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Framboise at Guildford |
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 Tue
25-Oct: UniSport Guildford 0-5 Surrey H&RC Croydon
Framboise reports from Guildford ... |
 "It
was a real pleasure to have Peter Nicol here in Guilford, and also
the Surrey Croydon team. It allows our young and emerging talents
to test themselves against the highest calibre of players. The
result could have been better, but it was very encouraging for the
future…"
Ian
Robinson
UniS Guildford |
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"This evening was a fantastic advert for PSL, and in front of a
packed audience as well…"
Adrian
Christy
England Squash |
|
 "It’s
a very good result for us, especially after last week's
disappointment, and it puts us back on track.
"Everybody played well, it was a great team effort."
Pete
Smith
Surrey H&FC |
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UniSport Guildford
0
Surrey H&RC Croydon 5
Stacey Ross 1-3 Peter Nicol 5/9, 11/9, 9/6, 8/10
Stephen Meads 2-3 Bradley Ball 6/9, 9/3, 9/2, 3/9, 7/9
Neil Frankland 0-3 Tim Garner
4/9, 2/9, 6/9 (26m)
Brandon Hanley 0-3 Ben Ford
9/11, 6/9, 4/9
Emma Matthews 0-3 Stephanie Brind
1/9, 2/9, 5/9 |
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| Neil Frankland 0-3 Tim Garner
4/9, 2/9, 6/9 (26m) |
INSIDE OUT GAME
Ian Robinson reports
 Tim
Garner gave Neil Frankland no real chances in putting a solid consistent
performance together. Dominating the central ground, Garner showed all
the old experience of his pro tour days, patiently working the ball
around and waiting for the right moments to put finishing touches to
rallies. Frankland, by contrast, is still not fluent in his movement and
was not really able to inject enough pace to upset the status quo.
There were moments in the final game when briefly one or two interesting
things happened for Frankland but by then it was too little too late.
The feeling of never in doubt comes to mind when reflecting on the
outcome of this game…
MY
IMPRESSIONS
Those two know each other's game inside out, and something tells me they
know where and how the press the buttons....
Nice long rallies, good length and perfect lobs, a traditional game that
unfortunately went in the tin too many times for Neil's good...
|
 "I’m
not feeling comfortable with my squash at the moment, and Tim put me
under a lot of pressure, as my length was all over the place today…
"So I was trying to slot the shots, kept on finding the tin…"
Neil
Frankland |
 "I
would say that Neil and I have played against each other about 50 times,
so we pretty much know what the other is going to do.
"It’s never an easy match, as I always feel that I should win in three.
"And today was no different, although I felt that Neil was not at his
best ..."
Tim Garner |
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| Brandon Hanley 0-3 Ben Ford
9/11, 6/9, 4/9 |
HANLEY VS CAGEY BEN FORD
Ian Robinson reports
There was not the kind of hitting power on display of the previous week
when the UniSport man had threatened to knock the front wall down, in fact
it might have been better had there been so.
Nonetheless Hanley was always in the game but still seems to doubt at
crucial times and with that comes errors sometimes even unforced. It is
important to get the balance of attack and defence right but at the moment
that is eluding Hanley.
Ford put together a good mix of short balls and lengths which meant that
Hanley was always covering a lot of court. This in itself is tiring and
add in the loose balls causing more court sprinting of an unnecessary kind
and a few errors, it forced Hanley into a position from which it was very
difficult to win. Still in part there is a talent but it is for another
day to convert it into a winning formula.
 "I
had seen Brandon play before, and I was hoping he would run out of
steam if I could keep the rallies going, and that I would stand a
chance. And it worked. At 6/1 in the second, he didn’t have much legs
left…
"Brandon is very skilful with his racquet, and he made me do most of
the work. He just made too many errors…"
Ben Ford |
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"The tempo is a bit too much for me. Ben hits the ball hard and low, and
I just ran out of steam in the end….
"When you are tired, you lose the tightness, and against a player of
Ben’s quality, any loose ball is taken advantage of, and he crucified me
again and again…
"I’m happy with the way I played, although I’m disappointed that I
couldn’t stick long enough to get him to make the errors…"
Brandon
Hanley |
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| Emma Matthews 0-3 Stephanie Brind
1/9, 2/9, 5/9 |
STEPH
TOO STRONG
Ian Robinson reports
The match got off to a difficult start for UniSport with Emma Matthews
facing Stephanie Brind, who is an experienced campaigner. Emma is one of
the students making her way in the game, being awarded a TASS bursary to
help fund her squash while at the same time completing her studies. This
was almost a mismatch as Emma despite this being her second start for
UniSport was a bundle of nerves and although she made some pleasing shots,
was unable to make much impression on the rallies.
As the match wore on she settled somewhat and started to put some better
rallies together. Nonetheless and despite some errors from Brind there was
never any doubt as to the eventual outcome. However in scoring 8 points in
total Emma can take comfort from the fact that she is improving as it is 5
more than she scored last time in Premier League.
 "Stephanie
is just much stronger than me, she was able to cut off everything I
did, and her length was so much better than mine…
"I was so nervous when I started the match, I went for too many drop
shots. In the second game, I started to feel more comfortable, my
length was getting better, but by that time, I was knackered!
"But it went better than I expected, as Stephanie is so high in the
rankings…"
Emma
Matthews |
|
 "I
was quite comfortable out there. I tried to make Emma play a bit, and
she did hit the ball pretty well.
"She chased everything and never gave up on any ball…"
Stephanie
Brind |
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| Stephen Meads
2-3 Bradley Ball 6/9, 9/3, 9/2, 3/9, 7/9 |
BRADLEY: FIGHTING THE DEMONS…
Stephen Meads relishing the occasion bounced onto the court to confront
Bradley Ball. It looked like a major demolition job was going to
transpire, as often in the past when these two have met Ball has disposed
of Meads in double quick time.
But all is not quite as it should be with Ball, as he has been suffering
with niggling injuries which by his own admission weigh heavily on his
mind.
 He
did win the first game and gave himself the best possible start, but still
not looking at his best. A combination of errors, loose balls and Meads
making it difficult for him, saw the Guildford man level the scores.
The pattern continued into the third game and the errors looked like a
player short on confidence taking the direct route home, which is so often
effective for Ball, but not at the moment. The errors handed Meads a
golden and rather unexpected 2 games to 1 lead. Ball was stung into action
and at a time when Meads lost concentration Ball came roaring back into
the match, taking the fourth to equalise with a convincing 9 - 3 margin.
Errors were fewer and winners were finding their targets better. It was
all to play for in the fifth. Ball took the advantage but the score crept
steadily towards the game-end with not much daylight until Ball managed to
break clear at 6 - 6 - two beautifully crafted backhand volley nicks, one
slightly lucky back corner crack, and a decidedly dodgy back hand drop
shot gave the match to Ball against a resurgent Meads, who is playing with
confidence and great enjoyment at this point in his career.
MY IMPRESSIONS
I
just love watching Steve Meads, you always know that you'll see a gutsy
display. Steve never gives up, chases every ball down, and makes his best
to make his opponent's life as difficult as possible... And I always
enjoyed Bradley passionate and fiery style. He is flamboyant, goes for
winners from all positions, and still runs, and still hits very very hard.
But Bradley is not as his best at the moment, and what is very positive
for the tall Englishman today is that when he was down 2/1, he mentally
stepped up and got a victory that has been eluding him for a little
while... |
 "It’s
nice to get the ball up at last!
"I’m bored to repeat yet again the same thing week after week, but
there it goes: I’m still struggling, I’m trying very hard to pick
myself up. I obviously had a big knock physically, I’ve lost
confidence in my body, in my game. I’m lost, but I’m trying…"
Bradley
Ball |
 "I
played well I thought, but it’s a bit frustrating, as it’s the second
week in the row that I lost 9/7 in the 5th. Last week against Rodney
Durbach, and this week against Bradley.
"I’m playing a lot at the moment, as I’ve got Dick Lau from Hong Kong
staying with me again, and we play a lot, and every day. So I feel
that I’m really at the top of my game, which makes it even more
frustrating to lose two close matches in a row…"
Steve Meads |
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Stacey
Ross 1-3 Peter Nicol
5/9, 11/9, 9/6, 8/10 |
OLD ACQUAINTANCES…
Ian Robinson reports
 This
was a great game of squash and a credit to the two players Peter Nicol and
Stacey Ross, in the spirit in which it was played and at the same time
demonstrating all the skills that the sport has to offer.
Ross was in no way overawed by the player alongside of him, in the same
way as he had done much credit to his reputation in his recent match at
the British Open with current world number 1 Thierry Lincou of France.
Ross has an instinctive desire to go for his shots and is quick and varied
in his choice of shots and this is unsettling for anybody who has not seen
a lot of him.
Nicol is probably the best defensive player in the game, which is not to
berate his attacking game, but merely highlights the fact that Ross did so
well to have out-manoeuvred him to such an extent.
 The
result, however, was never quite up for serious discussion. There was
always the feeling that Nicol had too much experience and confidence in
his ability to win crucial points and that Ross never quite believed that
he could be so effective at those times and turn over his opponent.
This match was probably a little more uncomfortable than Nicol might have
expected. The squash was out of the top draw and despite soaking up a
whitewash, the Guildford faithful went home happy to have seen one of the
best players ever given a decent run for his money by one of their own.
Stand up Stacey Ross and wrap yourself up in cotton wool to avoid the
injuries that just might take away more of the limited time available to
fully exploit the talent that is there. |
 "I’ve
played two top players in a few weeks, Thierry Lincou and Peter Nicol,
and what makes the difference above all, is their excellence at
playing the important points, as they have that much more belief in
their game, in their shots…
"I wish I could play that kind of player more often, as I’m not used
to playing at such a pace. And I also need a good run of health…
Stacey Ross |
 "I
moved very well, although I let him dominate at times, and when he
stepped up the court, he was well in control. Stacey likes a straight
game, and I found myself playing his game, which he is obviously
better at!
"So overall, it was a very good training game for me, and I enjoyed it
very much…"
Peter Nicol |
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