Round 4: Chichester win thriller
Team Chichester –v- IGT Winchester – Round 4
This week Chichester Racquets & Fitness Club’s Premier Squash League team played its second home match of the 2011/2012 season. The Chichester squad played local rivals Winchester. With the Chichester squad nearly back to full strength it was hoped that another home win was on the cards but both teams were looking for second victories. The PSL crystal ball predicted a 5.0. win for Chichester but things don’t always work out that way
Lauren Briggs “the ever dependable” current world No.33, started Chichester’s campaign with a sound 3.0. victory over Lisa Aitken. Lauren dominated the proceedings throughout to take the match 11/8, 11/3, 11/9.
1.0 to Chichester
On the adjacent glass-back court Olly Pett, who is steadily climbing the world rankings and has reached number 70 in the latest list, played veteran PSL player Stacey Ross. Pett took the first game 11/6 and looked very comfortable. The next game was tighter and Ross began to believe in himself and fought back to take it 9/11. It was one way traffic from then on with Pett appearing to struggle with his movement due to a hamstring niggle. Ross saw his opportunity and wrapped up the next 2 games 4/11, 6/11.
1.all
Next on the championship court Robbie Temple played Winchester’s Jethro Binns. It became apparent very early on that Temple was carrying a hamstring injury and at 0.2 down [9/11, 6/11] he was forced to retire.
1.2 to Winchester and the crystal ball was looking decidedly cloudy.
Meanwhile on the adjacent court Alex Gough turned back the years in his match against Winchester’s Alex Phillips. It proved to be the best match of the night. Gough took the lead twice only to be denied, in what was a fantastic exhibition of all court attacking squash. Gough’s ability to read Phillips’ game was quite superb. Phillips kept up the high tempo pace but in the end a tiring, but very determined, Gough reached the finish line first 11/9, 7/11, 11/9, 9/11, 11/7.
2-all, and it was down to the number one strings to fight out the decider.
Chichester’s Nafiizwan Adnan (world no.37) played Marwan el Shorbagy (world number 45 and current World Junior Champion). On paper this looked as if it could be a thriller but Adnan was superb from the word go and gave a great performance, taking the first 2 games 11/8, 11/8. The third went to a tie-break but Adnan confidently won through 12/10.
3.2 to Chichester.
The players now take a well earned rest but the Chichester team will look to continue its winning ways when the squad heads for Bristol on 11th January.
Mike Phillips
Team Chichester Manager
