Round 2: Chichester takes the sparkle out of Exeter Diamonds

Team Chichester –v- Exeter Diamonds – Round 2

This week Chichester Racquets & Fitness Club’s Premier Squash League team played its first home match of the 2011/2012 season.   The Chichester squad played the Exeter Diamonds squad which fielded new signing and former Team Chichester stalwart for fifteen years, Tim Vail.

First on the glass-back, championship court Vail was in inspired form against Chichester’s Max Lee (Hong Kong) and World No.38.  Vail attacked from the start and although Lee stretched him from front to back and side to side it was his own error count which was higher.  Vail steadily built up a 0.2 lead.   Lee, however, fought back and pegged back the 3rd with his opponent letting it go towards the end.   Vail made a big push in the 4th and Lee hit the tin far too often.  Vail was always in control and ran out a 1.3 winner.

0.1.

On the adjacent court Chichester’s Lauren Briggs (World No.37) was slow out of the blocks and soon found herself 0.1 down and then after a closer contested second was 0.2 down.  Briggs then upped the pace, got into her stride and took control of the match to win the next 3 games without any trouble.

1.all

Following on both courts, 2 fantastic 5-game matches were about to commence.  Alex Ingham (former National junior number one) was making his debut for Chichester; he played James Snell, a former Devon County Champion with a highest world ranking of 89.  The match ebbed and flowed, with good driving and delicate drop shots from both.  Ingham dropped the first 11/13 but came back strongly in the next 2 to build a 2.1 lead.    Snell fought hard in the 4th to win it 5/11 and bring it back to 2.all and into a decider.  Although never behind in the 5th the final score line was always in doubt before Ingham clinched it for Chichester 11/8.

On the glass-back Robbie Temple (world no.64) played superbly for Team Chichester to build a 2.0 lead.   His opponent, Campbell Grayson, comfortably took the third game 1/11 and continued to haul himself back into the match by winning the fourth 9/11.  In the 5th Temple forged ahead and repeated the form he displayed in the first 2 games.  He took the match 11/4, on his 2nd match ball, to give team Chichester an unassailable 3.1. lead.

In the dead rubber the new Chichester top string, Nafiizwan Adnan [Malaysia and World 39] played the very much in form Stewart Boswell [AUS] and world no.19.   Boswell has recently beaten David Palmer and Cameron Pilley, the top 2 Australian players, to reach the semi-finals of the Qatar Classic.   Boswell dominated the whole match although Adnan battled well and entertained the crowd during all 3 games but, the result was never in doubt.

Team Chichester wins 3.2 to kick-start its winning campaign.  Next match is 8 November away to current champions Surrey H&R Club; a difficult task lays ahead but nonetheless a very good win this week.

Mike Phillips

Team Chichester Manager