davide Bianchetti bt Scott Fitzgerald 12-10, 11-6, 10-12,
11-4 Tim Garner bt Phillip John Bull 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 Alison Waters bt Emily Whitlock 11-6, 11-4, 11-4
Dazzling Exeter Diamonds Defeat PSL Champions Surrey
Health
As
midnight approached at the end of a long fourth round Premier Squash
League (PSL) tie in the Devon capital, Exeter Diamonds
clinched a dramatic 3/2 win over title-holders Integrity Surrey
Health & Racquets to become the only unbeaten team in the 30th
season of the world's most prestigious squash league.
West
Country neighbours UWE/Elitesquash Bristol also had cause for
celebration in Group B after beating Winchester 4/1 to record
their first PSL win for 20 months.
Honours were shared after the first four matches in Exeter, with the
visitors' Alison Waters claiming the quickest win of the night
(in 13 minutes) and Italian star Davide Bianchetti the longest
(in 75 minutes), while home heroes Tim Vail and Finn number one
Olli Tuominen restored order for the Diamonds.
The
top-string decider featured Exeter's Omar Mosaad, the world No 9
from Egypt making only his third appearance in the PSL, and the Croydon
club's England international Adrian Grant, the world No 20 from
London. Left-hander Grant boasted a 4/3 career head-to-head advantage
going into the match - but, buoyed by the partisan home crowd, Mosaad
wasted no time in securing his crucial 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 victory in 35
minutes.
The
win not only makes Exeter Diamonds the only unbeaten team this season -
and sees the Devon side top the Group B tables by an eight-point margin
- but it also inflicted the first defeat on Surrey Health since the team
lifted the PSL trophy for a record fourth consecutive time in last
season's final in May.
PSL
stalwarts since the 2006/07 season, UWE/Elitesquash Bristol last
recorded a victory in March 2012 - and went through the 2012/13 season
anchored to the bottom of the Group B tables without a single win. But a
home fixture against Winchester changed the Avon club's fortunes.
17-year-old Egyptian Yathreb Adel started Bristol's winning run
with a 3/0 victory over the visitors' Emily Heyes. Exeter-based
Michael Harris followed the teenager's lead by beating
Winchester's Phillip John Bull in four games before Cheltenham
20-year-old Thomas Ford played one of the most significant games
of his life when he recovered from 2/0 down to beat Alex Phillips
10-12, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 and clinch Bristol's long-awaited triumph.
Roared
on by the exuberant home crowd, former Welsh international David
Evans - now in his 40th year - rolled back the years to see off
Portsmouth-based 21-year-old Robert Downer 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 to
establish a 4/1 team win.
"Bristol UWE/Elite Squash is delighted with its first PSL win in a few
seasons," said team spokesman Richard King. "'Southwest team with
southwest squad provide home win in the southwest': what else can you
say! Come on Bristol!"
The
other Group B tie also went to the wire when Luxfords St George's
Hill beat Team Chichester 3/2. Things started badly for the
home side when Chichester's Jaclyn Kemp beat Dominique Lloyd-Walter
in straight games and Olivier Pett fought back from a game down
to beat the Weybridge club's Alex Ingham in four games.
But
home wins by Henrik Mustonen and Tom Richards forced the
decider - which Spanish star Borja Golan, marking his first
season for St George's, wasted no time in winning, beating the
Chichester top string Jonathan Kemp 11-7, 12-10, 11-6.
"Welcome to a great player and fantastic team man Borja," said St
George's Hill team manager Danny Lee afterwards. "A great effort
by Alex and good to see Tom back on form."
An
East Midlands derby in Group A saw last season's runners-up
Benz-Bavarian Duffield beat fellow former champions Air-IT
Nottingham 4/1 at the packed Duffield club in Derbyshire. The opener
provided one of the night's biggest upsets when Nottingham's world No26
Emma Beddoes beat the home side's world No2 Laura Massaro
11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6.
But
the visitors were unable to maintain the momentum as Duffield stars
Aqeel Rehman, Andy Whipp and Joel Hinds all recorded
notable wins - Whipp saving game-balls in all three games before beating
Nottingham team manager Mark Fuller 13-11, 13-11, 16-14.
Top
strings Nick Matthew, the Duffield world champion, and Eddie
Charlton then fought out a blistering final match, with Matthew
emerging triumphant 11-7, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7 to extend Duffield's lead at
the top of the Group A tables to six points.
"It
was a really busy night tonight, in front of a total sell-out crowd,"
said Duffield team manager Felix Frixou. "Emma was in tremendous
form against Laura and really held her own against our world No2 player.
But in fact everyone played really well tonight - and provided a great
evening of squash for the packed crowd.
"In
the final match of the night, Eddie played out of his skin - but Nick
did what he had to do. It was Nick's first home match since the
publication of his autobiography, so we had a good signing session after
the match - and loads of copies flew out of the door. He must have been
disappointed not to have been shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality
of the Year award, but he didn't let it affect his match."
PSL
newcomers Coolhurst London strengthened their grip on second
place in the tables with a 3/2 win at University of Birmingham.
Irish international Madeline Perry, Englishman Adam Auckland
and Frenchman Yann Perrin were the Coolhurst winners - but
Birmingham University stalwart Chris Ryder gave the home crowd
something to cheer at the end of the evening when the 33-year-old top
string beat the London club's Ben Coleman, aged 22, 11-9, 11-3,
11-2.
It was
a 3/2 away win in the all-Yorkshire clash in Pontefract where Chapel
Allerton beat AJP Pontefract. A stunning performance from the
Leeds club's Chris Simpson saw Chapel Allerton clinch their win -
the world No24 from Guernsey beating India's world No17 Saurav Ghosal
11-6, 11-8, 11-1.
RESULTS: Premier Squash League, 4th
round, Tuesday 26 November 2013
Group
A:
Benz-Bavarian Duffield 4 Air-IT Nottingham 1 Nick Matthew bt Eddie Charlton 11-7, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7 Joel Hinds bt Ollie Holland 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 Andy Whipp bt Mark Fuller 13-11, 13-11, 16-14 Aqeel Rehman bt Josh Taylor 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 Laura Massaro lost to Emma Beddoes 5-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-8,
6-11
AJP
Pontefract 2 Chapel Allerton 3 James Willstrop bt Daryl Selby 7-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6 Saurav Ghosal lost to Chris Simpson 6-11, 8-11, 1-11 Lee Beachill lost to Shaun le Roux 10-12, 5-11, 7-11 Adam Taylor lost to Simon Parke 6-11, 10-12, 5-11 Sarah Kippax bt Jenny Duncalf 8-11, 9-11, 8-3 ret.
University of Birmingham 2 Coolhurst London 3 Chris Ryder bt Ben Coleman 11-9, 11-3, 11-2 Jaymie Haycocks lost to Yann Perrin 10-12, 8-11, 3-11 Nathan Lake lost to Adam Auckland 4-11, 2-11, 3-11 Bradley Hindle bt Steven London 11-5, 11-9, 11-5 Deon Saffery lost to Madeline Perry 11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 8-11
Group
B:
Luxfords St George's Hill 3 Team Chichester 2 Borja Golan bt Jonathan Kemp 11-7, 12-10, 11-6 Tom Richards bt Rex Hedrick 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 Henrik Mustonen bt Robbie Temple 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 Alex Ingham lost to Olivier Pett 7-11, 12-10, 8-11, 8-11 Dominique Lloyd-Walter lost to Jaclyn Kemp 8-11, 6-11, 7-11
Exeter
Diamonds 3 Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets 2 Omar Mosaad bt Adrian Grant 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 (35m) Olli Tuominen bt Raphael Kandra 11-5, 13-11, 14-12 (42m) Joey Barrington lost to Davide Bianchetti 9-11, 11-13,
11-6, 10-12 (75m) Tim Vail bt Richie Fallows 13-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-2 (59m) Rhianne O'Donnell lost to Alison Waters 2-11, 1-11, 1-11
(13m)
UWE/Elitesquash
Bristol 4 Winchester 1 David Evans bt Robert Downer 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 Thomas Ford bt Alex Phillips 10-12, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 Michael Harris bt Phillip John Bull 11-5, 11-3, 9-11, 11-4 Jethro Binns lost to Daniel Poleshchuk 11-7, 7-11, 3-11,
8-11 Yathreb Adel bt Emily Heyes 11-2, 11-3, 11-7
With
only a single point separating the top two Premier Squash League (PSL)
teams in Group A - and just a 'games loss' total providing the
difference between the pair leading Group B - the tension is already
mounting after Tuesday's third round of the 30th season of the world's
most prestigious squash league.
Exeter
Diamonds
became the third team to top the Group B tables this season after a
resounding 4/1 away win over Winchester. 2012 European Junior
Champion Emily Whitlock scored an early win for the hosts after
beating Victoria Temple Murray 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 - but it was
one-way traffic for visitors Exeter thereafter, with decisive wins by
Tim Vail, Joey Barrington and Finnish number one Olli
Tuominen.
Dutch
champion Laurens Jan Anjema rounded off the evening by
despatching Scot Greg Lobban 11-7, 11-6, 11-2 to give Exeter
their third successive win of the season.
But
title-holders Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets also maintained
their unbeaten run this season with a 3/2 victory over county rivals
Luxfords St George's Hill - a win which sees the Croydon club
sharing the Group B lead with Exeter, both on 49 points.
Surrey
Health owe their success to stars Adrian Waller and Gregoire
Marche - Englishman Waller twice fighting from behind to topple
career-long rival Joe Lee 5-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, and
Frenchman Marche crushing higher-ranked Englishman Tom Richards
11-9, 11-3, 11-3.
"Won
my match tonight against TomRichards ! 11/9 11/3 11/3 !" tweeted the
exuberant 23-year-old from Aix-en-Provence later. "The team won 3/2 as
well !! Good job guys !! :)"
Surrey
Health team manager Pete Smith added: "It was a good win for the
team tonight - they (St George's) were strong and it could have gone
either way. But Greg played out of his skin - we really needed to win
that one - it was high intensity squash!"
But
Team Chichester made sure that they are very much still in the race
for the Group B title after beating UWE/Elitesquash Bristol 4/1
at home to move into third place in the tables. The evening was
characterised by two Kemp/Serme clashes, with a third Kemp looking on as
honours were shared.
Chichester number one Jonathan Kemp, fresh from reaching the
Toronto Cup final in Canada at the weekend, rounded off the evening
perfectly for the home fans by beating France's Lucas Serme 9-11,
11-4, 11-6, 12-10 - while, earlier in the evening, Jonathan's wife
Jaclyn Kemp (the former New Zealand No1 Jaclyn Hawkes playing
her first competitive match for more than a year) narrowly lost to
Lucas' sister Camille Serme, the world No7, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9,
5-11, 6-11 as baby daughter Maia Kemp looked on!
Chichester (left) and Exeter pictured above - with Mr,
Mrs and Miss Kemp extreme left and Sermes Camille & Lucas left of
Bristol squad
Action
in Group A was no less dramatic, with last season's runners-up
Benz-Bavarian Duffield making up for a surprise Round 2 loss by
beating Chapel Allerton 4/1 away from home. The tie opened with a
battle between two of England's leading women players Jenny Duncalf
and Laura Massaro, both double British National champions. World
No8 Duncalf took a 2/0 lead, but Duffield's world No2 Massaro fought
back to clinch the match 13-11 in the fifth!
Veteran PSL campaigner Simon Parke, the former world No3, was the
Leeds club's sole winner - while Duffield's never-say-die unranked
player Andy Whipp produced one of the night's most astonishing
results when he beat Chapel Allerton's world No24 Chris Simpson
11-8, 4-11, 11-9, 15-13.
The
Derbyshire club's number one Nick Matthew, in his first PSL
outing since winning the World Championship title for the third time
earlier this month, brushed aside England team-mate Daryl Selby
11-6, 11-1, 11-9 in the night's final match.
"The
team did me proud tonight," said Duffield manager Felix Frixou.
"Nick had spent the day recording a 'Question of Sport' programme, yet
put everything he had into that win - and as for Andy, I've never seen
anything like it. He was just inspired!
"The
crowd was amazing - they were there from the very first ball of the
night through to the very end," added Frixou. "It was not just a good
night for the teams, but a good night for squash!"
Selby tweeted after his match:
"Disappointing loss for the team tonight against Duffield. Wish I could
have played better but world champ too
good.@ChapelAClub
we'll be back"
Duffield top the tables with 46 points - but close on their heels, with
45, are PSL debutants Coolhurst London, their round two victors.
With wins by Irish No1 Madeline Perry, Adam Auckland,
Ben Coleman and Malaysian No1 Ong Beng Hee, the southern
newcomers were on course for a maximum points home win over AJP
Pontefract.
But
the Yorkshire visitors had a trump card in the form of Indian number one
Saurav Ghosal. The world No17 from Kolkata pulled off a major
upset over Coolhurst's top-ranked German Simon Rosner, the world
No 13, by winning 11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9 to reduce the London club's
winning margin to 4/1.
But
without doubt the most dramatic clash of the night took place in the
East Midlands where Air-IT Nottingham hosted University of
Birmingham. After four matches, the score was tied at two-all. And
after four games between the hosts' Scottish number one Alan Clyne
and Birmingham's top-ranked Australian Cameron Pilley, the score
was again poised at 2/2.
But,
much to the sheer delight of the home fans, Clyne recorded his first
ever win over Pilley when he beat the world No16 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 7-11,
11-6 to give Nottingham a 3/2 win - and third place in the tables, just
five points adrift of Duffield.
"I was
very happy to get the win in the deciding match of the night," said a
jubilant Clyne afterwards. "I feel like I was due to get a win because
the rest of the team put in such a fantastic effort tonight. The crowd
were unbelievable and kept me going in the fifth. So happy!"
RESULTS: Premier Squash League, 3rd
round, Tuesday 19 November 2013
Group
A: Air-IT Nottingham 3 University of Birmingham 2 Alan Clyne bt Cameron Pilley 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 7-11, 11-6 Chris Fuller bt Peter Creed 11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3 Mark Fuller lost to Jonathan Harford 11-9, 11-8, 7-11,
9-11, 8-11 David Wardle lost to Joel Makin 6-11, 9-11, 9-11 Emma Beddoes bt Deon Saffery 11-2, 11-8, 11-8
Coolhurst London 4 AJP Pontefract 1 Simon Rosner lost to Saurav Ghosal 6-11, 11-7, 5-11, 9-11 Ong Beng Hee bt Lee Beachill 11-9, 11-7, 12-10 (33m) Ben Coleman bt Chris van der Salm 11-4, 11-5, 11-8 (36m) Adam Auckland bt Taminder Gata-Aura 11-2, 11-1, 11-4 (21m) Madeline Perry bt Sarah Kippax 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-13,
13-11
Chapel
Allerton 1 Benz-Bavarian Duffield 4 Daryl Selby lost to Nick Matthew 6-11, 1-11, 9-11 Chris Simpson lost to Andy Whipp 8-11, 11-4, 9-11, 13-15 Dylan Bennett lost to Declan James 9-11, 6-11, 9-11 Simon Parke bt Scott Handley 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-5 Jenny Duncalf lost to Laura Massaro 11-5, 11-7, 8-11,
7-11, 11-13
Group
B: Team Chichester 4 UWE/Elitesquash Bristol 1 Jonathan Kemp bt Lucas Serme 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 12-10 (43m) Rex Hedrick bt Jethro Binns 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 Olivier Pett bt Sam Ellis 11-8, 11-6, 11-3 Anthony Graham bt Stuart Hadden 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 Jaclyn Kemp lost to Camille Serme 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 5-11,
6-11 (51m)
Winchester 1 Exeter Diamonds 4 Greg Lobban lost to Laurens Jan Anjema 7-11, 6-11, 2-11 Robert Downer lost to Olli Tuominen 11-13, 8-11, 3-11 Alex Phillips lost to Joey Barrington 5-11, 11-7, 2-11,
7-11 Angus Gillams lost to Tim Vail 6-11, 4-11, 5-11 Emily Whitlock bt Victoria Temple Murray 11-7, 11-8, 11-6
Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets 3 Luxfords St George's Hill 2 Adrian Grant lost to Borja Golan 4-11, 8-11, 10-12 Gregoire Marche bt Tom Richards 11-9, 11-3, 11-3 (36m) Adrian Waller bt Joe Lee 5-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9 Richie Fallows lost to Henrik Mustonen 9-11, 9-11, 6-11 Alison Waters bt Dominique Lloyd-Walter 11-3, 11-1, 9-11,
11-4
Coolhurst London
gave their supporters plenty to shout about in their maiden home
appearance in the Premier Squash League (PSL) when they coasted
to a 4/1 win over three-time champions and last season's runners-up
Benz-Bavarian Duffield in Tuesday's second round of the 30th season
of the world's most prestigious squash league.
The
only new team making their PSL debut this season, Coolhurst were led by
Malaysian number one Ong Beng Hee - while, by contrast,
Derbyshire opponents Duffield were unable to call upon their regular top
string Nick Matthew, the Yorkshireman who was taking a
well-earned break after becoming world champion for the third time at
the weekend.
Irish
international Madeline Perry and British U23 champion Ben
Coleman put the London hosts ahead before 25-year-old Egyptian
Omar Abdel Meguid celebrated his first PSL appearance by beating
Joel Hinds 3-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7 in 74 minutes to clinch
victory for Coolhurst.
Beng
Hee, the world No21, rounded off the night in perfect style by twice
coming from behind to beat South Africa's world No19 Stephen
Coppinger 9-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10 to give Coolhurst a 4/1
win.
"After
a narrow defeat away at Nottingham in Round 1, tonight we were able to
string together a series of very fine performances - some erring on the
downright gutsy - to produce our first PSL win in front of a passionate
and enthralled Coolhurst home crowd," said a delighted Coolhurst team
manager Nick Sutcliffe.
The
success takes Coolhurst to third place in the Group A tables, just a
single point behind Duffield, last season's group champions.
But
heading the tables for the first time this season are University of
Birmingham after a dramatic 3/2 away win over AJP Pontefract.
It was Welsh wizardry from Pembrokeshire-born Joel Makin and
Welsh champion Peter Creed that gave the West Midlands visitors
the lead - until international star Miguel Angel Rodriguez, the
first Colombian to play in the PSL, beat Birmingham's Jaymie Haycocks
to level for the hosts.
The
decider saw the visitors' world No81 Chris Ryder take on
Pontefract hero James Willstrop, the world No3. Willstrop reached
last week's world championship quarter-finals - then less than 24 hours
later witnessed the birth of his first son Logan.
Ryder
took full advantage of Willstrop's less-than-ideal preparation for the
match - winning 11-3, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8 to give his side a 3/2 victory.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez was delighted to have made his PSL debut for
Pontefract: "I am pleased to play my first PSL representing Pontefract,
who have taken care of me very well since I started to come here and
train between tournaments," said the world No14 from Bogota. "Besides,
it's a pleasure to be part of the team with James (Willstrop) and get
support from the club. I think it was an amazing opportunity to play it
right before heading to Qatar for my last PSA of the year."
The
other Group A tie - between Chapel Allerton and Air-IT
Nottingham - was also a nail-biting affair which went to the wire.
Three five-game battles led to a decider between the Leeds host club's
Daryl Selby and Nottingham's Scottish number one Alan Clyne.
Clyne,
ranked 31 in the world, took the opening game - but England's world No11
Selby, playing in front of a home crowd for the first time, reclaimed
the advantage to close out the match 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 13-11 and give
Chapel Allerton a 3/2 victory.
Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets,
the Croydon club which won the title for the fourth year in a row last
season, hosted Team Chichester in the top tie in Group B. Both
teams won their first round ties two weeks ago - which led to Chichester
topping the tables.
But
Surrey Health were too strong for their opponents tonight - winning 4/1
after impressive victories by Alison Waters, Ben Ford,
Adrian Waller and England international Adrian Grant - and
replacing Chichester at the top of the tables.
Exeter
Diamonds
move up to second place in the tables after a 4/1 home win over UWE/Elitesquash
Bristol. The tie had a notable Egyptian flavour, with 17-year-old
Cairo-based Yathreb Adel taking just 27 minutes to put visitors
Bristol into the lead with a straight games win over Exeter's
experienced Irish international Aisling Blake.
But
the remaining four matches went Exeter's way - the final clash being an
all-Egyptian affair in which world No9 Omar Mosaad upset world
No6 Mohamed Elshorbagy 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6 in 60
minutes.
Surrey's Luxfords St George's Hill recorded their first win of
the season in a 4/1 away victory at Winchester. Israeli Daniel
Poleshchuk claimed the only win for the home side - but straight
games victories by Dominique Lloyd-Walter, Henrik Mustonen,
Joe Lee and Tom Richards take St George's Hill into third
place in the tables.
RESULTS: Premier Squash League, 2nd
round, Tuesday 5 November 2013
Group
A: Coolhurst London 4 Benz-Bavarian Duffield 1 Ong Beng Hee bt Stephen Coppinger 9-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9,
12-10 Omar Abdel Meguid bt Joel Hinds 3-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7,
11-7 (74m) Ben Coleman bt Declan James 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 Stacey Ross lost to Scott Handley 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 2-11,
7-11 Madeline Perry bt Tania Bailey 8-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6
AJP
Pontefract 2 University of Birmingham 3 James Willstrop lost to Chris Ryder 3-11, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11 Miguel Angel Rodriguez bt Jaymie Haycocks 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 Lee Beachill lost to Peter Creed 8-11, 10-12, 10-12 Chris van der Salm lost to Joel Makin 3-11, 11-7, 11-5,
9-11, 5-11 Sarah Kippax bt Chloe Mesic 11-4, 11-4, 11-9
Chapel
Allerton 3 Air-IT Nottingham 2 Daryl Selby bt Alan Clyne 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 13-11 Chris Simpson lost to Eddie Charlton 9-11, 11-7, 11-6,
6-11, 9-11 Shaun le Roux bt Chris Fuller 11-7, 11-7, 6-11, 5-11, 11-3 Matthew Sidaway lost to Mark Fuller 5-11, 4-11, 3-11 Jenny Duncalf bt Emma Beddoes 11-6, 6-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9
Group
B: Winchester 1 Luxfords St George's Hill 4 Alex Phillips lost to Tom Richards 10-12, 2-11, 10-12 Scott Fitzgerald lost to Joe Lee 4-11, 8-11, 4-11 Phillip John Bull lost to Henrik Mustonen 4-11, 9-11, 8-11 Daniel Poleshchuk bt Alex Ingham 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 Emily Heyes lost to Dominique Lloyd-Walter 4-11, 0-11,
8-11
Exeter
Diamonds 4 UWE/Elitesquash Bristol 1 Omar Mosaad bt Mohamed Elshorbagy 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 7-11,
11-6 (60m) Olli Tuominen bt David Evans 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (39m) Joey Barrington bt Hadrian Stiff 11-8, 11-4, 6-11, 12-10
(55m) Tim Vail bt James Bamber 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (25m) Aisling Blake lost to Yathreb Adel 6-11, 9-11, 5-11 (27m)
Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets 4 Team Chichester 1 Adrian Grant bt Jonathan Kemp 11-13, 11-5, 11-9, 13-11 Adrian Waller bt Robbie Temple 11-3, 11-6, 11-7 Richie Fallows lost to Anthony Graham 11-8, 9-11, 11-13,
9-11 Ben Ford bt Alex Gough 5-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-2 Alison Waters bt Lauren Briggs 11-7, 11-1, 11-7
Matthew
Leads Duffield To Victory & Extends Unbeaten PSL Run Into Seventh Season
Yorkshire's world No4 Nick Matthew led last season's runners-up
Benz-Bavarian Duffield to a powerful 5/0 victory over AJP
Pontefract in Tuesday's first round of the Premier Squash League
with a straight games win over Indian number one Saurav Ghosal
which extends his unbeaten PSL run of 35 matches into a seventh season.
The
first round ties across the country signal the beginning of the 30th
season of the world's most prestigious squash league - which feature the
world's best men and women players from both the UK and overseas.
Matthew, the 33-year-old former world number one from Sheffield, began
his PSL winning streak in October 2007 - and celebrated the beginning of
his 11th successive season for Derbyshire club Duffield with an 11-6,
11-5, 11-7 top string win over Ghosal, the world No17.
The
victory followed 3/0 wins by team-mates Stephen Coppinger, the
South African number one; Andy Whipp, of Manchester; team
debutant Declan James from Nottingham; and Tania Bailey,
the former world No4 from Lincolnshire playing her first competitive
match for over 18 months.
Duffield - champions in 1998, 2006 & 2007 - earned a maximum 20 points
from the tie to take top place in the Group A standings.
University of Birmingham
claimed second place in the group tables after an impressive 4/1 home
win over Chapel Allerton, the 2009 champions from Leeds. Olga
Ertlova made a promising debut as the PSL's first woman player from
the Czech Republic by putting the West Midlands team into the lead after
beating Yorkshire's Carrie Ramsey 5-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8.
But
the standout match of the night saw the home team's Australian number
one Cameron Pilley resist a spirited fight-back by Chapel
Allerton 'new boy' Daryl Selby - just home after reaching the
finals of two major Tour events in Canada - by beating the world No14
from Essex 11-3, 12-10, 7-11, 3-11, 13-11.
"Good
dig! #jetlagchallenge couldn't have been much closer, so annoyed I lost
after all that hard work!" tweeted Selby later. "Enjoyed the battle
though @campilley"
1999
champions Air-IT Nottingham also crafted a home win in Group A,
beating PSL newcomers Coolhurst London 3/2. Nottingham stalwart
Emma Beddoes - fresh from WSA Tour title success in the Penang
Open in Malaysia - gave the home team the perfect start with an
11-6, 11-5, 11-3 win over newly-retired Lauren Selby.
Later
wins by club regulars Eddie Charlton and Chris Fuller
clinched victory for Nottingham - but German number one Simon Rosner
gave the London visitors the best finish by beating top Scot Alan
Clyne 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 in the final top string clash.
In the
southern Group B, title-holders Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets
started off the new season the way they finished the previous one - with
a win. Hosted by UWE/Elitesquash Bristol, the Croydon club
recovered from losing the opening match - won by Bristol's French number
one Camille Serme - to celebrate a 4/1 victory.
Rising
German star Raphael Kandra marked his PSL debut with a 3/1 win
over the home club's Thomas Ford, and the top string clash
between Egypt's Mohamed Elshorbagy and Londoner Peter Barker
- ranked 6 and 7, respectively, in the world - saw Surrey Health's
Barker storm home 3-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 in 48 minutes to give the
reigning champions the perfect start to the new season.
But
Surrey Health begin the season in second place in the Group B tables, a
single point behind Team Chichester, who beat near neighbours
Winchester 4/1.
Chichester winners were Lauren Briggs, Anthony Graham,
Robbie Temple and Australian debutant Rex Hedrick - with
Winchester gaining some consolation when top string Marwan Elshorbagy,
Mohamed's younger brother, beat the home side's number one Jonathan
Kemp 3/1.
There
was all to play for in the Group B clash between twice former runners-up
Luxfords St George's Hill and Exeter Diamonds when the tie
was poised at two-all in matches and 1/1 in games between top strings
Tom Richards, the newly-promoted St George's No1, and Exeter's
Omar Mosaad, the world No10 from Egypt making his first appearance
in the PSL.
Victory went to visitors Exeter when Mosaad took the match 9-11, 11-5,
11-3, 11-5.
"Just
got pipped 3-2 by Exeter Diamonds," tweeted the Weybridge club manager
Danny Lee later. "Good night, great crowd, wrong result but
congratulations to Exeter."
RESULTS: Premier Squash League, 1st
round, Tuesday 22 October 2013
Group
A: Air-IT Nottingham 3 Coolhurst London 2 Alan Clyne lost to Simon Rosner 5-11, 9-11, 8-11 Eddie Charlton bt Ben Coleman 11-6, 11-9, 17-15 Chris Fuller bt Adam Auckland 11-5, 11-4, 5-11, 8-11, 11-2 David Wardle lost to Steven London 9-11, 9-11, 5-11 Emma Beddoes bt Lauren Selby 11-6, 11-5, 11-3
Benz-Bavarian Duffield 5 AJP Pontefract 0 Nick Matthew bt Saurav Ghosal 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 Stephen Coppinger bt Lee Beachill 11-2, 11-4, 11-5 Andy Whipp bt Chris van der Salm 11-6, 11-1, 11-7 Declan James bt Alex Hodgetts 11-4, 11-3, 11-4 Tania Bailey bt Katie Smith 11-1, 11-5, 11-6
University of Birmingham 4 Chapel Allerton 1 Cameron Pilley bt Daryl Selby 11-3, 12-10, 7-11, 3-11,
13-11 Chris Ryder lost to Chris Simpson 9-11, 2-11, 7-11 Jaymie Haycocks bt Shaun le Roux 8-11, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10,
11-6 Peter Creed bt James Earles 11-5, 13-11, 11-9 Olga Ertlova bt Carrie Ramsey 5-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8
Group
B: Team Chichester 4 Winchester 1 Jonathan Kemp lost to Marwan Elshorbagy 7-11, 11-4, 8-11,
12-14 Rex Hedrick bt Robert Downer 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 Robbie Temple bt Scott Fitzgerald 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 Anthony Graham bt Daniel Poleshchuk 9-11, 11-6, 11-8,
12-10 Lauren Briggs bt Jane Allman 11-3, 11-4, 11-4
Luxfords St George's Hill 2 Exeter Diamonds 3 Tom Richards lost to Omar Mosaad 11-9, 5-11, 3-11, 5-11 Joe Lee lost to Olli Tuominen 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 8-11 Henrik Mustonen bt Joey Barrington 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 Charles Sharpes lost to Tim Vail 11-6, 7-11, 10-12, 7-11 Dominique Lloyd-Walter bt Victoria Temple Murray 6-11,
11-4, 11-6, 11-7
UWE/Elitesquash
Bristol 1 Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets 4 Mohamed Elshorbagy lost to Peter Barker 11-3, 9-11, 6-11,
6-11 (48m) David Evans lost to Adrian Waller 9-11, 7-11, 11-3, 7-11
(51m) Thomas Ford lost to Raphael Kandra 7-11, 5-11, 13-11, 4-11
(44m) Michael Harris lost to Richie Fallows 11-9, 11-8, 1-11,
6-11, 10-12 (65m) Camille Serme bt Katie Wilson 11-1, 11-0, 11-4 (20m)
The world's most prestigious squash league
celebrates its 30th season when the 2013/14 season of the
Premier Squash League (PSL), supported by Dunlop,
gets underway next week - with Coolhurst London making
its debut to provide London interest in the PSL for the first
time in over a decade.
Based in Crouch End in north London, Coolhurst
boasts world-class squash facilities including seven squash
courts - four of which were added in 2012 and are convertible
for international doubles play.
The historic 110-year-old club has attracted a
strong PSL squad, led by German number one Simon Rosner,
the world No12; top-ranked Malaysian Ong Beng Hee, a
former world No7; 13-times Irish champion Madeline Perry,
the world No9; and rising Caribbean star Nicolette Fernandes,
the world No19 from Guyana. In addition are up-and-coming
English stars Ben Coleman and Adam Auckland.
"As Coolhurst looks to evolve into a Centre of
Excellence for squash in London by 2015, the integration of a
PSL Team into the Club's wider programme provides an
inspirational opportunity for our juniors and seniors to see the
game played at the very highest level on a regular basis," said
team manager Nick Sutcliffe.
"Our participation in the PSL will significantly
enrich the squash landscape across Greater London," added the
former Yorkshire & England junior and Cambridge Blue.
England Squash & Racketball
Head of Competitions and Events Chris Nutley added: "I am
delighted that Coolhurst Squash Club have agreed to join the
league and have been able to assemble a competitive squad.
Coolhurst have an excellent set up and with the aid of ESR
capital investment were able to deliver four new courts in 2012.
"The enthusiasm and commitment to the Premier
Squash League shown by the club over recent weeks has been
fantastic and I believe that they will be an excellent addition
to the league. With all team squads now confirmed, we can look
forward to another exciting season of PSL and I wish all teams
an enjoyable and successful season."
In the first round on Tuesday (22 October),
Coolhurst make their debut away from home in Group A at
Air-IT Nottingham, the 1999 champions. Also in Group A,
Derbyshire club and three-time champions Benz-Bavarian
Duffield extend their longevity record to 21 successive
seasons in the PSL by hosting Yorkshire club AJP Pontefract.
Both sides boast players with long commitments to
their squads: Sheffield's world No4 Nick Matthew is
celebrating his 11th successive season for Duffield - while
former world No1 Lee Beachill is marking his 12th in a
row for Pontefract, and is returning to the club for which he
made his PSL debut as a 17-year-old in the 1994/95 season!
Chapel Allerton,
the 2009 champions from Leeds, begin their latest campaign at
University of Birmingham, where the Yorkshire team will
unveil their new number one Daryl Selby. The world No14
from Essex will make his club debut against Birmingham's
Cameron Pilley, the world No13 from Australia.
Title-holders Integrity Surrey Health &
Racquets begin the new season in Group B with an away
fixture at UWE/Elitesquash Bristol. Winners of a record
fifth PSL title earlier this year - and an unprecedented fourth
in a row - the Croydon club will again be led by Londoner
Peter Barker, the world No7.
Elsewhere in Group B, twice runners-up
Luxfords St George's Hill host Exeter Diamonds, while
Team Chichester entertain south coast rivals
Winchester, the 1995 champions.
Premier Squash League,
1st round, Tuesday 22 October
Group A: Air-IT Nottingham v Coolhurst London Alan Clyne v Simon Rosner Eddie Charlton v Ong Beng Hee Chris Fuller v Ben Coleman David Wardle v Adam Auckland Emma Beddoes v Lauren Selby
Benz-Bavarian Duffield v AJP Pontefract Nick Matthew v James Willstrop Stephen Coppinger v Saurav Ghosal Andy Whipp v Harinder Pal Sandhu Declan James v Lee Beachill Laura Massaro v Sarah Kippax
University of Birmingham v Chapel Allerton Cameron Pilley v Daryl Selby Chris Ryder v Chris Simpson Jaymie Haycocks v Shaun le Roux Peter Creed v James Earles Olga Ertlova v Carrie Ramsey
Group B: Team Chichester v Winchester Jonathan Kemp v Marwan Elshorbagy Rex Hedrick v Robert Downer Robbie Temple v Scott Fitzgerald Anthony Graham v Daniel Poleshchuk Lauren Briggs v Emily Whitlock
Luxfords St George's Hill v Exeter Diamonds Tom Richards v Omar Mosaad Joe Lee v Olli Tuominen Henrik Mustonen v Joey Barrington Charles Sharpes v Tim Vail Dominique Lloyd-Walter v Victoria Temple Murray
UWE/Elitesquash Bristol v Integrity Surrey Health
& Racquets Mohamed Elshorbagy v Peter Barker David Evans v Adrian Waller Thomas Ford v Raphael Kandra Michael Harris v Richie Fallows Camille Serme v Katie Wilson
