The local East Midlands Derby tie provided the first opportunity for the 1998 champions to show off their two British National champions – and both players duly delivered championship performances: Women's champion Tania Bailey did not allow her opponent a single point as she showed Nottingham's promising youngster Sarah Kippax no mercy winning 9-0 9-0 9-0 in just 20 ruthless minutes. Kippax would at least have had the consolation of a few points under the P A R scoring system but to win two consecutive points against the in form and fully fit Bailey was just expecting too much. A Commonwealth Gold down under must be Bailey’s next target.

A Welsh step too far for Walsh

On the adjoining court Gavin Jones, Wales No 3 and Welsh champion, a late replacement for the injured Lee Drew, justified his long journey from Cardiff by defeating stalwart and Nottingham Park famous steps (58 times up and down in one day) world record holder Duncan Walsh in less than 30 minutes. Jones was always in control after he had pegged back a 6-2 deficit in the first game. Walsh as ever chased all over the court but too many loose shots resulting in strokes proved to be a step too far on this occasion.

Young pretenders battle it out

Second on the show court was the promising 19 year old James Wright against former European Junior Champion Laurence Delasaux. Wright took advantage of Delasaux hitting too many shots into the tin in the first two games to establish a 2-0 nil lead and when Wright led 5-0 in the third he looked set for his first win against Delasaux, recent PSA winner of the Hithercroft Open. Delasaux dug deep and reeled off 7 consecutive points before taking the third 9-6. The fourth game was nip and tuck with the Nottingham crowd wiling their man to get just two more points at 7 all. Delasaux squeezed home and then was always in control in the fifth taking the game and rubber 9-5 in 57 entertaining minutes to ensure that Duffield retained the www.pdhsports.com  trophy played for twice yearly between the two East Midland rivals.

Third time lucky for Gaskin with the heat really on Hargrave

This was the third meeting this season between Arthur Gaskin and Paul Hargrave, with the Duffield man having won the previous two Derbyshire League encounters 3-0 with the second win last Thursday. The Nottingham programme referred to Gaskin “flying around the court” and with Hargrave visibly wilting on the hot court Gaskin played some great squash, keeping the ball tight and providing few opportunities for his opponent to hit winning shots. A totally focussed Gaskin stretched his opponent throughout and the final 3-1 score was a true reflection of the Irish international’s superiority on the night in a second match well refereed by Dave Walker under the beady eye of world class referee John Massarella.

A win for Yorkshire

The all Yorkshire clash was left to the visitors' recently-crowned British men's champion Nick Matthew to finish the tie with a flourish – repeating his win over Simon Parke in the Nationals in Manchester by beating his Yorkshire county colleague 10-8 9-7 9-6. Parke had beaten Matthew in the PSL last season and was determined to claim the scalp of the new National Champion. Parke chased every shot as if his life depended on keeping the ball in play. Matthew had to keep his concentration in rallies often exceeding 50 shots. Both players found it difficult to kill the ball as the Nottingham Club’s gas bill soared. Mathew just had the edge throughout 43 highly entertaining minutes and the scores 10-8 9-7 9-6 showed that Parke can still live with the top players and still has a tremendous appetite for the game. Matthew must now set his sights on a regaining a top five world place with a Commonwealth Games gold within his reach.

Thanks Nick ...

All five rubbers were played in a great spirit and, with Nick Clifford doing myself and our loyal band of supporters proud, squash was also the winner before a good crowd of supporters. I became a grandfather for the first time on Saturday and on the night was happy two settle for two family celebrations plus a famous Massarella Lemon Meringue pie.

The victory keeps Duffield’s play-off hopes alive until the visit to Manchester on 4 April with the final tie at home to Wolverhampton on 11 April.


 

The Watson Shield

The preliminary junior challenge between Nottingham and Duffield saw Nottingham win 4-3. The never say die attitude on court of players like Simon Parke was a great example to all juniors.

This match was always going to be tough for Emma, but all credit to her as she showed no real signs of nerves against the British Number One. Remember Vicky hasn’t played a single match after her injury and she felt a bit uncomfortable and a bit worried still about the injury that she had. Vicky stated after the match that all credit should go to Emma as she stayed with the pace in the first and was performing well, but she lost her way a bit and Vicky started to grow in confidence. Emma then had a real challenge on her hands. Good game, Emma will be back and maybe in a few years she can push Vicky some more.

Scott has a great all round game and tonight he needed it to all fall into place and in the first it was. Peter wasn’t looking so sharp but after the first he turned into a different player. He had to work and he knew it. Pete picked the pace up and as that happened his accuracy became more acute, his placement of his length was precise. Scott was on the back foot and couldn’t get back. Good match but more importantly 2-0 up to Churchill Edgbaston Priory.

This in my view and in Steve Russell’s view was the key match. The whole balance of the match could change easily if Wolverhampton won this tie. Hadrian was moving well and playing a tight game in the first but Chris loves that style and could play that way for a week if needed as he took the first without really breathing. Hadrian had to change tactics and he did. He had to move onto the ball and attack to take control. The change was working but the rallies were still fierce as both players responded to each others attacking play, Hadrian sneaked it 11/9 which gave him confidence TBC……

While the Hadrian and Chris match was on, Adrian Grant and Alex Gough started and this was going to be a close one and was all about who wanted the win more? Answer, Goughy, he took the first while Adrian was trying to get his head and body working together. The second Adrian was finding his form but Alex is some player and he was driving to get the 2-0 lead over Adrian which he did.

So at this moment it looked as though the match was going to go to 2-2all and could go down to the Bozza and Ricketts tie………

While running in between court to try to follow the match I decided that Hadrian could do it if he was confident enough. After the second he knew what to do and it looked like Chris was running out of ideas as he uncharacteristically made some mistakes as the standard of squash was top class. Hadrian played a great game hardly any errors at all. 2-1 to Hadrian and he was in the zone. The fourth Hadrian came out strong and Chris wasn’t looking so confident like he was in the first two games as Hadrian took a lead of 7/4, then Chris responded by going for his shots and the pressure was on. Hadrian just kept Chris at arms length as everyone who watched felt the pressure on the tie. After saving three match balls the nerves came in and Chris went for one that went down and Hadrian had done it again! Winning his match and the match for Churchill Edgbaston Priory. Another superb effort from Hadrian yet again.

So I then get to the show court to see that Adrian had fought back to 2-2 and the match was very alive. Adrian was down in the game but was fighting hard and didn’t want to lose. The standard was high as the pressure was mounting not only on the players but on the ref too. Alex is a player who knows the game so well he also knows when a ref isn’t very confident as a series of let balls (to the crowd’s disgust) were given when maybe the ref was giving Alex too much benefit of the doubt. It was great squash but the feeling was the ref handed it to Alex when there was a blatant stroke not awarded to Adrian. In the end Alex prevailed and won the match 3/2. If Adrian had of started the first like he started the 5th it may have been a different result.

Two of the best players in the world were finishing the match off as the standard jumped up again. Anthony is an animal, he works so hard but never looks tried. The first game saw some amazing rallies that seemed to go on for ever as both players tried to size each other up. Bozza looked in good form as he moved well and attacked when possible which was the difference to win the first. The second saw Anthony struggling with a sore knee and Bozza wasn’t going to hold back as he took the 2nd. Then Anthony was a different player as his knee seemed to stop aching and he pushed up the court and dominated, Bozza was a bit shocked by Anthony’s recovery and lost the third. Then Bozza knew, Anthony wanted this match, he wanted to get to the fifth but Bozza was on to his shots and went 4-1 by just brilliant play. Anthony couldn’t respond as Bozza really took control and Anthony knew it, his head dropped as Bozza hit a superb volley nick and the match was over. Bozza is back!!

A fantastic match.

This night was only possible because of the Sponsorship from Churchill Office Solutions as our main sponsor. Please help us to help them for any office need or club need ring James or Adam and the guys will help you, your business or your club. Thanks Churchill’s.

A massive thanks to everyone at the club, the girls on reception, the Bar staff, the restaurant staff and the Squash Committee. Everyone played a big part in this night which accommodated 195 spectators. Good job done.

Lastly a big thanks to you, the supporters! The Guys from Fox Hollies (Bob Keeling the main man), the Lads from David Lloyd’s (Gus Lysieght, top man), the Police Boys (Next time Alan Green isn’t getting in!) and to the EPC members and our associate sponsors. As I said everyone played a part.

Tue 11th April Churchill Edgbaston Priory play Manchester Pontefract. Tickets are already selling and it promises to be a sell out again, so book now to avoid disappointment.


  PSL Manager
 

The score line in the ladies match does not really represent a great match between an England under 19 girl and the world number 5. Emma played some great shots, won the serve back many times and the match lasted 29 minutes. As she said afterwards, everything is just that bit faster at this level though, if we had been playing to American scoring the points would have been better.

Chris could, even should have won. With a game ball to take the second he suddenly started tinning shots when under no real pressure and although playing well in parts gave just too many points to a very talented and steady opponent.

Scott started well but found himself slow to get to the front after the first game and played too many balls short of a length. Peter dominated the T and began to volley well. From early in the second it was one way traffic.

The match of the night was Alex’s. First two games included an element of luck with a couple of lucky bounces and some helpful tins from Adrian. The next two were all Adrian whilst Alex lost his way.

Then the 5th. Brilliant retrieving, unbelievable shots, 18 lets, dropped rackets and Alex insisting on getting only a let when everyone including the referee knew it was a point at match ball.

This had everything and was squash entertainment at its best.
Anthony has had a lot of squash lately, including a major tournament in London at the weekend where he reached the final. He still gets some pain from his knee which he badly damaged 2 years ago and this restricted his mobility. Nevertheless we still saw one 120 shot rally that ended with a tired Stewart hitting the ball back to himself. That’s more shots than most of us take for an entire game and puts into perspective just how good these players are.

So not the best start to the second half. Next up a home match against Manchester on 7th March.