DUFFIELD TESTED
BY BIRMINGHAM
Brian Hargrave reports

Derbyshire's defending champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield opened their season with a much tougher than expected battle against Birmingham University who led Group A after their opening day whitewash of Exporta Oxford.

Laura Hill lost to Laura Lengthorn    2-9, 7-9, 9-1, 8-10 (55m)

Hill comes close to big upset

First on court was Duffield fire-fighter Laura Hill who put up a very brave fight against the visitors' Laura Lengthorn, extending the world No11 for 55 minutes before going down 2-9, 7-9, 9-1, 8-10.

Lengthorn was always in control of the first taking the game comfortably 9-2. Hill dug deep in the second and pulled back from 5-3 down lead 7-6 but just could not get the final two points her gallant effort deserved. However, the local Club player got her reward in the third as Lengthorn looked a little weary from her recent travels. Lengthorn quickly raced to a 6-0 lead in the fourth which soon became 7-2.

A courageous fight back from the part timer saw her serving at 8-7 to level the scores. Both players had given it their all and the higher ranked player, who came within one point of beating the world No 2 the previous week, held her nerve to edge the rubber 10-8 in just under the hour.

Whipp makes a cracking debut

Andrew Whipp bt Jaymie Haycocks    7-9, 9-6, 9-3, 9-5 (23m)

Andy Whipp (formerly with Manchester- Pontefract) was making his home debut for Duffield and was taken by surprise in the first as his opponent Jamie Haycocks matched him for great retrievals and speed around the court.

Haycocks edged the first game 9-7 but Whipp just had the upper hand to take the second 9-6 with both players producing a thoroughly entertaining encounter of high quality. Whipp took the initiative as he gained in confidence to take the third and fourth games 9-3 9-5 to level the competitive tie.

Prodigal son returns to scene of many triumphs

Jonathan Kemp bt Joel Hinds     9-3, 9-7, 9-6 (40m)

Joel Hinds, a product of the Paul Hargrave coaching academy , who has won every Duffield Club junior and Derbyshire junior county title made a welcome return to the village where his family live. He faced a formidable opponent in the form of Jon Kemp, Eng 10 and Wr 26.

Kemp gave his young opponent a bit of a lesson in the first game taking just 6 minutes for the loss of 3 points. Hinds showed fighting spirit to push his opponent all the way in the second establishing a 7-6 lead before Kemp reeled of 3 quick points to go 2-0 up. The third followed a similar pattern but Kemp’s experience saw him home in just 23 minutes


Drew draws the short straw as Coppinger
takes off his flip flops ...

Lee Drew lost to Steve Coppinger 5-9, 3-9, 9-2, 9-7, 5-9  (61m)

Steve Coppinger, The South African No 3, should surely be playing higher in the order on the evidence of this performance. The giant of a man, who looked so laid back as he walked around in flip flops moments before going on court, can cover the court in just three strides. He skilfully dominated proceedings and also took full advantage of too many cross courts from Drew in the first two games, winning comfortably 9-5 9-3.

A change of tactics from Drew in the fourth (keeping the ball tight with good lengths) was rewarded with a complete turn around as Drew took the game 9-2 and kept up the pressure to level the scores after taking the fourth 9-7. Coppinger re-grouped and built a 4-0 lead in the fifth. Drew bravely levelled at 5 all and had his opponent on the ropes only to serve out of court.

Drew never recovered from this error and the game quickly slipped from his grasp as the South African punched the air with joy after levelling the overall scores on the night.

Nick nicks it again to clinch victory

Nick Matthew bt Joey Barrington    9-6, 9-7, 9-7 (40m)

The pre-match Press release emphasized that nothing would taken for granted and the No 1 string involving Nick Matthew, the newly crowned British Open champion, against the in form flamboyant Joey Barrington was predicted to be great entertainment.

Joey is the son of the legendary Jonah Barrington (Ireland) who won the title 6 times between 1966 and 1972 whilst Nick was the first Englishman to win the title in 69 years.

The British National champion Matthew, who clinched the PSL title back in May 2006, ultimately again came to the rescue of his Derbyshire club with a focused 9-6 9-7 9-7 win over the Birmingham University No1 to give title-holders Duffield a win in their first outing of the season.

Matthew showed signs of feeling the effects of travelling back from Hong Kong but his professionalism and sportsmanship shone through as he twice conceded the ball was down but not spotted by either of the vigilant world class referees Messrs Massarella and Danzey, who otherwise could not be faulted like their colleague Clive Smith on the outside court (I had to give them a mention somehow and J M’s famous best selling Lemon meringue pies went down really well afterwards.)

Barrington fought like a tiger and he is the last player you would chose to face if feeling the effects of jet lag. Matthew just did enough to seal victory for his team and one had the feeling there was perhaps another gear if needed without taking anything away from his brave opponent.

A nervy night

A thoroughly enjoyable night even if closer and a little more nervy than expected. However, credit to the opposition who all did themselves proud before another full house that had great value for money.

The University squad had competed in a tie which went to the wire and, despite going down 3-2, still accrued enough points to extend their lead at the top of the Group A points table!

Duffield next face Nottingham on 7 November and nearly 30 supporters are expected to make the short journey down the Brian Clough Way in full voice.