05/10/2005
Not the best start possible
Stephen Russell reports as Wolverhampton open their campaign with a 4-1 defeat at home to Edgbaston ...

Wolverhampton  1-4  Churchill Edgbaston  
  Anthony Ricketts  1-3  David Palmer        9/11, 6/9, 9/5, 13/15 (86m)
  Shahid Zaman  0-3  Adrian Grant             7/9, 7/9, 3/9
  Alex Gough  3-1  Peter Barker                 11/9, 9/6, 4/9, 10/8 (62m)
  Scott Handley  1-3  Stewart Boswell       9/4, 1/9, 5/9, 5/9 (42m)
  Dom. Lloyd-Walter 1-3 Vicky Botwright    9/6, 1/9, 3/9, 4/9 (56m)

Not the best start possible ...
Stephen Russell reports as Wolverhampton open their campaign with a 4-1 defeat at home to Edgbaston.
This season Edgbaston are undoubtedly the team to beat when they are able to field their full side. This Tuesday we saw what, for any league, was probably the best in depth team around on court at the club. Of the 8 men playing, 7 were in the top 30 in the world and both women were also in the top 30. Not a bad line up of the top squash players about!

Dom. Lloyd-Walter 1-3 Vicky Botwright  (9/6, 1/9, 3/9, 4/9) 56m

Dominique Lloyd-Walter took on the world number 7 Vicky Botwright in the first match. Dom played some of the best squash that I have seen her play in the 4 years that she has been with us and deservedly took the first game 9-6. This seemed to wake up Vicky who unleashed a series of beautiful shots to take the second 9-1. Although losing the next two, Dom battled throughout, often sending her opponent the wrong way and mixing up the game, though occasionally using the lob when in an attacking position and giving back the advantage to her adversary. The match lasted 56 minutes, before Vicky closed it out 3-1.

Scott Handley  1-3  Stewart Boswell  (9/4, 1/9, 5/9, 5/9) 42m

Scott Handley was always going to have match on his hands. Stewart Boswell has in 5 months gone from nowhere to 29 in the world, as befits a man who was previously world number 4 only 3 years ago before injury ruled him out of competitive squash. Scott took the first reasonably easily and Stewart the second. The next two were tight though Stewart always looked the more in command and a couple of decisions unsettled Scott in the 4th leading to him losing the match 3-1. Nevertheless a very good result, and a valuable point, against a man who will shortly be back in the world top 20.

Alex Gough  3-1  Peter Barker  (11/9, 9/6, 4/9, 10/8) 62m

Alex Gough has rarely played a bad game for Wolverhampton in the 3 years that he has been part of the team and tonight was no exception. Peter Barker is some 10 years his junior and set off at tremendous pace in all 4 games. Peter led by a margin in all 4, driving balls to a length and making Alex scurry all over the place. But gradually, from 3 or 4 down Alex began to reel Peter in using both experience and a variety of shot to pick up valuable points. After 62 minutes of brilliant squash Alex emerged a 3-1 winner, our first of the season.

Shahid Zaman  0-3  Adrian Grant  (7/9, 7/9, 3/9)

Shahid Zaman against Adrian Grant was a match witch no one could easily predict. Adrian has had some great wins but then occasionally fails to turn up. Shahid has the touch shots, great racket control but possibly suspect fitness. In the event the real Adrian turned up though for much of the first game you wouldn’t have known. Shahid moved, not raced, to a 6-2 lead and appeared to be in little trouble. Then he began tinning shots for no obvious reason though it soon became clear that a lack of hard matches was taking its toll. Adrian played steadily and deservedly won 3-0 in only 28 minutes.

Anthony Ricketts  1-3  David Palmer  (9/11, 6/9, 9/5, 13/15) 86m

The top match was worth the admission all on its own. In an 86 minute thriller, David Palmer just got past Anthony Ricketts 15-13 in the 4th. Truly either man could have won this match and neither deserved to lose. Unbelievable retrieving from both, great variation in type and pace of shot and friendly rivalry between the two players. Both of us, Nick from Edgbaston standing in for matt Suckling and myself, felt it was probably the best squash seen at the club ever. Yes there were some contentious points, the referee awarded two conduct warnings, one to each player, but equally both players were happy to help the officials over doubtful points, help that was not always appreciated. Anthony doesn’t just give 100% he gives 110% and throws himself all over the court. With wet kit this meant a few breaks to mop up but it was pleasing to see both players helping the manager in the task and quite good assistants they proved too!

The quote of the evening has to be from Vicky Botwright. Stewart Boswell lost the first game to Scott Handley but came back very strongly to take the second. Talking to Vicky she confided that Stewart had changed his shorts at the end of the first game and was able to move far better thereafter. She didn’t elaborate, so I’m not sure exactly what she meant!
 
Overall a 4-1 loss, but we had two of those last season. So all is far from lost and we travel to Pontefract for the match on the 18th October with the same enthusiasm that we have for every match.

Stephen Russell

 Contributor: Stephen Russell
Club: Wolverhampton

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