08-Dec : Round FIVE

Three-two results abound as the points gaps narrow

The first half of the PSL season concluded with a series of close finishes as the points gaps in both tables narrowed, setting up an exciting second half of the season.

SH22281In Division A Birmingham were quickly out of the blocks as they beat visitors Coolhurst 3-0 in the first four tie before Peter Creed rounded off a 5-0 win as he beat James Earles in five games. That put the Lions top of the table on 74 points, but they left sweating on the results of the other two matches in the division, both of which went the distance.

SH22282Champions Duffield travelled to Pontefract without their top players Nick Matthew and Laura Massaro, but Millie Tomlinson and Richie Fallows won for Duffield to cancel out Pontefract victories for Patrick Rooney and LJ Anjema. In the top string decider Duffield’s Chris Simpson came from a game down to beat James Willstrop, putting Duffield just ahead of Birmingham on 75 points.

SH22306Level with Duffield at the start of the evening, Leicester were at home to bottom of the table Nottingham but also found themselves needing to win the last match. Hana Ramadan  beat Emily Whitlock 3-2 to give Nottingham a great start, and Nottingham skipper Mark Fuller also won in five against George Parker. Ben Coleman and Angus Gillams won for the home side, and in the top string decider Daryl Selby edged past Alan Clyne in five to put Leicester on 76 points and top of the table for Christmas.

SH22281In Division B all three matches finished 3-2 with two of them going down to a deciding match. Exeter and Winchester were both looking for their first wins, and after the first four matches were shared it was Winchester’s Mohamed Abouelghar who took the spoils as he beat Olli Tuominen in the #1 deciding match. Winchester stay bottom though, still 8 points behind Exeter.

SH22283Surrey were looking to get their bid to regain the title back on track, and wins for Charles Sharpes and Alison Waters – who needed all five games to get past Tesni Evans – put them in command against visitors Bristol. Mike Harris pulled one back for Bristol as he recorded a fine win over Adrian Grant but Ali Farag clinched the win for Surrey. In the top string match Peter Barker, who played his last PSA match againt Mohamed Elshorbagy ast week in Hong Kong, faced  the younger Elshorbagy, Marwan. Barker fought back from two-nil down but it was the Egyptian who took the decider.

SH22299Chichester welcomed the visit of unbeaten leaders St George’s Hill and the match swung one way then the other – Lauren Briggs put Chichester ahead, Jo Lee levelled. Kyle Finch put Chichester back in front, Tom Richards levelled it again. In the decider Paul Coll, just back from his win in the London Open, came from a game down to record a great 3-1 win over Borja Golan.

Chichester are still in fourth place on 71 points and St George’s still top on 76, but with just five points between the top four teams the two playoff positions are very much up for grabs in the second half.

Division A

Everards Leicester 3-2 Air-IT Nottingham (18-9)

Daryl Selby 3-2 Alan Clyne 8-11, 11-8, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6
Ben Coleman 3-1 Chris Fuller  7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5
George Parker 2-3  Mark Fuller  7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11
Angus Gillams 3-0 Matthew Broadberry  11-5, 11-3, 11-4
Emily Whitlock 2-3 Hana Ramadan  11-4, 7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 8-11

Pontefract 2-3 Benz Bavarian Duffield (7-17)

James Willstrop 1-3 Chris Simpson  11-9, 6-11, 9-11, 7-11
Laurens Jan Anjema 3-2 Declan James 11-5, 5-11, 11-3, 4-11, 11-8
Simon Parke 0-3 Richie Fallows  5-11, 4-11, 6-11
Patrick Rooney 3-1 Ashley Davies  13-15, 11-9, 15-13, 11-5
Fiona Moverley 0-3 Millie Tomlinson  6-11, 5-11, 14-16

University of Birmingham Lions 5-0 Coolhurst London (20-2)

Peter Creed 3-2 James Earles  9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9
Chris Ryder 3-0 Rui Soares  11-7, 11-6, 11-7
Joel Makin 3-0 Joe Green  11-3, 11-6, 11-5
Miles Jenkins 3-0 Paddy Harrison 11-7, 11-8, 11-3
Sarah-Jane Perry 3-0 Selina Sinclair 11-0, 11-2, 11-2

Division B

Team Chichester 3-2 9 Telecom St George’s Hill (16-7)

Paul Coll  3-1 Borja Golan   5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 15-13 (68m)
Robbie Temple 1-3 Tom Richards  11-8, 3-11, 4-11, 13-15
Nathan Lake 1-3 Joe Lee  11-4, 8-11, 4-11, 4-11
Kyle Finch 3-0 Charlie Lee  11-7, 11-9, 11-7
Lauren Briggs 3-0 Dom Lloyd-Walter  11-8,  11-8,  11-5 (24m)

Virgin Active Surrey 3-2 UWE / Elite Squash Bristol (16-10)

Peter Barker 2-3 Marwan Elshorbagy  3-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7, 4-11
Ali Farag 3-1 Josh Masters  11-9, 11-8, 9-11 , 11-4
Adrian Grant 0-3 Mike Harris  4-11, 9-11, 15-17
Charles Sharpes 3-1 David Haley  11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8
Alison Waters 3-2 Tesni Evans  8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9

Exeter Diamonds 2-3 ClubNet Winchester (8-15)

Olli Tuominen 1-3 Mohamed Abouelghar  10-12, 11-2,  7-11, 11-13 (44m)
Tim Vail 3-1 Robert Downer  14-12, 8-11, 11-9, 13-11 (54m)
James Snell 0-3 Scott Handley 7-11, 9-11, 7-11 (30m)
David Evans 3-0 Scott Fitzgerald  11-2, 11-7, 11-6 (18m)
Tory Temple-Murray 1-3 Jenny Haley  11-9,  4-11,  1-11, 4-11 (21m)

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Preview

In Group A high-flying Leicester take on a Nottingham side keen to reignite their playoff hopes, Pontefract have a strong lineup for the visit of defending champions Duffield, and Birmingham will be looking to push into the top two  as they host Coolhurst.

Group B sees Chichester hoping to get back to winning ways against top of the table visitors St George’s, third and second placed Surrey and Bristol meeting in what could be a pivotal clash, while Exeter or Winchester will record their first win as they meet .

Crystal Ball: Leicester 4-1, Pontefract 3-2, Birmingham 5-0, St George’s 4-1,  Surrey 5-0, Exeter 3-2

Three-two results abound as the points gaps narrow

The first half of the PSL season concluded with a series of close finishes as the points gaps in both tables narrowed, setting up an exciting second half of the season.

In Division A University of Birmingham Lions were quickly out of the blocks as they beat visitors Coolhurst London 3-0 in the first four tie before Peter Creed rounded off a 5-0 win as he beat James Earles in five games.

That put the Lions top of the table on 74 points, but they left sweating on the results of the other two matches in the division, both of which went the distance.

Champions Duffield travelled to Pontefract without their top players Nick Matthew and Laura Massaro, but Millie Tomlinson and Richie Fallows won for Duffield to cancel out Pontefract victories for Patrick Rooney and LJ Anjema. In the top string decider Duffield’s Chris Simpson came from a game down to beat James Willstrop, putting Duffield just ahead of Birmingham on 75 points.

Level with Duffield at the start of the evening, Leicester were at home to bottom of the table Nottingham but also found themselves needing to win the last match. Hana Ramadan beat Emily Whitlock 3-2 to give Nottingham a great start, and Nottingham skipper Mark Fuller also won in five against George Parker. Ben Coleman and Angus Gillams won for the home side, and in the top string decider Daryl Selby edged past Alan Clyne in five to put Leicester on 76 points and top of the table for Christmas.

In Division B all three matches finished 3-2 with two of them going down to a deciding match. Exeter and Winchester were both looking for their first wins, and after the first four matches were shared it was Winchester’s Mohamed Abouelghar who took the spoils as he beat Olli Tuominen in the #1 deciding match. Winchester stay bottom though, still 8 points behind Exeter.

Surrey were looking to get their bid to regain the title back on track, and wins for Charles Sharpes and Alison Waters – who needed all five games to get past Tesni Evans – put them in command against visitors Bristol. Mike Harris pulled one back for Bristol as he recorded a fine win over Adrian Grant but Ali Farag clinched the win for Surrey. In the top string match Peter Barker, who played his last PSA match againt Mohamed Elshorbagy ast week in Hong Kong, faced the younger Elshorbagy, Marwan. Barker fought back from two-nil down but it was the Egyptian who took the decider.

Chichester welcomed the visit of unbeaten leaders St George’s Hill and the match swung one way then the other – Lauren Briggs put Chichester ahead, Jo Lee levelled. Kyle Finch put Chichester back in front, Tom Richards levelled it again. In the decider Paul Coll, just back from his win in the London Open, came from a game down to record a great 3-1 win over Borja Golan.

Chichester are still in fourth place on 71 points and St George’s still top on 76, but with just five points between the top four teams the two playoff positions are very much up for grabs in the second half.