28/09/2005
TOUGH START FOR NOTTINGHAM
Ria Kennersley reports as Nottingham host Man/Pont in round one ...


Nottingham 1-4 Manchester/Pontefract
   Simon Parke 1-3 Lee Beachill         9/7, 5/9, 5/9, 3/9 (53m)
   Tommy Berden 3-1  Nick Taylor     9/6, 9/5, 6/9, 9/3
   John Rooney 1-3 Andrew Whipp   9/5, 6/9, 8/10, 5/9
   James Wright 0-3 Peter Billson      3/9, 3/9, 6/9
   Sarah Kippax 0-3 Jenny Duncalf     6/9, 1/9, 5/9

Tough Opener for Nottingham
Ria Kennersley reports

The first match of the season for Nottingham was always going to be tough with league favourites Manchester/Pontefract visiting. Boasting World No. 2 Lee Beachill as their number 1 string and World No. 8 Jenny Duncalf, it was going to be an uphill struggle for the home team.

The first match on court was John Rooney against World No. 110 Andy Whipp. John took a year out from the circuit after contracting a viral infection having been within the top 60 ranked players in the World in 2004. Would he be able to cause an upset here? Rooney played well to take the first game 9/5, varying his shots and moving his opponent around the court. Whipp stepped up the pace in the 2nd however taking it 9/6 to level the match. The 3rd game was extremely close and could have gone to either player. Rooney was unlucky to lose this 10/8. Rooney then tired in the 4th and allowed Whipp to up the pace eventually losing it 9/5.

So on to the ladies match. Nottingham newcomer Sarah Kippax, World No. 49, had to take on the might of Jenny Duncalf who has established herself as one of the best female players on the circuit. The young Kippax played well, trying to move the experienced Duncalf around the court but to no avail and she lost the game 9/6, 9/1, 9/5 in 35 minutes. Sarah has lots of potential and will definitely move up the rankings very quickly as long as she remains focussed on the game.

The match between Nottingham’s World No. 46, Tommy Berden and Manchester’s World No. 47, Nick Taylor on paper looked to be a close affair but Berden controlled the match with lots of long rallies and tight shots to win the first 2 games 9/6, 9/5. A lapse in concentration in the 3rd saw Taylor take the game 9/6 after working hard to outplay his opponent. Berden then stormed to a 6/0 lead in the 4th before taking the final game 9/3.

Nottingham had to win the next two matches to win the tie and this was going to be a tall order with the young James Wright taking on the experienced Peter Bilson. Wright fought hard throughout the match but Bilson proved to be the stronger player winning 9/3, 9/3, 9/6 in just 23 minutes.

So the final match for Nottingham was all about pride. Could the club stalwart, World No. 26 Simon Parke do anything to beat the incredible World No. 2 Lee Beachill? The match started in the usual Parkey style with lots of long rallies and awesome retrieving. The game remained close throughout with Parkey reaching gameball at 8/7. A let followed and the crowd crossed its fingers, hoping that their man could sneak a game from the seemingly invincible Beachill. A long rally ensued before Parkey played a superb backhand volley nick to take the game 9/7, the crowd erupting into a huge cheer as did a determined Parkey. Beachill upped his game in the second taking the ball early and playing some very tight squash. Parkey continued to retrieve Beachill’s brilliant shots but lost the game 9/5. The 3rd saw some hard fought rallies with Beachill picking up and playing some brilliant shots. Parkey continued to work hard but Beachill took the game 9/5. In the 4th, Beachill stormed to a 6/0 lead before Parkey made some small inroads into the game but by then it was too late and Beachill took the match 9/3 in 53 minutes.

So a disappointing start to the season for the Nottingham team, however, they hope to do considerably better against their East Midlands rivals Duffield when they travel away on 4th October.

 Contributor: Ria Kennersley
Club: Nottingham

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