Premier League 2015/16


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at Your Fingertips

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SCHEDULE   |   TABLE   |   TEAMS   |    NEWS    |    ARCHIVE

REPORTS & RESULTS BY ROUND 

Round
1

Round
2 
Round
3
Round
4
Round
5
Round
6
Round
7
Round
8
Round
9
Round
10
Semi Finals Final

 Latest News

TABLE

Ties

Matches

Games

Points

Group A

P

W

L

TF

TA

GF

GA

 

Leicester

10 8 2 35 15 115 68 155

Duffield

10 8 2 32 18 114 79 154

University of Birmingham

10 8 2 34 16 111 68 151

Coolhurst London

10 3 7 18 32 77 110 92

Pontefract

10 2 8 15 35 70 111 80

Nottingham

10 1 9 16 34 64 118 72

9

Ties

Matches

Games

Points

Group B

P

W

L

TF

TA

GF

GA

 

St George' s Hill

10 8 2 35 15 117 65 157

Surrey

10 8 2 31 19 110 86 150

Chichester

10 6 4 28 22 105 80 135

Bristol

10 5 5 28 22 107 90 132

Exeter

10 1 9 17 33 82 114 87

Winchester R&F

10 2 8 11 39 44 130 54

ARCHIVE

2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15
 

Final

It's Seven for Surrey
                                                                                                      click image for larger view
Virgin Active Surrey claimed a seventh PSL title as they beat local rivals 9 Telecom St George's Hill five-nil in tonight's final, played out at St George's Hill in front of a packed crowd.

Neither team were able to field their strongest lineup, but while St George's were hoping that home advantage would tell as they aimed to take a first title having lost out in the 2011, 2012 and 2015 finals, Surrey started favourites to make it seven wins out of seven appearances in the final.

Alison Waters got Surrey off to the ideal start as she accelerated away after taking a close opening game against Dominique Lloyd-Walter.

Meanwhile Bradley Masters let a two game lead slip against Paul Rawden before reasserting in the fifth to put Surrey two up.

In the second match on the glass court Charles Sharpes dealt the winning blows for Surrey as he beat Charlie Lee in three close games to settle the match.

Surrey's Piedro Schweertman made it four-nil after Phil Nightingale was forced to retire with a hamstring injury early in their second game, and Ali Farag put the icing on the cake as he beat Tom Richards in an entertaining three games on the glass court.

"It's and incredible achievement to win this seven times," said a delighted Surrey Manager Pete Smith, "the players have done us proud again. It's been a tough season, we've had some great battles and a few losses but to come through again in the final is a tribute to everyone involved with the team.

"Seven wins in eleven PSL seasons isn't a bad record!"

9 Telecom St George's Hill 0-5 Virgin Active Surrey

Tom Richards 0-3 Ali Farag 9/11, 9/11, 9/11 (27m)
Charlie Lee 0-3 Charles Sharpes 9/11, 8/11, 5/11 (36m)
Phil Nightingale 0-3 Piedro Schweertman 2/11, 0/4 rtd (14m)
Paul Rawden 2-3 Bradley Masters 6/11, 6/11, 11/9, 11/7, 6/11 (62m)
Dom Lloyd-Walter 0-3 Alison Waters 10/12, 6/11, 3/11 (24m)
 

Semi Finals


Surrey & St George's squeeze into final

It will be an all-Surrey PSL final next week after Virgin Active Surrey and 9 Telecom St George's Hill won two nailbiting semi-finals which both went down to deciding matches.
Six-time champions Surrey travelled to Division A winners Everards Leicester, in just their second season in the league, and quickly took the lead through Alison Waters, just back from helping England win another European Team title in Warsaw.

Ben Coleman put Leicester level with an impressive win over Peter Barker, but Charles Sharpes came from 1-2 down to beat Angus Gillams and restore Surrey's lead. Leicester number one Daryl Selby set up the decider as he beat Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad in straight games, but it was Surrey's Lyell Fuller who settled the match as he beat Leicester skipper Darren Lewis in four games.

Division B winners St George's hosted defending champions Benz Bavarian Duffield in a repeat of last year's final, and as in the other match it was the visitors who took the lead via the women's match, Duffield's Laura Massaro easing past Dom Lloyd-Walter in three.
Local favourite Charlie Lee drew St Goerge's level, but in the second string match Duffield's Declan James put in a great performance to beat Tom Richards in three to put Duffield back in front. St George's Dutchman Dylan Bennett levelled the match to set up a decider between top strings Borja Golan and Chris Simpson.

In front of a full-house crowd this went the distance too, but ultimately it was St George's Golan who gained some revenge for last year's final disappointment as he won a see-saw encounter to dethrone Duffield and put the home side back into the final.
The final takes place at St George's on Tuesday 17th May.

RESULTS
Everards Leicester 2-3 Virgin Active Surrey
Daryl Selby 3-0 Karim Abdel Gawad 11-3, 11-2, 11-6.
Ben Coleman 3-0 Peter Barker 11-6, 11-8, 13-11
Angus Gillams 2-3 Charles Sharpes 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 7-11,1 -11
Darren Lewis 1-3 Lyell Fuller 4-11, 7-11, 11-9, 6-11
Emily Whitlock 0-3 Alison Waters 5-11 , 8-11, 5-11

9 Telecom St George's Hill 3-2 Benz Bavarian Duffield
Borja Golan 3-2 Chris Simpson 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5
Tom Richards 0-3 Declan James 6-11, 9-11, 9-11
Dylan Bennett 3-0 Joel Hinds 11-6, 12-10, 11-3
Charlie Lee 3-1 Julian Tomlinson 11-6, 11-8, 5-11, 11-8
Dom Lloyd-Walter 0-3 Laura Massaro 6-11, 5-11, 1-11

 

ROUND 10

PSL Decision Day - it's as you were at the top ...

In the final round of league action semi-final places were up for grabs in both divisions, but at the end of play the four teams who started the day in the top positions recorded the wins they needed to claim their places in the playoffs.

In Division A just two points separated the top three teams, but long-time leaders Everards Leicester and reigning champions Benz Bavarian Duffield both recorded the 5-0 wins they needed to progress. Leicester's win away to neighbours Air-IT Nottingham condemned the home side to bottom place; Duffield's home win against Pontefract left the still one point behind Leicester; University of Birmingham Lions' 4-1 win at Coolhurst London left them in thrid place, just outside the playoff positions.

In Division B the top two of 9 Telecom St George's Hill and Virgin Active Surrey had simpler tasks - any sot of wins would do for them and they duly delivered. St George's beat playoff hopefuls Team Chichester 4-1 to clinch top spot; six-time champions Surrey needed to win the deciding match away to UWE/Elite Squash Bristol, which they did courtesy of a 3-2 win for Karim Abdel Gawad over in-form Marwan Elshorbagy; Clubnet Winchester squeezed out a narrow home win over Exeter Diamonds but remain in bottom place.

The semi-finals will be Leicester v Surrey and - in a repeat of last year's final - St George's v Duffield.

Division A
Air-IT Nottingham 0-5 Everards Leicester (3-20)
Eddie Charlton 1-3 Daryl Selby 9-11, 11-9, 6-11 9-11
Chris Fuller 1-3 Shaun Le Roux 11-9, 6-11, 4-11, 10-12
Mark Fuller 1-3 Ben Coleman 10-12, 7-11, 11-7, 6-11
Matthew Broadberry 0-3 Angus Gillams 4-11, 0-11
Janice Lam 0-3 Emily Whitlock 6-11, 2-11, 4-11

Benz Bavarian Duffield 5-0 Pontefract (20-3)
Chris Simpson 3-1 Evan Williams 11-3, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8
Declan James 3-1 Patrick Rooney 6-11, 11-6, 19-17, 13-11
Richie Fallows 3-0 Alex Hodgetts 11-7, 12-10, 11-4
Adam Murrills 3-1 Taminder Gata-Aura 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-2
Laura Massaro 3-0 Hollie Naughton 11-5, 11-1, 11-6

Coolhurst London 1-4 University of Birmingham Lions (6-18)
Cameron Pilley 3-1 Steve Coppinger 14-16, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9
Joe Green 1 -3 Jaymie Haycocks 8-11, 5-11, 11-8,8-11
Nick Mulvey 0-3 Peter Creed 10-12, 4-11, 11-13
Steve London 0-3 Joel Makin 7-11, 3-11, 7-11
Donna Urquhart 2-3 Sarah-Jane Perry 11-7, 1-11, 11-8, 4-11 11-13

Division B
9Telecom St George's Hill 4-1 Team Chichester 18-4)
Borja Golan 3-0 Adrian Waller 11-6, 11-6, 11-8
Tom Richards 3-1 Robbie Temple 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8
Henrik Mustonen 3-0 Nathan Lake 11-8, 11-8, 11-9
Charlie Lee 3-0 Kyle Finch 11-9, 11-8, 11-6
Dom Lloyd-Walter 1-3 Lauren Briggs 11-5, 8-1, 12-14, 6-11

UWE/Elite Squash Bristol 2-3 Virgin Active Surrey (10-14)
Marwan Elshorbagy 2-3 Karim Abdel Gawad 13-11, 9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 3-11
Josh Master 1-3 Peter Barker 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 6-11
Youssef Soliman 3-0 Tim Garner 12-10, 11-5, 11-7
Mike Harris 3-0 Bradley Masters 11-9, 11-9, 11-6
Tesni Evans 1-3 Alison Waters 7-11, 10-12, 11-7, 7-11

ClubNet Winchester 3-2 Exeter Diamonds (14-11)
Rob Downer 3-2 Tim Vail 8-11, 4-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-6
Scott Handley 0-3 James Snell 10-12, 10-12, 6-11
Adam Corcoran 3-1 James Peach 11-9, 11-2, 8-11, 11-9
Robbie Keefe 0-3 Sam Ellis 7-11, 7- 11, 4-11
Hannah K-S 3-2 Abigail Hurd 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5

 

ROUND 9 REPORT

It's Still All To Play For With One Round To Go

The penultimate round of the Premier Squash League was a tense affair for many of the twelve teams, with three Division A clubs  having changes of making the playoffs, four Division B clubs all within six points of each other, while some were aiming to avoid finishing bottom which could see them replaced next season.

There were no nailbiting finishes tonight though, and no definite decisions made with all four semi-final places still undecided with just one round left. 

Division A leaders
Everards Leicester were playing their last home match against defending champions Benz Bavarian Duffield, who started 11 points adrift. The home team knew that a 5-0 win would guarantee them a place in the semi-finals, and with Duffield again missing Nick Matthew a home win looked on the cards. It was Duffield's renowned fighting spirit that prevailed though as they took a 4-1 win to close the gap to a single point. 

Starting just a point behind Duffield,
University of Birmingham Lions took advantage of the visit of bottom club Air-IT Nottingham as they won the first three rubbers to clinch victory, rounding off a 4-1 win that leaves them still one point behind Duffield!

Coolhurst London,starting just a point ahead of Nottingham, also took advantage of a Pontefract team which lost its top players late on, recording a thumping 5-0 win to ease those 'relegation' worries as they overtook Pontefract to move into fourth place.

Division B leaders
9 Telecom St George's Hill had a long trip to Exeter Diamonds, and after narrowly losing the women's match their four men quickly wrapped up the win which keeps them top of the table and looking good for a return to the playoffs.

Neighbouring
Virgin Active Surrey, three points behind in second place at the start, had a shorter trip to bottom placed ClubNet Winchester and quickly wrapped up their win with victories in the opening pairs of matches. Winchester's Gregory Gaultier beat Karim Abdel Gawad 3-2 in the final match giving Surrey 19 points to maintain close order with St George's.

Team Chichester were at home to UWE/Elite Squash Bristol, both knowing that defeat could put a serious dent in their playoff prospects. In the event it was the home side who prevailed, taking the three middle-order matches while Bristol won at first and fifth strings to limit the damage.

RESULTS

Division A
Everards Leicester 1-4 Benz Bavarian Duffield (7-17)
Daryl Selby 2-3 Chris Simpson  11-5, 4-11, 11-6, 8-11, 10-12
Nafiizwan Adnan 1-3 Declan James  9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 5-11
Shaun Le Roux 0-3  Richie Fallows  8-11, 7-11, 8-11
Ben Coleman 3-0 Adam Murrills  11-3, 11-9, 11-6
Coline Aumard  1-3 Laura Massaro   7-11, 11-5, 4-11, 6-11

University of Birmingham Lions  4-1 Air-IT Nottingham (17-4)
Jaymie Haycocks 0-3 Eddie Charlton  5-11, 10-12, 4-11
Peter Creed 3-1 Chris Fuller  13-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7
Chris Ryder 3-0 Matthew Broadberry  11-4, 11-8, 11-9
Joel Makin 3-0 Owain Taylor  11-4, 11-9 , 11-5
Sarah-Jane Perry 3-0 Heidi Mather  11-4, 11-5, 11-6

Coolhurst London  5-0 Pontefract (20-3)
Greg Lobban 3-1 LJ Anjema  11-6, 13-11, 5-11, 11-7
Raphael Kandra 3-0 Patrick Rooney  11-4, 12-10, 11-8
Nick Mulvey 3-1 Taminder Gata-Aura  11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8
Steve London  3-0   Lewis Doughty  11-9, 11-7, 11-2
Donna Urquhart 3-1 Fiona Moverley  11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-2

Division B
Team Chichester 3-2 UWE/Elite Squash Bristol (17-8)

Adrian Waller 2-3 Marwan Elshorbagy  11-7, 9-11, 14-12, 5-11, 13-15
Paul Coll 3-1 Tom Ford  7-11, 11-5 , 11-5, 11-9
Robbie Temple 3-0 Mike Harris  11-8,11-6, 11-8
Kyle Finch 3-1 David Haley  6-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-3
Lauren Briggs 1-3 Tesni Evans  11-5, 5-11, 5-11, 13-15

Exeter Diamonds 1-4 9 Telecom St George's Hill (5-19)
Olli Tuominen 0-3 Borja Golan  4-11, 6-11, 7-11
Ollie Pett 1-3 Tom Richards  14-12, 8-11, 7-11, 8-11
Tim Vail 0-3 Joe Lee   7-11, 4-11, 2-11
David Evans 1-3 Henrik Mustonen  6-11, 12-10, 4-11, 7-11
Natalie Lawrence 3-2 Rawan Elkalaawy  11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7

ClubNet Winchester 1-4 Virgin Active Surrey (3-19)
Greg Gaultier 3-2 Karim Abdel Gawad  9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 118, 12-10
Scott Handley 0-3 Peter Barker  3-11, 7-11, 7-11.
Rory Pennell 0-3 Charles Sharpes  2-11, 4-11, 8-11
Robbie Keefe 0-3 Lyell Fuller  6-11, 10-12, 7-11
Gina Kennedy 0-3 Alison Waters  7-11, 6-11, 4-11

 

ROUND 8 REPORT

Leicester open up a gap as Surrey pair creep ahead in Division B

The eighth round of PSA league action saw Division A leaders
Everards Leicester emulate their football neighbours as they opened up a gap at the top of Division A with a 4-1 win away to Pontefract.  Fiona Moverley put the Yorkshire side ahead, but Leicester bounced back with wins in all four men’s strings, Daryl Selby rounding out the win with an entertaining five game win over LJ Anjema.

Benz Bavarian Duffield started the day only a point behind Leicester, but the defending champions couldn’t find their customary escape route as visitors University of Birmingham Lions came away with a 3-2 win and only two points dropped. The match came down to a decider in which Birmingham’s Steve Coppinger beat Chris Simpson 3-1, putting Birmingham just one point behind Duffield, who are now 11 points behind Leicester.

The self-billed “relegation decider” at the bottom of the table also went to a deciding tie, with
Coolhurst London taking the spoils over Air-IT Nottingham courtesy of a straight games win by Greg Lobban at the top string, listing them off the bottom of the table - by a single point.

With two rounds to go the Division still looks like a three-way battle, but it may be more about who joins Leicester in the playoffs.

Division B started - and ended - the evening as a four-way tussle for playoff places, but big wins by neighbours
9 Telecom St George’s Hill and Virgin Active Surrey may have made them slight favourites for the top positions.

St George’s stormed to a 5-0 home win over struggling
ClubNet Winchester while Surrey, also at home, dropped just one point as they beat fellow contenders Team Chichester 4-1. Surrey’s recently retired Peter Barker, playing at number two for the first time, went down 2-3 to Robbie Temple for Chichester’s only win, although Piedro Schweertman had to save match balls in the fourth before completing the match with a win over Nathan Lake.

The West Country derby went the way of home side
UWE/Elite Squash Bristol as they kept their playoff hopes alive with a win over Exeter Diamonds. With Bristol, leading 3-1 the final match saw ElShorbagy brothers Marwan and Mohamed clash in the top string, with Bristol's Marwan winning in five - as he did in the first half.


Results

Division A
Pontefract 1-4 Everards Leicester (5-17)

Laurens Jan Anjema  2-3 Daryl Selby  11-5, 9-11, 13-11, 9-11, 6-11
Simon Parke 0-3 Nafiizwan Adnan  6-11, 5-11, 4-11
Lee Beachill  0-3 Angus Gillams  2-11, 6-11, 5-11
Sam Wileman 0-3 Darren Lewis  6-11, 3-11, 10-12
Fiona Moverley 3-0 Coline Aumard  11-9, 11-8, 11-3

Air-IT Nottingham  2-3 Coolhurst London (6-16)
Eddie Charlton 0-3 Greg Lobban  3-11, 4-11 , 11-13
Chris Fuller 3-2 Joe Green  11-5, 6-11, 11-13, 11-3, 11-7
Mark Fuller 0-3 Rui Soares  5-11, 5-11, 6-11
Matthew Broadberry 3-0 Nick Mulvey  11-7, 11-2, 12-10
Hana Ramadan 0-3 Donna Urquhart  7-11, 9-11 , 6-11

Benz Bavarian Duffield 2-3 University of Birmingham Lions (7-18)
Chris Simpson 1-3 Steve Coppinger 4-11, 11-0, 4-11, 4-11
Richie Fallows  3-2 Jaymie Haycocks  9-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9
Joel Hinds 0-3 Chris Ryder  8-11, 6-11, 7-11
Adam Murrills 3-2 Jan Van Den Herrewegen  11-3, 11-5, 8-11, 6-11, 11-1
Millie Tomlinson 0-3 Sarah-Jane Perry  4-11, 6-11, 6-11

Division B

Virgin Active Surrey  4-1 Team Chichester (19-7)

Ali Farag 3-1 Adrian Waller  6-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4
Peter Barker  2-3 Robbie Temple  11-7, 7-11, 7-11, 11-5, 8-11
Piedro Schweertman 3-2 Nathan Lake  9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 13-11, 11-7
Lyell Fuller  3-1 Kyle Finch   10-12, 11-8, 14-12, 11-3
Alison Waters 3-0 Lauren Briggs   11-4, 11-4, 11-1

9 Telecom St George's Hill  5-0 ClubNet Winchester (20-2)

Borja Golan 3-1 Nicolas Mueller  9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-3
Tom Richards 3-0 Scott Handley  11-9, 11-6, 11-2
Dylan Bennett 3-0 Adam Corcoran  11-9, 12-10, 11-7
Charlie Lee 3-1 Robbie Keefe  10-12 , 11-2, 11-4, 11-8
Dom Lloyd-Walter 3-0 Gina Kennedy  11-8, 11-5, 11-2


UWE/Elite Squash Bristol 4-1 Exeter Diamonds (17-10)

Marwan Elshorbagy 3-2 Mohamed Elshorbagy  11-5, 4-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7
Tom Ford 3-2 Tim Vail  8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-5
David Haley 0-3 David Evans  4-11, 5-11, 3-11
Abdelrahman Soliman 3-1 Sam Ellis 12-10, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9
Ellie Epke 3-2 Amelia Henley  7-11, 11-9, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9

 

RounD 7 Report

Leicester hold on to top spot as Chichester
rise in Division B

After last week’s British Nationals it was down to League business for many of the competitors in Manchester as the PSL season continued with the seventh round of matches.

In
Division A champions Benz Bavarian Duffield were able to field both National Champions, Nick Matthew and Laura Massaro, and a heavy victory looked on the cards against visitors Coolhurst London. In the end Duffield collected 19 points in a 4-1 win, but were made to work hard for it - in the first two matches as Massaro edged past Donna Urquhart 11-9 in the fifth and Ashley Davies lost out in five to Nick Mulvey, and while Matthew, Chris Simpson and Declan James all won ion straight games, they were all close.

Leaders
Everards Leicester were at home to fellow playoff contenders University of Birmingham Lions, who travelled with a depleted lineup. Sarah-Jane Perry shrugged off her Nationals disappointment to beat Emily Whitlock in straight games to put Birmingham ahead, but Leicester took all four men’s matches to notch up a 4-1 win, stayi ng top of the table by a single point. 

Pontefract were able to field their strongest side, which proved too strong for visitors Air-IT Nottingham, the Yorkshire side winning 4-1 to leapfrog Nottingham in the table.

In
Division B there were home wins for UWE/Elite Squash Bristol. Virgin Active Surrey and Team Chichester, leaving four clubs still in close proiximity at the top of the table.

Bristol beat visitors
ClubNet Winchester 4-1 with newly-crowned National U21 champion Gina Kennedy taking the only win for the visitors. 

Surrey beat leaders and neighbours
9 Telecom St George’s Hill 4-1, but it was a closer match than the lineups seemed to indicate, Karim Abdel Gawad coming from two games down against Joe Lee in the final match to round off the win for Surrey.

Team Chichester were at home to
Exeter Diamonds and needed wins from the top three in the order to take the win as Amelia Henley and Micah Franklin won at four and five for the visitors. 

Chichester go top of the table by seven points, but St George’s, Bristol and Surrey are all in close order just behind.

RESULTS

Division A
Benz Bavarian Duffield 4-1 Coolhurst London (19-5)
Nick Matthew 3-0 Greg Lobban  13-11, 11-8, 11-6
Chris Simpson 3-0 Joe Green  11-7, 12-10, 12-10
Declan James 3-0 Ondrej Uherka  11-8, 12-10, 11-7
Ashley Davies 2-3 Nick Mulvey  4-11, 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 3-11
Laura Massaro 3-2 Donna Urquhart  11-9, 11-13, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9

Pontefract  4-1 Air-IT Nottingham (19-4)
James Willstrop 3-0 Eddie Charlton   11-4, 11-7, 11-7
Laurens Jan Anjema 3-0 Chris Fuller   11-4, 11-6, 11-9
Aqeel Rehman 2-3 Mark Fuller  11-7, 6-11, 1-11, 11-5, 7-11
Patrick Rooney 3-1 Matthew Broadberry   11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-3
Fiona Moverley 3-0 Hana Ramadan   11-5, 12-10, 11-9

Everards Leicester 4-1 University of Birmingham Lions (17-4)
Daryl Selby 3-1 Joel Makin  11-6, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9
Nafiizwan Adnan 3-0 Miles Jenkins  11-8, 11-3, 11-8
Ben Coleman 3-0 Emyr Evans  11-6, 12-10, 11-7
George Parker 3-0 Tom Power  11-9, 11-7, 11-5
Emily Whitlock 0-3 Sarah-Jane Perry  8-11, 6-11, 3-11

Division B
UWE/Elite Squash Bristol  4-1 ClubNet Winchester (18-3)

Tom Ford 3-0 Robert Downer  11–8, 11-3, 11-7 (31m)
Josh Masters 3-0 Scott Handley  11-8, 11-6, 11-7 (22m)
Youssef Soliman 3-0 Rory Pennell  11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (27m)
Mike Harris 3-0 Adam Corcoran  11-4, 11-4, 11-5 (20m)
Ellie Epke 1-3 Gina Kennedy  12-10, 8-11, 4-11 , 7-11 (25m)

Virgin Active Surrey  4-1 9 Telecom St George’s Hill (18-7)
Karim Abdel Gawad 3-2 Joe Lee  3-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7,11-6
Gregoire Marche 1-3 Dylan Bennett  10-12, 11-6, 6-11, 9-11
Lyell Fuller 3-0 Phil Nightingale  11-5, 11-3, 11-8
Ben Ford 3-1 Paul Rawden  11-9, 11-7, 5-11, 13-11
Alison Thomson 3-1 Rawan Elkalaawy   9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-5

Team Chichester  3-2 Exeter Diamonds (16-6) 
Paul Coll 3-0 Tim Vail  14-12, 12-10, 11-3
Robbie Temple 3-0 David Evans 11-9, 11-6, 11-9
Nathan Lake 3-0 James Peach  11-3, 11-9, 11-5
Brandon Hanley 2-3 Micah Franklin  11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 4-11, 10-12

Lauren Briggs 0-3 Amelia Henley  7-11, 7-11, 2-11

 

 

ROUND 6 REPORT


It’s still tight at the top as Duffield survive again and Exeter break their duck

The second half of the PSL season started with reverse fixtures from the opening round last October. 

It was tight at the top of both Divisions with Leicester, Duffield and Birmingham separated by just two points in Division A, while in Division B there was a four-way tussle for playoff places with St George’s, Bristol, Chichester and Surrey all within five points of each other - and tonight’s results mean that both divisions remain - tight at the top!

University of Birmingham Lions
roared to the top of the table - on ties difference - with a resounding 5-0 win over Pontefract, although Jaymie Haycocks had to come from two games down against Saurav Ghosal to clinch maximum points for the home side.

Everards Leicester continued their impressive run in their second season in the league, going 3-0 up away to Coolhurst London. Simon Rosner beat Daryl Selby at the top string to put the home side on the board, but Leicester favourite George Parker rounded off the 4-1 win to put Leicester level with Birmingham on 94 points.

The late withdrawal of number one Chris Simpson was bad news for reigning champions Benz Bavarian Duffield as they travelled to neighbours Air-IT Nottingham for a match that looked finely balanced before that withdrawal. The tie wend the distance in front of a sellout home crowd, but it was Declan James - formerly a Nottingham player - who produced yet another narrow win for Duffield as he beat Alan Clyne 3-1 in the decider to put Duffield on 91 points.

In Division B leaders 9 Telecom St George’s Hill maintained their top placing with a 4-1 home win over UWE/Elite Squash Bristol, for whom British Junior Open champion Youssef Soliman made a winning debut.

Team Chichester piled the pressure on though with and emphatic 5-0 away win at ClubNet Winchester, all five matches finishing 3-0, as they moved to 91 points, just 2 behind St George’s.

Six-time champions Virgin Active Surrey travelled to Exeter Diamonds with the home side yet to record a win this season. David Evans and Amelia Henley got Exeter off to a great start but Charles Sharpes and Omar Abdel Meguid levelled the match for Surrey. In the decider the home crowd urged Olii Tuominen on to a 3-1 win over Peter Barker.

Surrey earned enough points to move to 81, two ahead of Bristol, but both will be looking for good results in the next round on 16th Feb to prevent the gap to the top two growing.

RESULTS

Division A
Coolhurst London  1-4 Everards Leicester (5-18)

Simon Rosner 3-1 Daryl Selby 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9
Mahesh Mangaonkar 1-3 Nafiizwan Adnan  11-7, 6-11, 4-11, 9-11
Adam Auckland 1-3 George Parker
Joe Green 0-3 Angus Gillams  6-11, 9-11, 6-11
Judith Allgrove 0-3 Coline Aumard 1-11, 2-11, 4-11

Air-IT Nottingham  2-3 Benz Bavarian Duffield (9-16)
Alan Clyne 1-3 Declan James 10-12, 5-11, 11-9, 6-11
Eddie Charlton  3-2 Richie Fallows 12-10, 5-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-8
Chris Fuller 1-3 Adam Murrills  6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 2-11
Mark Fuller 3-0 Julian Tomlinson 11-8, 11-9, 11-7
Hana Ramadan 1-3 Laura Massaro   8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 10-12

University of Birmingham Lions 5-0 Pontefract (20-5)
Jaymie Haycocks 3-2  Saurav Ghosal  5-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8
Chris Ryder 3-2 Eain Yow Ng   9-11, 11-4, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7
Joel Makin  3-0  Patrick Rooney  11-9, 11-8, 11-6
Miles Jenkins 3-1 Sam Wileman   11-6, 11-2, 10-12, 11-9
Sarah-Jane Perry 3-0Katie Smith  11-1, 11-2, 11-3

Division B
ClubNet Winchester  0-5 Team Chichester (0-20)

Zahed Mohamed 0-3 Adrian Waller  5-11, 9-11, 8-11
Robert Downer 0-3 Paul Coll 4-11, 10-12, 4-11
Scott Handley 0-3 Robbie Temple 9-11, 9-11, 12-14
Adam Corcoran 0-3 Nathan Lake  11-13, 0-11, 2-11
Sachika Ingale 0-3 Lauren Briggs  7-11, 6-11, 4-11

9 Telecom St George’s Hill  4-1 UWE/Elite Squash Bristol (17-5)
Borja Golan 3-0 Marwan Elshorbagy  11-9, 11-9, 11-6
Tom Richards 3-0 Tom Ford  11-7, 11-4, 11-4
Joe Lee 3-2 Josh Masters  7-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8, 11-2
Phil Nightingale 0-3 Youssef Soliman  4-11, 4-11, 4-11
Yathreb Adel 3-0 Ellie Epke  11-9, 11-8, 11-9

Exeter Diamonds 3-2 Virgin Active Surrey (17-10)
Olli Tuominen 3-1 Peter Barker  11-5. 11-8, 7-11, 12-10 (46m)
Tim Vail 1-3 Omar Abdel Meguid  11-5, 5-11, 5-11, 8-11 (33m)
James Snell 2-3 Charles Sharpes  3-11, 13-11, 11-7, 5-11, 4-11 (51m)
David Evans 3-2 Piedro Schweertman  11-4, 12-10, 10-12, 5-11, 11-6 (56m)
Amelia Henley 3-1 Alison Thomson 11-8, 11-2,  11-3 (25m)

 

ROUND 5 REPORT


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
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.

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. 

RESULTS

Division A

Everards Leicester 3-2 Air-IT Nottingham (18-9)
Daryl Selby 3-2 Alan Clyne 8-11, 11-x, 11-x, 10-12, 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)

 

Round 4 Report

St George’s march on as Leicester stun Duffield

The fourth round of the England Squash Premier Squash League featured a number of close finishes, and a first defeat of the season for the defending champions.

Group A leaders Benz Bavarian Duffield, strengthened by the availability Nick Matthew on his return from the World Champs in Bellevue, took the lead as Laura Massaro beat Emily Whitlock, but visitors Everards Leicester took the next three men’s matches to inflict Duffield’s first defeat. Daryl Selbe was leading 2-0 in the final match when Matthew retired injured, giving Leicester enough of a gap to put them level with Duffield on 58 points at the top of the table.

Univerity of Birmingham Lions visited Air-IT Nottingham, with both teams looking for a win to boost their playoff credentials, and after Alan Clyne had put Nottingham ahead in the top string match, it was Birmingham who took control, and the victory, with wins from Sarah-Jane Perry, Chris Ryder and Joel Makin, with Jan Van Den Herrewegen making it 4-1 overall with a 3-2 win against Nottingham skipper Mark Fuller to finish.

Pontefract and London Coolhurst have both struggled so far this season, and their match went down to the wire. The first four matches were shared, Patrick Rooney and Lewis Doughty with 3-0 wins for Pontefract while Coolhurst’s Nick Sutcliffe and Madeline Perry both edged home in five. In the decider World semi-finalist James Willstrop found himself two games down against James Earles, and match-ball down in the fourth before finally winning the match in five to give Pontefract a first win of the season.

In Group B leaders 9 Telecom St George’s Hill kept their fine start to the season going as they raced into a match-winning 3-0 lead against struggling Exeter Diamonds, finishing it off 4-1 to stay at the top of the table.

Neighbours Virgin Active Surrey kept in tough with the leaders with a win at home to bottom of the table ClubNet Winchester, but the visitors won the first and last matches thanks to Gina Kennedy and Zahed Mohamed.

Second and third in the table UWE/Elite Squash Bristol and Team Chichester met, with visitors Chichester coming within an ace of victory. Lauren Briggs put Chichester ahead, and with the visitors leading 2-1 Matt Hopkin held match ball  only to see Bristol’s Josh Masters fight back to take the fourth and fifth games 13-11, 17-15.  Marwan Elshorbagy made that count as he came from a game down against Robbie Temple to clinch the win for Bristol to keep them in second place.

RESULTS

Group A

Benz Bavarian Duffield 1-4 Everards Leicester (6-17)
Nick Matthew 0-3 Daryl Selby 7-11, 3-11, rtd
Declan James 1-3 Nafiizwan Adnan 11-8, 8-11, 10-12, 5-11
Richie Fallows 2-3 Shaun Le Roux 9-11, 14-16, 11-8, 11-6, 7-11
Danny Hockburn 0-3 Ben Coleman 6-11, 7-11, 6-11
Laura Massaro 3-0 Emily Whitlock 11-6, 11-2, 11-5

Air-IT Nottingham 1-4 University of Birmingham Lions (8-17)
Alan Clyne 3-0 Peter Creed 11-7, 11-4, 11-2
Eddie Charlton 0-3 Chris Ryder 4-11, 8-11, 6-11
Chris Fuller 2-3 Joel Makin 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 5-11
Mark Fuller 2-3 Jan Van Den Herrewegen 9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 4-11
Hana Ramadan 1-3 Sarah-Jane Perry 6-11, 10-12, 12-10, 3-11

Pontefract 3-2 Coolhurst London(18-8)
James Willstrop 3-2 James Earles 8-11, 6-11, 11-8, 16-14, 11-4
Patrick Rooney 3-0 Adam Auckland 11-6, 11-9, 11-5
Alex Hodgetts 2-3 Nick Sutcliffe 11-5, 11-4, 11-13, 6-11, 6-11
Lewis Doughty 3-0 Paddy Harrison 12-10, 11-7, 11-4
Fiona Moverley 2-3 Madeline Perry 11-9, 9-11, 13-11, 9-11, 10-12

Group B

UWE/Elite Squash Bristol 3-2 Team Chichester (16-10)
Marwan Elshorbagy 3-1 Robbie Temple 8-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-9 (36m)
Steve Finitsis 3-1 Nathan Lake 11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6 (43m)
Josh Masters 3-2 Matt Hopkin 6-11, 5-11, 11-8, 13-11, 17-15 (57m)
Mike Harris 2-3 Kyle Finch 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11 (64m)
Emma Chorley 0-3 Lauren Briggs 8-11, 9-11, 7-11 (31m)

9 Telecom St George's Hill 4-1 Exeter Diamonds (18-5)
Tom Richards 3-1 Olli Tuominen 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7
Joe Lee 3-0 Ollie Pett 11-1, 11-6, 11-3
Henrik Mustonen 3-0 Tim Vail 11-9, 11-7, 11-3
Alex Ingham 1-3 James Snell 9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 6-11
Yathreb Adel 3-1 Tory Temple-Murray 7-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-9

Virgin Active Surrey 3-2 ClubNet Winchester (16-6)
Peter Barker 1-3 Zahed Mohamed 11-9, 7-11, 4-11, 8-11 (32m)
Ali Farag 3-0 Robbie Downer 11-4, 11-6, 11-2 (17m)
Charles Sharpes 3-0 Scott Handley 11-3, 11-7, 11-4 (22m)
Piedro Schweertman 3-0 Adam Corcoran 11-5, 11-8, 11-5
Alison Thomson 1-3 Gina Kennedy 11-5, 9-11, 4-11, 2-11

 

Round 3 Report

Duffield Assert Their Authority as St George’s Take Advantage

Round Three of the England Squash & Racketball Premier Squash League saw four of the twelve teams enter tonight’s matches with unbeaten records to protect, but one of those records was guaranteed to fall.

In Group A University of Birmingham Lions welcomed the visit of defending champions Benz Bavarian Duffield, with both teams at the top of the League with two wins and 33 points. Joel Hinds quickly put Duffield ahead, but Miles Jenkins levelled the match with a fine 3-2 win over Richie Fallows. Duffield’s strength showed though as Chris Simpson came from a game down to win and Jessica Davies put the visitors 3-1 ahead. Playing his first match in his 19th season in the league, Duffield’s Nick Matthew wrapped up the 4-1 win for Duffield to take them 11 points clear at the top.


Coolhurst London were at home to Air-IT Nottingham, two teams with playoff hopes, but it was Coolhurst quickly into their stride as Madeline Perry and Nick Mulvey put them 2-0 ahead. Nottingham skipper Mark Fuller came through a five-setter with Joe Green to give the visitors hope, but James Earles was meanwhile coming from a game down to beat Mark’s brother Chris to put Coolhurst 3-1 ahead. Rory Birtwistle won the last match 3-0 for Nottingham who went away with 7 points.

Everards Leicester took a 4-0 lead at home to Pontefract - George Parker and Mari Taylor doing the early damage, Ben Coleman sealing the win with a 3-2 victory over Patrick Rooney and Shaun Le Roux taking the fourth - before James Willstrop scored a point for the visitors at the top string. Leicester move into second place, Pontefract are at the bottom, the only team yet to win a match.

In Group B table-toppers Team Chichester took on visiting Virgin Active Surrey, the five-time champions. Lyell Fuller beat Kyle Finch in five to put Surrey ahead, but Matt Hopkin leveled with a fine 3-0 win over Charles Sharpes. Lauren Briggs restored Chichester’s lead but Gregoire Marche put Surrey level again to set up the only decider in tonight’s matches. Surrey’s Karim Abdel Gawad saw a two-game advantage over Paul Coll in the top string disappear before taking the fifth to give Surrey the win and the bonus points - the match finishing 10-all in games.

It’s Surrey’s neighbours 9Telecom St George’s Hill who are top of the table though, coming away from Winchester with an impressive 5-0 win. The home side’s Daniel Poleshchuk impressed on his debut, going 2-1 up against Henrik Mustonen before the Finn recovered to win in five.

In the West, UWE/Elite Squash Bristol travelled to Exeter Diamonds, again both teams with hopes of making the playoffs this season. The opening matches were shared, Amelia Henley winning in five for Exeter, Mike Harris in three for Bristol. Josh Masters put Bristol ahead coming from 1-2 down to beat Tim Vail, and Lucas Serme sealed the win for Bristol with a 3-0 win at second string. So, the much anticipated clasf of the Elshorbagy Brothers - Mohamed for Exeter and Marwan for Bristol - wasn’t to be a match decider, but still provided a great spectacle for the packed crowd as Marwan came from two games down to beat his older brother - the world #1 and Qatar Classic champion - in five games to give Bristol a 4-1 win and second place in the table.

 RESULTS

Group A
Everards Leicester 4-1 Pontefract (17-7)

Nafiizwan Adnan 0-3 James Willstrop 6-11, 12-14, 5-11
Shaun Le Roux 3-0 Simon Parke 11-4, 12-10, 11-6
Ben Coleman 3-2 Patrick Rooney 7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7
George Parker 3-1 Taminder Gata-Aura 5-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7
Mari Taylor 3-1 Katie Smith 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11 -6

Coolhurst London 3-2 Air-IT Nottingham (16-7)
James Earles 3-1 Chris Fuller 6-11, 12-10, 11-2, 11-3
Joe Green 2-3 Mark Fuller 11-9, 11-13, 7-11, 11-5, 8-11
Nick Mulvey 3-0 Ollie Holland 11-2, 11-8, 11-6
Nick Sutcliff 0-3 Rory Birtwistle 9-11, 9-11, 9-11
Madeline Perry 3-0 Hana Ramadan 11-9, 11-9, 11-8

University of Birmingham Lions 1-4 Benz Bavarian Duffield (4-19)
Jaymie Haycocks 0-3 Nick Matthew 5-11, 12-14, 9-11
Chris Ryder 1-3 Chris Simpson 9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 7-11
Joel Makin 3-2 Richie Fallows 8-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6
Miles Jenkins 0-3 Joel Hinds 9-11, 8-11, 9-11
Katrina Burrows 0-3 Jessica Davis 8-11, 1-11, 9-11

Group B
Team Chichester 2-3 Virgin Active Surrey (10-15)

Paul Coll 2-3 Karim Abdel Gawad 14-16, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7, 6-11
Robbie Temple 0-3 Gregoire Marche 7-11, 5-11, 8-11
Matt Hopkin 3-0 Charles Sharpes 11-8, 13-11, 12-10
Kyle Finch 2-3 Lyell Fuller 11-4, 5-11, 11-9, 3-11, 6-11
Lauren Briggs 3-1 Nada Elkalaawy 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-6

ClubNet Winchester 0-5 9Telecom St George's Hill (4-20)
Nicolas Mueller 1-3 Tom Richards 11-9, 4-11, 9-11, 7-11
Daniel Poleshchuk 2-3 Henrik Mustonen 5-11, 11-6, 11-7, 4-11, 4-11
Scott Handley 1-3 Dylan Bennett 7-11, 4-11, 11-8, 8-11
Robbie Keefe 0-3 Charlie Lee 8-11, 3-11, 4-11
Jenny Haley 0-3 Dominique Lloyd-Walter 3-11, 10-12, 5-11

Exeter Diamonds 1-4 UWE/Elite Squash Bristol (7-19)
Mohamed Elshorbagy 2-3 Marwan Elshorbagy  12-10, 11-4, 5-11, 9-11, 10-12 (59m)
Ollie Pett 0-3 Lucas Serme 4-11, 5-11, 5-11 (21m)
Tim Vail 2-3 Josh Masters 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 4-11, 6-11 (56m)
James Peach 0-3 Mike Harris 9-11, 3-11, 6-11 (31m)
Amelia Henley 3-2 Emma Chorley 9-11, 14-12, 11-13, 11-6, 11-7 (66m)
 

ROUND 2 REPORT

Duffield escape again as Birmingham and Chichester go top
 

After a two-week break some of the world's top players returned to PSL action for the second of ten rounds of league matches, and four of tonight's six matches finished 3-2.

In Group A it was University of Birmingham Lions who ended the day joint top of the table as they beat Everards Leicester 4-1 to record a second win. The home side went 4-0 up but in the top string the Lions' Peter Creed lost out in five to Daryl Selby.for a 19-point haul.

The other two matches both went to deciding ties. Air-IT Nottingham's Hana Ramadan and Owain Taylor won at four and five before Pontefract levelled through top strings James Willstrop and LJ Anjema, leaving Nottingham captain Mark Fuller to beat Pontefract's Patrick Rooney to give the home team the spoils

Champions Benz Bavarian Duffield went two-nil up at London Coolhurst with wins from Julian and Millie Tomlinson (no relation) only for the home side to hit back with wins from Nick Mulvey and birthday-boy Cameron Pilley. The decider went down to its own decider, and it was Duffield, who last season mastered the art of squeezing out narrow victories, did it again with Declan James beating James Earles 11-9 in the fifth. "Gutting," was the final Coolhurst tweet.

In Group B, Team Chichester followed up their opening win with an impressive away victory at Exeter Diamonds - whose innovative poster declared they would be going 'one step beyond' this season. The visitors stormed into a 3-0 lead before Exeter's top Egyptian duo Mohamed Elshorbagy and Mazen Hesham restricted Chichester to a 3-2 win.

The Surrey derby also finished 3-2, but here home side 9 Telecom St George's Hill, last season's finalists, saw their two-nil lead disappear as Virgin Active Surrey, looking to reclaim the title they won in the previous five seasons, forced a decider. After taking the first game 15-13 St George's #1 Borja Golan sealed the win as he beat Peter Barker 3-0 to put the home side second in the table.

UWE/Elite Squash Bristol enjoyed their trip to ClubNet Winchester, coming away with a 4-1 win. Gina Kennedy, the European Junior Champion, was the home side's only winner, a fitting celebration for her acceptance to Harvard University, while Bristol's Marwan Elshorbagy was awarded the "MVP" award after his top-string win over fellow-Egyptian Zahed Mohamed.


Group A
Coolhurst London 2-3 Benz Bavarian Duffield (11-16)

Cameron Pilley 3-1 Chris Simpson 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 13-11
James Earles 2-3 Declan James 8-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-1, 9-11
Nick Mulvey 3-1 Joel Hinds 11-9, 6-11 , 11-5, 11-3
Nick Sutcliffe 1-3 Julian Tomlinson 11-6, 5-11, 9-11, 5-11
Madeline Perry 2-3 Millie Tomlinson 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11

Air-IT Nottingham 3-2 Pontefract (14-7)
Eddie Charlton 0-3 James Willstrop 5-11, 8-11, 8-11
Chris Fuller 0-3 Laurens Jan Anjema 5-11, 9-11, 3-11
Mark Fuller 3-0 Patrick Rooney 11-7, 11-8, 11-7
Owain Taylor 3-1 Alex Hodgetts 15-13, 7-11, 14-12, 11-3
Hana Ramadan 3-0 Katie Smith 11-1, 11-4, 11-3

University of Birmingham Lions 4-1 Everards Leicester (19-4)
Peter Creed 2-3 Daryl Selby 11-6, 6-11, 4-11, 11-8, 5-11
Chris Ryder 3-1 George Parker 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9
Joel Makin 3-0 Angus Gillams 11-8, 11-6, 11-2
Jan vd Herrewegen 3-0 Darren Lewis 11-5, 11-3, 11-9
Sarah-Jane Perry 3-0 Mari Taylor 11-1, 11-6, 11-5

Group B
ClubNet Winchester 1-4 UWE/Elite Squash Bristol (5-18)

Zahed Mohamed 1-3 Marwan Elshorbagy 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 12-14
Robert Downer 1-3 Lucas Serme 12-10, 3-11, 2-11, 2-11
Scott Handley 0-3 Tom Ford 6-11, 2-11, 5-11
Adam Corcoran 0-3 Josh Masters 4-11, 5-11, 5-11
Gina Kennedy 3-1 Emma Chorley 11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8

9Telecom St George’s 3-2 Virgin Active Surrey (15-7)
Borja Golan 3-0 Peter Barker 15-13, 11-2, 11-7
Tom Richards 1-3 Karim Abdel Gawad 10-12, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11
Alex Ingham 0-3 Piedro Schweertman 8-11, 8-11, 11-13
Charlie Lee 3-1 Bradley Masters 10-12, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2
Yathreb Adel 3-0 Nada Elkalaawy 11-3, 11-3, 11-9

Exeter Diamonds 2-3 Team Chichester (9-15)
Mohamed Elshorbagy 3-1 Adrian Waller 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7 (46m)
Mazen Hesham 3-0 Paul Coll 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 (34m)
Tim Vail 1-3 Robbie Temple 11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 5-11 (51m)
Joey Barrington 0-3 Nathan Lake 4-11, 0-11, 5-11 (24m)
Victoria Temple-Murray 2-3 Lauren Briggs 11-8, 4-11, 11-3, 1-11, 9-11 (43m)

Champions Duffield survive opening night scare

The new season - the 32nd - of the England Squash & Racketball Premier Squash League kicked off tonight in six clubs across England, with a mixture of comfortable and nailbiting wins.

In
Group A defending champions Benz Bavarian Duffield welcomed Midlands neighbours Air-IT Nottingham, who almost went home with a dramatic victory.   Millie Tomlinson put the home side ahead but Matthew Broadberry, on his debut, brought Nottingham level with a 3-2 win over Ashley Davies, a late replacement for Richie Fallows. 

Chris Fuller then put Nottingham into the lead as he came from a game down to beat Declan James, fresh from winning his fourth PSA title in a row at the weekend. Then Fallows, drafted back in as a last-minute replacement for the injured Joel Hinds, let a two-nil lead against Nottingham captain Mark Fuller slip before levelling the match to the home crowd’s relief. 

With Nick Matthew down in London collecting his OBE, Chris Simpson took on Eddie Charlton in the final match and saw Duffield home with a three-nil win.

Everards Leicester, starting their second PSL season at home to last year’s semi-finalists Coolhurst London
, recorded a resounding 5-0 win that puts them, at this early stage, at the top of the table.

Birmingham University travelled to Pontefract and came away with a 3-2 win, Fional Moverley winning on her Pontefract debut but Birmingham’s middle order sealed the win before James Willstrop reduced the deficit in the final match.

In
Group B it was Team Chichester who registered the first win of the season as they stormed to a home 5-0 win over Clubnet Winchester, dropping just two games along the way.

The Surrey duo of
Virgin Active Surrey and 9Telecom St George’s Hill both won 3-2. Surrey, who saw their five-year reign as champions ended last season, went into a three-nil lead at home too Exeter Diamonds, whose top Egyptian pair of Mazen Hesham - with a tremendous 14-12 in the fifth win over Karim Abdel Gawad -and world #1 Mohamed Elshorbagy took the final two matches to narrow the points gap.

St George’s, last year’s runners-up, took a two-nil lead away to
UWE/Elite Squash Bristol, for whom Brian Byrne pulled a game back, but St George’s Joe Lee came from 2-1 down against Tom Ford to clinch the win. In the final match Bristol’s Marwan Elshorbagy, just elevated to the world’s top ten, beat Tom Richards to make the final score 3-2 to St George’s.

After today's first round there is a two week break, with the remaining first half rounds to be played on 27th Oct, 10th and 24th November and 8th December (all Tuesdays with matches starting at 19.00). 

After all ten rounds are completed (second half dated to be set later in the year) the top two teams in each Group will contest the semi-finals.


Round 1 Results

Group A :
Everards Leicester 5-0 Coolhurst London (20-4)

Daryl Selby 3-0 Joe Green   11-4, 11-3, 11-5
George Parker 3-2 Nick Mulvey 
Angus Gillams 3-1 Ondrej Uherka  
Darren Lewis 3-1 Nick Sutcliffe 
Emily Whitlock 3-0 Madeline Perry  

Benz Bavarian Duffield 3-2 Air-IT Nottingham (17-8)
Chris Simpson 3-0 Eddie Charlton   11-7, 11-6, 11-9  
Declan James 1-3 Chris Fuller  11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 8-11 
Richie Fallows 3-2 Mark Fuller  11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 7-11, 11-8  
Ashley Davies 2-3 Matthew Broadberry  7-11, 11-8, 13-15, 11-9, 6-11 
Millie Tomlinson 3-0 Hana Ramadan  11-9, 11-8, 11-9 

Pontefract 2-3 University of Birmingham (6-14)
James Willstrop  3-0 Jaymie Haycocks  11-8, 12-10, 11-7 
Simon Parke 0-3 Chris Ryder  5-11, 5-11, 3-11 
Alex Hodgetts 0-3 Joel Makin   6-11, 4-11, 6-11 
Lewis Doughty 0-3 Jan Van Den Herrewegen  9-11, 3-11, 5-11 
Fiona Moverley 3-0 Katrina Burrows  11-4, 11-2, 11-5 

Group B:
Team Chichester 5-0 ClubNet Winchester (20-2)

Adrian Waller 3-1 Robert Downer  9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (52m)
Robbie Temple 3-0 Scott Handley  11-4, 11-5, 11-6 (26m)
Nathan Lake 3-0 Sean Conroy   11-7, 11-4, 11-1 (29m))
Brandon Hanley 3-0 Robbie Keefe  11-6, 11-0, 11-5 (25m)
Lauren Briggs 3-1 Georgina Kennedy  14-12, 11-13, 11-5, 11-6 (35m))

UWE/Elite Squash Bristol 2-3 9Telecom St George’s Hill (11-16)
Marwan Elshorbagy 3-1 Tom Richards   11-7, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7  (36m) 
Tom Ford 2-3 Joe Lee  6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 5-11 (76m) 
Josh Masters 2-3 Dylan Bennett   6-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 6-11 (53m) 
Brian Byrne 3-1 Alex Ingham   12-10, 2-11, 11-5, 11-7 (49m) 
Emma Chorley 1-3 Dominique Lloyd-Walter  11-8, 10-12, 10-12, 6-11 (40m) 

Virgin Active Surrey 3-2 Exeter Diamonds  (17-11)
Peter Barker 1-3 Mohamed Elshorbagy  9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 9-11 (40m) 
Karim Abdel Gawad 2-3 Mazen Hesham   11-8, 11-7, 17-19, 9-11, 12-14 (80m) 
Charles Sharpes 3-2 Tim Vail   11-6, 8-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9 
Piedro Schweertman 3-2 James Peach  11-4, 11-2, 6-11, 8-11, 11-3 
Nada Elkalaawy 3-1 Victoria Temple-Murray  8-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7 


 

Preview

Premier Squash League set for new season

The world’s most prestigious squash league starts its 32nd season on Tuesday 6th October when the 2015/16 season of the England Squash & Racketball Premier Squash League (PSL) gets under way with the first of ten rounds of League matches.

There will once more be twelve clubs from around the UK competing for the title in an unchanged line up , with the squads between them boasting 15 of the Men’s world top 20 players (and 33 of the top 50) and 9 of the Women’s top 30.

In Group A defending champions Benz Bavarian Duffield start off their defence with a home tie against Midland rivals Air-It Nottingham, Everards Leicester begin their second season with a home match against last season’s semi-finalists Coolhurst London, while Pontefract entertain the University of Birmingham.

In Group B Virgin Active Surrey, whose five-season winning streak was ended by Duffield in last year’s semi-final, start with a home match against Exeter Diamonds. Last season’s runners-up Nine Telecom St George’s Hill, again relying on mainly home-grown talent, travel to UWE/Elite Squash Bristol while Team Chichester welcome visitors ClubNet Winchester.

England Squash & Racketball Head of Competitions and Events Chris Nutley said: “I am delighted that we have maintained a full complement of teams once again.

“With all team squads now confirmed we are thrilled to have such a strong selection from the world's top players competing in PSL, confirming its position as the world's best squash league.

“We can look forward to another exciting season of PSL and I wish all teams an enjoyable and successful campaign.”

 

Schedule

ROUND

DATE

GROUP A

GROUP B

One

06-Oct

Leicester v Coolhurst

Chichester v Winchester

 

 

Duffield v Nottingham

Bristol v St George's

 

 

Pontefract v Birmingham

Surrey v Exeter

Two

27-Oct

Coolhurst v Duffield

Winchester v Bristol

 

 

Nottingham v Pontefract

St George's v Surrey

 

 

Birmingham v Leicester

Exeter v Chichester

Three

10-Nov

Leicester v Pontefract

Chichester v Surrey

 

 

Coolhurst v Nottingham

Winchester v St George's

 

 

Birmingham v Duffield

Exeter v Bristol

Four

24-Nov

Duffield v Leicester

Bristol v Chichester

 

 

Nottingham v Birmingham

St George's v Exeter

 

 

Pontefract v Coolhurst

Surrey v Winchester

Five

08-Dec

Leicester v Nottingham

Chichester v St George's

 

 

Pontefract v Duffield

Surrey v Bristol

 

 

Birmingham v Coolhurst

Exeter v Winchester

Schedule

ROUND

DATE

GROUP A

GROUP B

Six

26-Jan

Coolhurst v Leicester

Winchester v Chichester

 

 

Nottingham v Duffield

St George's v Bristol

 

 

Birmingham v Pontefract

Exeter v Surrey

Seven

16-Feb

Duffield v Coolhurst

Bristol v Winchester

 

 

Pontefract v Nottingham

Surrey v St George's

 

 

Leicester v Birmingham

Chichester v Exeter

Eight

15-Mar

Pontefract v Leicester

Surrey v Chichester

 

 

Nottingham v Coolhurst

St George's v Winchester

 

 

Duffield v Birmingham

Bristol v Exeter

Nine

29-Mar

Leicester v Duffield

Chichester v Bristol

 

 

Birmingham v Nottingham

Exeter v St George's

 

 

Coolhurst v Pontefract

Winchester v Surrey

Ten

19-Apr

Nottingham v Leicester

St George's v Chichester

 

 

Duffield v Pontefract

Bristol v Surrey

 

 

Coolhurst v Birmingham

Winchester v Exeter


After all ten rounds are completed the top two teams in each Group will contest the
semi-finals on 10th May with the final on 17th May