R1: Chichester off to a flyer
Team Chichester –v- IGT Winchester – Round 1: 2012/2013
This week Chichester Racquets & Fitness Club’s Premier Squash League team played its inaugural home match of the 2012/2013 season. The Chichester squad was at full strength to play IGT Winchester.
First on court, Lauren Briggs, currently world No.30, started Chichester’s campaign wasting no time in moving Winchester’s Selina Sinclair around the court. Sinclair bravely fought for two games but the difference in ability and experience was evident and the Chichester player took the 3rd game 11/2 to set the home-side on its victory trail.
1.0 to Chichester
On the adjacent glass-back court, Olly Pett, the rising star of Sussex squash and WR58, stormed to a comfortable 2.0 lead against Winchester’s Scott Fitzgerald. The 3rd game, however, was nip and tuck all the way with Fitzgerald holding his nerve to snatch it 10/12. The 4th game was an enthralling encounter. Fitzgerald rallied well and his steady game took him to a 6/10 lead. Pett pulled it back to 10/10. The game proceeded to go back and forth before Pett finally closed it out 16/14 to put Chichester 2 up on the night.
Next on court, Anthony Graham (WR104) played against Winchester’s Alex Phillips. Graham had the upper hand in the first 2 games to give himself a healthy 2.0 lead [11/7, 11/5]. Phillips stuck to his guns and kept up the tempo and pace and rallied well to take the 3rd game 8/11. Graham regrouped and forged an early 5/0 lead and from that point he was never really troubled and wrapped up the match 11/5.
Meanwhile, on the championship court, Chichester’s Robbie Temple (WR53) took on the challenge of playing the young Robert Downer. Temple moved the Winchester player to all 4 corners of the court with his delicate straight drops and interception of Downer’s cross courts which he read so well. Temple dominated all 3 games to take the match and give Chichester a 4.0 lead.
Team Chichester welcomed its new signing and number one player, Jonathan Kemp, who made his debut against Winchester’s Stacey Ross. An entertaining match ensued with Kemp taking the first game, pushing through at the business end of the game. In the second Kemp appeared to lose concentration and lost the game 10/12. Kemp came out firing in the 3rd but Ross was equal to the challenge.
The match was played, by both players, with great speed and touch and Kemp nudged through to take the 3rd game 11/8. There was more of the same in the 4th; a plethora of great touches from both, countered by attacking volleys. Kemp won through 11/9 to give Chichester a resounding 5.0 victory. The squad could not have wished for a better start to the season. The next match is away to Surrey H&R on 16 October; may the winning streak continue.
Mike Phillips
Team Chichester Manager
