06-Oct-08:
Devon & Exeter And Chapel Allerton
Join PSL For New Season
Round One preview from Howard Harding

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

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

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

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

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

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

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