Pontefract 2-3 Benz-Bavarian Duffield   James Willstrop 1-3 Nick Matthew             5/9, 9/3, 8/10, 9/11 (52m)   Lee Beachill 3-1 Jon Kemp                       4/9, 9/4, 9/1, 9/7 (34m)   Saurav Ghosal 3-1 Andy Whipp                2/9, 10/8, 9/6, 12/10 (41m)   Ryan Thompson 0-3 Laurence Delasaux   5/9, 4/9, 9/11 (29m)   Becky Botwright 0-3 Tania Bailey              3/9, 5/9, 2/9 (22m)

Duffield go top at Pontefract
Brian Hargrave reports ... with extras from Steve Cubbins

With Pontefract fielding its two home-grown stars James Willstrop and Lee Beachill – ranked four and eight in the world, respectively – for the first time this season, the Yorkshire club signalled its intention to chalk up its first triumph. The “squashsite” Crystal Ball had predicted 3-2 with the tie going down to the wire and supporters were not to be disappointed as the evening finished with one of the best squash matches I have ever witnessed - read on ...
 

Bailey makes her point

The first rubber on court was played under the new point a rally scoring system now applied to the ladies in the PSL. The supporters waited to see whether this would in any way narrow the gap between players ranked 9 and 1 respectively in England.

The scoring system made little difference other than recording a few extra points for the lower ranked player. Bailey had too much class and skill for her game opponent and in just 22 minutes had put the first point on the board for the defending champions.

On Friday, the in form Bailey had been on the receiving end of some decisions from the referee in the quarter finals of the World Open in Belfast which had possibly denied her a great chance of reaching the final. Last night the Pontefract officials hardly needed to make a decision as throughout the evening all the players sportingly called balls down even when on occasions supporters saw it different.
 

"It was really hot on there, I thought we had a 'flyer' in the knock-up, but it was just so hot! "It definitely felt strange, playing PAR scoring, it makes you paranoid about going for winners.  If we played that all the time everyone would play safe until they got used to it … you definitely have to concentrate more, but I'm sure it will come. "It will be a good thing though, everyone will be edgy to start with, but it will be better for the crowd. I'm sure if we have time to get used to it it will be fine, it just came as a bit of a shock tonight."

"With this scoring I was saying to myself 'don't go for it short, if it doesn't work you'll lose a point' … "We'd only played once, quite a while ago, then we ended up playing each other in Inter-Counties last weekend, we hit together a lot in Belfast, and then played tonight!"

Pontefract 0, Duffield 1
 

Beachill has a whale of a time

The late arrival of Saurav Ghosal due to his car breaking down meant a change in the playing order. Kemp quickly ate his energy filling Ponte sandwich whilst Beachill, the world No 4, was slow out of the blocks.

Kemp showed his true potential in the first game making nonsense of the 18 places which separate the two players in the world rankings. Beachill looked a little sluggish whilst Kemp was firing on all cylinders taking the first game 9-4 in just 8 minutes.

Beachill showed his own class in the second racing into a 5-0 thanks to a few tins from his opponent. Kemp steadied the ship and rallied to 5-3 and 7-4 but Beachill was in control of the rallies. In the third Kemp continued to attack but again found the tin magnetic and Beachill took full advantage as he outplayed his opponent.

Kemp to his credit dug deep and regained his form and confidence in a nip and tuck fourth game which went all the way to 7 all. However, a relieved Beachill just squeezed the last two points to take the rubber in 34 minutes to level the tie.
 

"He played well in the first, but it was so bouncy I couldn't see the ball for ten minutes. I felt ok after that, felt a bit sluggish but I was hitting the ball well. "I enjoyed the rest after Boston while the others were playing in Pakistan, I don't feel at all envious about that one …"

"I made a good start, but made too many errors once he started moving. I was still going for shots like I was when he was moving slowly. "I started playing better in the fourth, hitting lengths like I should have done before, but it was too late by then …"

Pontefract 1, Duffield 1
 

Delasaux delights again

Delasaux , one of the heroes when Duffield won the PSL championship final in May, was making his first appearance of the season and started very impressively racing into a 8-1 lead with tight controlled squash, Thompson, ranked 40 places lower in the world rankings, closed the gap but could not deny the man from Hull.

The second game followed a similar pattern with Delasaux always in control and totally focussed. A slight lack of concentration in the third allowed Thompson back into the match but the South African was unable to convert 3 game balls at 8-6 and 10-9 allowing Delasaux to put the visitors 2-1 ahead in just 29 minutes.


 

"I was happy with the first two games, but in the third I just wanted to get off and tried to finish it too quickly. I had to really dig in to take that game, I really didn't want it to go any further. "It was very hot, but that helped me to keep the ball low and hard. If you chip it around on there you'll be on all night. "I'm off to Canada in the new year, there's lots of tournaments around then, and probably Sweden in February."

"I didn't start well, I was 8/1 down in the first and down in the second. My length was too high to start with and he was getting a dying length, and because I was chopping it a lot it gave him time to get onto it and hit it low. "I was aiming to get that third game, I don't know if I would have won after that, but at least it would have extended the match, which is what you have to try to do from 2-0 down. "I've been over here for five years, training in Pontefract since January. I was a late starter in the game at 16, I didn't have much of a junior career to build up court experience, so at 22 that's what I'm trying to do now."

Pontefract 1, Duffield 2
 

Ghosal breaks down Whipp

The Indian national champion Saurav Ghosal is surely one of the fastest players on the circuit and under the expert eye of Coach Malcolm Willstrop could become a top 10 world player. However, Andy Whipp, no slouch himself, too advantage of Ghosal’s late arrival and dash on court taking the first game impressively 9-2.

Whipp always had the edge in the second and seemed in control as he established an 8-5 lead. Whipp missed two good chances with his 3 game balls and let the Indian champion of the hook by losing 5 quick points. Whipp clearly allowed this disappointment to affect him at the start of the third and quickly found himself 6-2 down to an opponent who was covering every inch of the court at great speed retrieving everything Whipp threw at him. Whipp hauled himself back to 8-6 but it was too late to stop Ghosal taking a 2-1 lead.

The fourth had the supporters on the edge of their seats with first Ghosal and then Whipp nosing in front. 7-6 Ghosal became 8-7 Whipp and 9-8 Whipp with both players giving it their all chasing lost causes to prologue rallies. The one and only dubious decision of the night seemed cruel as the referee denied Whipp a let on the grounds of  “not enough effort” much to the amazement of the vociferous loyal band of Duffield supporters.

Ghosal took advantage and closed out a thoroughly entertaining game 12-10 to level the scores and set up the predicted showdown between the England No 1 and No 2 who are ranked 4 and 7 in the world.
 

"I was on my way when my car broke down with an alternator problem! " Fortunately I left early, so I James was able to come and collect me. "He played really well in the first, then started making some errors and I was getting a few good shots here and there. It's good that I won, for the team and the match."

"I'm concentrating on coaching at Grove Park nowadays, and I'm pleased with how my game is holding up, but that was shocking. "In practice and local league matches I've been playing really well, but I don't seem to be doing it when it matters. "I dictated the whole match, every single rally, I either won it or tinned it …"

Pontefract 2, Duffield 2
 

A Classic Match to Decide  ...

Matthew finally sinks Willstrop and Ponte in titanic battle and it was a privilege to have been there on the night Duffield finally sunk a brave effort from Ponte.

The Crystal ball had suggested that this rubber would be worth the admission money in its own right in fact it was worthy of 4 times the admission money.

Matthew thought he was about to be introduced on court but was the recipient of a surprise presentation from the chairman of Yorkshire squash in recognition of being the first Englishman for 69 years to win the British Open and the first Yorkshire man to do so.

The first game saw some great rallies but a few tins from Willstrop helped Matthew’s cause and he took the game 9-5. The second followed a similar pattern but this time Matthew made the errors to allow the Willstrop to level and to beg the question which way would it go.

The next two games were without doubt two of the best I have seen in 14 years of Premier League Squash. The rallies were long with retrievals producing gasps from the packed gallery. It was the equivalent of two gladiators fighting for their lives and there was never more than one point difference as the scores reached 8 all as Willstrop put away some delightful winners from close range whilst Matthew threw everything bar the kitchen sink at his opponent.

The final two points went on favour of the Duffield man. The fourth game followed an identical pattern with both players seemingly close to exhaustion but somehow retrieving what seemed to be certain winners to get themselves back into the rally.

Your truly was playing his part and twice got to balls which Matthew could not reach kicking Tania Bailey in the process. Willstrop came back from 6-5 and 7-6 down to have game ball at 8-7 as the rallies got even better.

Matthew somehow found himself on match ball at 9-8 but, after one of the best rallies I have ever seen, I jumped out of my seat to acclaim victory but the ball dropped and clipped the top of the tin to put the scores at 9 all. Both players were bent double as they tried to get air back into their lungs.

Since beating his county compatriot in the Windy City Open in Chicago in January, Willstrop has lost six times in a row to Matthew and the 23-year-old was unable to stop the run being extended to seven as Matthew finally claimed supremacy in this sensational match lasting 52 minutes.

There were only 3 lets in the entire competitive rubber which neither player deserved to lose with sportsmanship of the highest order. The supporters gave the players a long standing ovation. My only regret that it was not on video.

It was one of the best matches I've ever seen in the PSL, and Malcolm Willstrop described it as one of the best matches he's ever seen - and he's seen a few ...
 

"It didn't seem as good as everyone's making out. "It was a scrap, like it always is with me and James, we always want to beat each other and never want to lose - we're so close in standard it's always going to be a good match. "We've had better matches I'm sure, but the pace was there, and it's a bit more relaxed than PSA matches so we can go for shots more. "At the end we were both gone, it was just who could stand up the longest."

"We both wanted to win for ourselves and the team, which made it very competitive and we both attacked a lot which always produces a good match. "That rally at the end was one of the longest and hardest I've ever played. "It's disappointing to lose, it would have been nice to win for the team, but I was very tired at the end. I was injured in Boston, went out in Pakistan when I was just getting back into it, and haven't done much for the last three or four days, so I was never going to be fully fit. "Overall it was just a good squash night, playing in front of a big, enthusiastic crowd in a big match, it's what you play for …"

Pontefract 2, Duffield 3

Duffield move to the top of group A opening up a 4 point gap and face Esporta Oxford at home next Tuesday 5 December.