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Tue 24th Oct, Round Two:
Good
Home Start for Oxford
On Tuesday 24th October, Esporta Oxford Health and Racquets Club played host to
the club's biggest squash event in its history so far.
The Esporta Oxford PSL team took on the much fancied Pontefract team in this
second round clash in England's best and most prestigious club event. The PSL
features 10 clubs in 2 divisions who play each other home and away with semi
finals and a final in April next year. The event features many of the world's
best players in this four man and one woman team format.
The Esporta team reclaimed some pride after their crushing first round away
defeat to Birmingham University, winning emphatically 5-0.
The team was strengthened by the inclusion of Australian Cameron Pilley (world
ranked no 24), who contested a great final (and crowd pleasing) match on the
night coming from 2-1 down to win. Irish champion Madeline Perry (world ranked
no 8) hot off the plane from Hong Kong delighted the crowd with a straight sets
win.
Mark Cairns (recent father and local legend/ex world top 10 player) notched an
impressive win. Oxfordshire's local boys Scott Handley and Kristen Johnson
(world ranked top 50 and top 150 respectively) added to the Esporta tally.
The Pontefract side were without their 2 biggest stars James Willstrop (UK no 1
world no 5), or Lee Beachill (UK no 4 world no 9), but still featured Indian
Saurav Ghosal (world no 54) at number one. It will be an interesting return tie
after Xmas if Pontefract go for broke and play all 3 of their top players.
Full Results
Esporta Oxford 5-0 Pontefract
Cameron Pilley 3-2 Saurav Ghosal 9/6, 7/9,
5/9, 9/2, 9/7
Scott Handley 3-0 Ryan Thompson 9/2, 9/3,
11/9
Mark Cairns 3-1 Neill Cordell
9/2, 3/9, 9/2, 9/4
Kristen Johnson 3-1 Adam Taylor
9/5, 6/9, 9/6, 9/1
Madeline Perry 3-0 Kirsty McPhee
10/8, 9/1, 9/4
The home team, sponsored by Chris Lewis Security Services even set up
cameras on both courts to beam the game live on to the t.v. screens in the bar
to cater for those wanted to watch but could not get a ticket. Including
sponsors, officials and players about 70 people enjoyed this inaugural event.
Esporta Oxford now lie in second place in the northern division with Esporta
Croydon topping the southern group.
The next match will be at home against Nottingham on Tuesday 28th November.
Another sell out crowd is expected and expectations will be high for another
home win with Esporta likely to field their same team.
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