Framboise at Bristol -
full reports to follow ...

Emma Chorley - up against
the World Champion ...

The manager's view, from Ian Robinson

In the spirit of Christmas, it must have seemed to UniSport Guildford like the old fella with the white beard and the red coat had visited with an empty sack. There was plenty of festive cheer but nothing substantial to take away from it - much like a typical hangover I suppose.

Nonetheless it is said that it is better to give than receive, but I doubt that in a squash sense you would find too many agreeing with that sentiment among the Guildford faithful, who would probably say that there has been too much giving already this season and it is fast approaching the time for some receiving. Deprived of the services of Alison Waters UniSport welcomed St George's Hill who are in their debut season in the PSL and were without the very squash legend herself Sarah Fitzgerald and also young English star Alister Walker. UniSport for their part welcomed back Steve Meads from Hong Kong.
 

Rachel Willmott hit off making her second appearance in the PSL after a less than auspicious start in her first match. She was up against South African number 8 Adel Weir, who is over here to further her squash as well as taking care of some local coaching duties, not to speak of her role in trying to distract a key member of the UniSport team in domestic duties.

This was an interesting match. Both players are relatively inexperienced and it was to the delight of the UniSport fans that Willmott immediately started pounding the ball severely and made a great start. But no sooner had the pounding started, it stopped and that with the score only half way to the required 9 points. For some reason Willmott began slow balling and played right into her opponent's hands conceding both the first two games in the same way, although it has to be said that the second could have gone either way. By the time the third game came around the visitor was clear about what might happen and took steps to ensure that the beginning of the third did not go the way of the first two.

The end result was a better performance by Willmott but there is still much to do if matches such as these are to be converted into winning points. 1 - 0 advantage St George's Hill.

On the championship court Jesse Engelbrecht was confronting another of the youngsters from St George's Hill, Tom Richards. Engelbrecht was keen to do well as the world rankings favoured the younger man with a 66 position against 80 and also in Surrey Cup there had been a reverse for the UniSport player. Engelbrecht was immediately on his game and took an early lead winning the first game, but the second was far more keenly contested with the UniSport player being first to game ball, but this was snatched away from him and all of sudden a healthy possible 2 - 0 lead was transformed into 1 - 1.

Nip and tuck in the third game saw the home player just edge it (and give himself a cushion if that is not too complacent a way to look at it). But an inspired Richards fired winners from all over the court and with his quick wrist action bagged the fourth and took the match into a nerve tingling fifth set. It was a strange final game as Richards continued where he had left off in the fourth to take an early lead and then somehow changed his game, which co-incided with a resurgent Engelbrecht who then made it safely to the finishing line.

For his winning performance Engelbrecht won the Colbornes Man of the Match award. This was some reward for his overall consistent performances over a long period of time now. The match score was back on track at 1 - 1.

Following on the outside court was the battle that tempted the pundits more than most and it was billed as a look into the future of English Squash. The home court favourite Alex Ingham against his 'more experienced' fledgling professional, Joe Lee. All known form pointed to a Lee win as he is the number 2 under 19 in the country at the moment whereas Ingham is number 7. The supporters were not to be disappointed.

It was a tight closely contested first game with most of the play dominated by the visitor, however at the end of the game and 7 - 7 Ingham somehow managed to steel the game and go 1 - 0 ahead. The second game also was tight however Ingham was showing more control and managed to catch some time on the T which allowed him a few shot-making opportunities from which he capitalised well taking the second game for a 2 - 0 lead.

Lee is big and strong but clearly lost his way in the second. He came out firing his powerful drives in the third, however it was Ingham that managed to nip in front and force a match ball. It was at this point that the match was won and lost. Ingham would have been full value for a 3 - 0 win, but failed to finish it making a bad error of judgement to waste his match ball. Try as it might and he did try very hard, he never fully regained the momentum again. The St George's Hill players gained in confidence and no doubt heaved a huge sigh of relief as he brought the game score level and then took a decisive lead in the fifth to clinch the tie for St George's Hill, giving them a 2 - 1 lead.

The crucial tie therefore saw the return of Steve Meads to the Varsity Centre court, that he has made his own, to confront Daryl Selby who is a more complete player than the one that played the same fixture last year against us but then representing Tewkesbury. It was a brutal affair last year requiring additional medical support from the local hospital. This time, the match lacked nothing in intensity, thankfully no outside assistance was required.

A very tight and hard fought first game was taken by the visitor 12 - 14, which is a bad start in Mead's terms as he looks to make a strong positive start. Worse was to follow as Selby took the second game by an easier margin 5 - 9, giving the younger man a clear lead and a mountain for Meads to climb. But this is just when the veteran never fails to disappoint his supporters, as he rolls up his sleeves and gets down to the hard work of trying to save the situation. Once again the goods were delivered nearly .... Meads pulled back with some tight hard rallying to 2 - 2, but the third was scary as it went to the tie breaker squeezing the already depleted Meads energy levels, and meant that all the aces were with Selby who atoned for last year's defeat by nudging home 9 - 6 in the decider. Down 3 - 1, the match was now lost but still with points to play for.

Welcoming the Frenchman onto court with a typical 'bonjour', Ross was delighting at the prospect of match that gave him a realistic chance of a win. Ross has played some world class squash this half of the season, but has scant reward to show for it. He was not at the top of his game tonight but what he had was more than enough to account for the world number 26 Renan Lavigne. The visitor has been playing in the States and arrived back in time for the match - not as if Ross was terribly sympathetic. He rolled out his customary range of shots to both entertain and destroy his opponent to seek his first win of the season. Ross was in control for most of the match when he actually got his tactics right. He did however lapse into playing at the same pace as his opponent which ensured that it kept the visitor interested when a more direct line of attack might have killed off the challenge a little sooner and for fewer points.

Three close games decided this match but it did not seem likely that UniSport fans were going to be disappointed by the home favourite on this occasion. The only slight draw back was`that Ross needed a far more extravagant range of shots when playing Anthony Ricketts the previous week and it meant that the fans did not see that same extravagance tonight - not that we were any less entertained.

In the end the pre-Christmas office party ended with a 3 - 2 disadvantage for UniSport, not unlike many a pre-Christmas office party I suppose. Our congratulations go to St George's Hill, but we must take positives from the fact that we have a significantly young team and in keeping faith we are investing in what is going to be an exciting future. For the moment, we must take our medicine and console ourselves with the thought that we don't like the view at the bottom of the league table....

So Happy Christmas and on to much better things (results) in the New Year.

Tania Bailey bt Deon Saffery
     9-4, 9-2, 9-2 (17 minutes)

British National champion Tania Bailey got Duffield off to a quick fire start beating Oxford's Deon Saffery 9-4, 9-2, 9-2. in just 15 minutes.

The world No 5 was just too strong for a brave opponent who showed confidence to go for her shots with some nice technique and was never overawed by the England No 1 who was in complete control throughout. A great experience for the youngster but Bailey rightly showed her no mercy.

Delasaux delivers yet again

Laurence Delasaux bt Kristen Johnson
    5-9, 9-3, 9-1, 7-9, 9-6 (44 minutes)

The talented Delasuax is at the stage of his career when he should be recording wins against higher ranked opponents on a regular basis. The reverse can be true when sometimes playing a lower ranked opponent when he suddenly allows his concentration to slip. Lash night’s encounter was a crucial rubber but after a flying start which saw Delasaux establish a 5-0 lead Johnson reeled of 9 consecutive points to go 1 nil up.

Delasuax found himself 3-1 down in the second but suddenly hit a rich vein of form to then record 8 consecutive points to level the scores. Despite Johnson’s gallant efforts Delasuax quickly took the third with the loss of just one point playing some superb controlled squash. The fourth was nip and tuck all the way but Delasaux was beginning to tire as Johnson gained in confidence to take the game 9-7 and to level the scores at 2all.

The fifth game was not good for the nerves of either manager but Delasaux just edged home 9-6 in a rubber which could so easily have gone the other way.

Poker star Kemp produces a winning hand

Jonathan Kemp bt Scott Handley
10-12, 9-5, 9-5, 8-10, 9-2 (40 minutes)

The pressure was on Jonathan Kemp to deliver to ease the pressure on his team mates but Scot Handley is never a player to lie down. The first game saw first one player and then the other nose in front with some great squash interspersed with careless errors.

Kemp failed to convert 3 game points from 8-5 up and Handley punished him by taking the game 12-10. Kemp was always in control of the second and took the game 9-5 to level the scores then taking the third in identical fashion to the same score.

The fourth followed a similar pattern to the first with once again some great squash and unforced errors as the top of tin came into play. Kemp reached match point but missed a simple chance and Handley again punished him by taking the game 10-8 to level the scores at the precise moment the scores were standing at 2 all in the rubber on the adjoining court between Delasaux and Johnson.

The players sensed the tension from the home supporters but Kemp had taken the sting out of Handley who finally wilted under the left handers pressure. The man who had dreams of becoming a full time poker player was much more relaxed than his manger and produced a winning hand when in mattered to take the fifth 9-2 to establish an unassailable lead.

Ryder earns a much deserved point for visitors

Lee Drew lost to Chris Ryder
9-3, 5-9, 9-4, 7-9, 7-9 (59 minutes)

The www.squashsite.co.uk  crystal ball had predicted 4-1 to the home on the basis of anticipated close encounters in all the men’s matches. Esporta could easily have been 2-1 up at this stage and the fourth rubber was switched to the show court to give supporters maximum value for their money.

A confident Drew comfortably won the first 9-3 but allowed his opponent to get off to a great start and gain the initiative to take the second 9-5. Drew looked to have the edge when he settled into his stride to take the third 9-4. The fourth was just the reverse with Ryder, the recently crowned World University Champion, looking the more likely winner as Drew began to wilt and the game slipped from his grasp 9-7.

Ryder went for the kill and Drew had clearly shot his bolt in the fifth which quickly went in Ryder’s favour 9-3 to give Oxford the point they thoroughly deserved on the night.

Nick avoids a double Australian disaster

Nick Matthew bt Cameron Pilley
7-9, 3-9, 9-6, 9-6, 9-6 (53 minutes)

Local adopted hero Nick Matthew – the British Open champion elevated to 5 in the world rankings was facing a player ranked 22 in the world from Australia who had just snatched victory from the jaws of a draw in the second Ashes test match earlier in the day.

Pilley quickly demonstrated that this was to be no stroll in the park for Matthew who has been training harder than ever to build up his levels of fitness. Pilley established a 2-0 lead with scores of 9-6 and 9-3 and hardly made a mistake playing tight controlled squash which forced Matthew to go for winners when his game was just a little off cue and slightly below the standard supporters had become accustomed to.

However, the crowd got noisier as the beer flowed and Matthew responded to celebrating Bob’s cries of “come on champ”. Matthew showed the strength of character which earned him the British Open title. He dug deep to take the third 9-6 as Pilley showed signs of Ashes burn out. The fourth game reached 6 all with never more than one point separating the players but Matthew reeled off three points to level at 2 all with the vociferous crowd joining in the fun despite this being effectively a dead rubber – you would never have known. Matthew was playing for pride Pilley had given his all but found himself 7-1 down as Mathew went for the kill. Pilley got back to 7-4 and 8-6 but to loud acclaim the lad from Sheffield hit he winner to the delight of the loyal Duffield crowd.

Swinging Duffield ...

An enthralling night of squash by no means a classic for the purists but the tie has everything else and Oxford could consider themselves a little unlucky. One supporter said the scores could easily have been reversed but then as Mr Crabtree from Chichester reported in round 4 “ Living in Amsterdam does seem to have had some impact on Joey “Knippy” Kneipp, and he complained bitterly at one point that he couldn’t swing – listen Baby, if you can’t swing in Amsterdam, you aren’t trying hard enough! Maybe you should try Brighton or Duffield – I hear things are easier there!”

My response from Duffield is that under Health & Safety I am still having problems with a fire door that swings both ways but then again we are only a small village club famous for its barmy army of supporters who have been known to travel both ways down a one way street whilst on the squash court have often come back from behind.

Finally a quiet night for referees with Tony Parker deputising for Wendy, all the ties were played in an impeccable sporting manner.