|
|
BUCS Premier League Squash 2009
Stage 2 – National Ranking Play Offs Finals, 28-29 Nov |
Birmingham girls back on top………
Hannah Carey reports
After losing the title last year to Leeds Met, Birmingham
knew they had their work cut out to regain the top seed for
the knockouts.
The first Women’s match on Saturday was Cambridge vs
Birmingham. Birmingham looked on form once more with Lotte
Eriksen, Jenny Tamblyn, Hannah Carey, and Nichola Howell all
dispatching their opponents in straight games to take the
first 4-0.
Leeds Met’s first match against Leeds was a much closer
contest, as although 3 out of the 4 matches went in Leeds
Met’s favour, it could have been a very different story.
Only Vanessa Atkinson’s (the ex world number 1) secured an
easy 3-0 win against Sarah Hudspeth, as the rest of the
matches all went the distance to 5 games!
The Saturday afternoon matches took a similar path, with
Birmingham University again managing to beat their
opponents, this time Leeds, without dropping a single game.
Leeds Met also managed to win their second match of the
weekend against Cambridge, however their score sheet looked
very different to Birmingham’s as the match had to be
decided on points count back. After a few anxious moments
and a checking and double checking of the scores it turned
out that Leeds Met clinched the victory from Cambridge’s
grasp by 1 point with a final score line of: 2-2 in matches,
6-6 in games and 100-99 in points!
Unfortunately Leeds weren’t able to put out a team for their
final match against Cambridge on the Sunday, meaning
Cambridge finished 3rd and Leeds 4th overall. This just left
the top spot to be decided, and with Birmingham looking to
regain the title from Leeds Met this year it looked to be an
exciting set of matches. The first match was Lotte Eriksen
(Birmingham’s and Norway’s no.1) vs Vanessa Atkinson (Leeds
Met’s and ex world no.1). Although Eriksen fought hard the
experienced Atkinson proved too strong and clinched it 3-0.
This was to be Birmingham’s only defeat however as Jenny
Tamblyn, Hannah Carey and Nichola Howell all managed to seal
the victory winning their games 3-0, and making the final
score 3-1 to Birmingham!
So, I’m really pleased to say that the Birmingham girls are
back on top after securing the top place in the Women’s
Premier League this weekend. This win also gives Birmingham
the advantage of the No.1 seed in the Knockout Competition
later in the year and means that Leeds Metropolitan who can
strengthen their line up with the introduction of European
Champions Cup winner Kirsty McPhee will have to settle for
the No.2 spot……………BOOOM!
|
|
Sunday Morning Results
Men’s Group A - Play off Positions 1 – 4
University of Birmingham
University of Manchester
Imperial College – London
University of Nottingham
University of Birmingham v University of Manchester
Simon Culver v Chris Tasker Grindley (0/3) – 8/11, 10/12,
3/11
Lee James v Morgan Hibberd (0/3) – 10/12, 8/11, 7/11
Nick Hornby v Ky Hibberd (0/3) – 2/11, 11/13, 5/11
Henry Birch v Conor O’Hare (1/3) – 11/6, 7/11, 3/11, 9/11
Luke Power v Gordon Harpur (1/3) – 10/12, 10/12, 11/4, 8/11
University of Manchester won match 5-0
University of Nottingham v Imperial College London
Andrew Widdison v James Simpson (3/1) – 11/9, 11/6, 8/11,
11/9
Oliver Wildig v Ahmed El-Refee (0/3) – 7/11, 3/11, 2/11
Jon Underhill v Harry Beeston (3/0) – 11/6, 11/7, 11/7
Adam Oakley v Lionel Ong (3/1) – 12/14, 11/9, 11/8, 11/6
Jon Maloney v No player (3/0) – w/o
University of Nottingham won match 4-1
Men’s Group B - Men’s Play off Positions 5 – 8
Loughborough University
Edinburgh University
University of Bristol
Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University v Loughborough University
Chris Rosling v Richard Underhill (3/1) – 14/12, 7/11, 11/7.
12/10
John Slater v Neil Waller (1/3) – 6/11, 11/8, 3/11, 7/11
Yannick Treming v Tristan Eyselle (1/3) – 12/10, 6/11, 8/11,
6/11
Ben Molyneux v Sam Carr (3/2) – 6/11, 11/9, 16/14, 7/11,
11/6
James Barlow v Oliver Noye (3/1) – 11/6, 11/2, 5/11, 11/5
Leeds Metropolitan won match 3-2
University of Bristol v Edinburgh University
Chris Quincey v Iain Tennant - (0/3) 4/11, 7/11, 5/11
Rhys Thomas v Rik Keating - (3/1) 11/5, 11/5, 9/11, 11/3
Nikhil Shah v Nigel Anthony - (2/3) 5/11, 11/4, 9/11, 11/8,
10/12
Jonny Courteaux v Michael Grinton - (3/0) 11/2, 12/10, 11/4
Peter Tsang v Dan Ward - (1/3) 10/12, 7/11, 13/11, 11/13
Edinburgh University won match 3-2
Men’s Premier League - Final Placing
1. University of Manchester
2. University of Nottingham
3. Imperial College London
4. University of Birmingham
5. Leeds Metropolitan University
6. Loughborough University
7. Edinburgh University (Relegated)
8. University of Bristol (Relegated)
Ladies Group A - Play off Positions 1 – 4
Cambridge University
University of Birmingham
University of Leeds
Leeds Metropolitan University
University of Birmingham v Leeds Metropolitan University
Lotte Eriksen v Vanessa Atkinson - (0/3) 6/11, 5/11, 4/11
Jenny Tambyln v Rachel Crowe - (3/0) 2/11, 5/11, 5/11
Hannah Carey v Leigh-Anne Murray - (3/0) 5/11, 8/11, 9/11
Nichola Howell v Shanna Ward - (3/0) 5/11, 5/11, 6/11
University of Birmingham won match 3-1
Cambridge University v University of Leeds
Match not played. Cambridge win 4-0 courtesy of a w/o.
Ladies Group B – Play off positions 5-8
Oxford University
Aberdeen University
University of Bristol
University of Bath
Oxford University v University of Bristol
Aly Hollington v Olivia Howell – (0/3) 6/11, 6/11, 5/11
Sarah Blakey v Sahar Abdul Rahim – (1/3) 11/9, 4/11, 4/11,
8/11
Emily O’Brian v Emma Custance-Baker – (1/3) 11/5, 5/11,
3/11, 10/12
Rachel Duffy v Morgan Richards – (0/3) 2/11, 0/11, 0/11
University of Bristol won match 4-0
Aberdeen University v University of Bath
Christine Duncan v Rosie Hamilton - (1/3) 11/8, 3/11,
4/11, 5/11
Jill Easton v Simone Clarke - (3/1) 11/6, 13/11, 8/11, 11/6
Eilioh Bowen v No Player - (3/0) w/o
Cheryl Ennis v No Player - (3/0) w/o
Aberdeen University won match 3-1
Ladies Premier League - Final Placing
1. University of Birmingham
2. Leeds Metropolitan University
3. Cambridge University
4. University of Leeds
5. University of Bristol
6. Oxford University
7. Aberdeen University (Relegated)
8. University of Bath (Relegated)Saturday
Afternoon Matches:
Men’s Group A - Play off Positions 1 – 4
University of Birmingham
University of Manchester
Imperial College – London
University of Nottingham
University of Birmingham v Imperial College London
Simon Culver v Peter Marshall – (0/3) 6/11, 4/11, 6/11
Lee James v James Simpson – (2/3) 11/9, 11/3, 8/11, 7/11,
6/11
Nick Hornby v Ahmed El-Refee - (1/3) 5/11, 11/13, 11/5,
10/12
Olly Dixon v Harry Beeston - (2/3) 12/10, 13/15, 9/11, 11/9,
2/11
Richard Shellam v Lionel One - (3/0) 11/8, 11/1, 11/4
Imperial College London won match 4-1
University of Manchester v Nottingham
Chris Tasker Grindley v Andrew Widdison – (1/3) 12/10, 6/11,
8/11, 7/11
Morgan Hibbard v Jonny Underhill – (3-2) 11/6, 7/11, 11/5,
12,14, 11/7
Ky Hibbard v Adam Oakley – (3-0) 11/4, 11/9, 11,5
Conor O’Hare v Jonny Maloney – (3-0) 11/5, 11/8, 11/5
Gordon Harpur v Sahaj Gulhati – (3-0) 11/8, 11/1, 11/2
University of Manchester won the match 4-1
Men’s Group B - Men’s Play off Positions 5 – 8
Loughborough University
Edinburgh University
University of Bristol
Leeds Metropolitan University
Edinburgh University v Leeds Metropolitan University
Ian Tennant v Chris Rusling – (3-2) 11/5, 11/4, 8/11,
7/11, 12/10
Rik Keating v John Slater – (0-3) 5/11, 5/11, 6/11
Nigel Anthony v Yannik Tremain – (1-3) 3/11, 6/11, 11/7,
11/13
Michael Grinton v Ben Molyneux – (0-3) 8/11, 3/11, 4/11
Dan Ward v James Barlow – (2-3) 7/11, 12/10, 14/12, 10/12,
8/11
Leeds Metropolitan University won the match 4 -1
University of Bristol v Loughborough University
Chris Quincey v Richard Underhill - (1-3) 6/11, 11/5,
9/11, 3/11
Rhys Thomas v Neil Waller - (1-3) 9/11, 11/4, 7/11, 4/11
Nikhil Shah v Tristen Eysele - (2-3) 11/6, 11/6, 4/11, 5/11,
12/14
Jonny Courteaux v Sam Carr - (2-3) 13/11, 5/11, 2/11, 11/7,
5/11
Peter Tsang v Alex Byrd - (1-3) 10/12, 9/11, 11/5, 5/11
Loughborough won the match 5-0
Ladies Group A - Play off Positions 1 – 4
Cambridge University
University of Birmingham
University of Leeds
Leeds Metropolitan University
University of Birmingham v Leeds University
Lotte Eriksen v Sarah Hudspeth (3/0) – 11/1, 11/7, 11/3
Jenny Tamblyn v Sophie Cassidy (3/0) – 11/7, 11/4, 11/1
Hannah Carey v Rachel Buckingham (3/0) – 11/5, 11/1, 11/5
Nichola Howell v Phyllis Mok (3/0) – 11/1, 11/2, 11/7
University of Birmingham won the match 4-0
Leeds Metropolitan University v Cambridge
Vanessa Atkinson v Ann Babtie (3/0) – 11/6, 11/7, 11/1
Rachel Crowe v Alexawora Bryant (3/0) – 11/8, 11/7, 11/4
Leigh-Anne Murray v Rebecca Palmer (0/3) – 6/11, 8/11, 3/11
Shanna Ward v Yvonne Ane (0/3) – 4/11, 10/12, 4/11
Match tied at 2 matches all. Games tied at 6 Games all.
Leeds Metropolitan won the match on points count back 101 -
99
Ladies Group B – Play off positions 5-8
Oxford University
Aberdeen University
University of Bristol
University of Bath
Aberdeen University v University of Bristol
Christine Duncan v Olivia Howell (0/3) – 2/11, 2/11, 2/11
Jill Easton v Sahar Abdul Rahun (0/3) – 5/11, 1/11, 2/11
Eilioh Bowen v Emma Custance-Baler (0/3) – 2/11, 9/11, 6/11
Cheryl Ewnis v Vicki Welburn (0/3) – 6/11, 5/11, 9/11
Match won by Bristol 4-0
University of Bath v Oxford University
Rosie Hamilton v Aly Hollington (3/0) – 11/5, 11/4, 12/10
Simone Clarke v Sarah Blakey (0/3) – 6/11, 4/11, 6/11
No player v Emily O’Brian (3/0) – w/o
No player v No player No result
Oxford University won by 2 ties to 1
|
|
| |
All
to play for in Birmingham
Jon Tate reports
This weekend the top Universities in the Great Britain are
competing to see who will become the British Universities
College Sport (BUCS) League champions, and who will
ultimately be relegated from the Premier League.
Eight teams are competing in total, and an earlier round of
inter-county style matches in early November have helped to
decide which teams have gone forward to compete for the top
4 places from the Northern & Southern Premier League, and
which teams would be left fighting it out to avoid
relegation.
As usual there will be an excellent standard of squash on
show, and some hard fought matches anticipated with
experienced players such as Men’s ex-World number 2 Peter
Marshall (Imperial College) and Women's ex-World number 1
Vanessa Atkinson (Leeds Metropolitan) competing at the
event.
Group A -
Men’s Play off Positions 1 – 4
University of Birmingham
University of Manchester
Imperial College – London
University of Nottingham
Saturday morning matches
Birmingham 3-2 Nottingham
Simon Culver v Andrew Widdison (2/3) – 6/11, 5/11, 7/11
Lee James v Oliver Wildig (1/3) – 11/5, 4/11, 9/11, 7/11
Nick Hornby v Jon Underhill (3/1) – 11/9, 9/11, 11/5, 13/11
Olly Dixon v Adam Oakley (3/1) – 11/9, 5/11, 11/5, 11/7
Henry Birch v Jon Maloney (3/1) – 7/11, 11/6, 11/5, 11/4
Manchester 2-3 Imperial
Chris Tasker-Grindley v Peter Marshall (0/3) – 9/11, 6/11,
9,11
Morgan Hibbard v James Simpson (1/3) – 12/10, 9/11, 4/11,
1/11
Ky Hibberd v Ahmed El-Rtfee (3/0) – 5/9, 9/11, 5/11
Conor O’Hare v Harry Beeston (3/1) – 11/9, 11/5, 7/11, 11/4.
Gordon Harpor v Lionell Ong (1/3) – 9/11, 6/11, 11/8, 4/11
Group B - Men’s Play off Positions 5 – 8
Loughborough University
Edinburgh University
University of Bristol
Leeds Metropolitan University
Saturday Morning Matches
Leeds Metropolitan University 4-1 Bristol
Chris Rosling v Chris Quincy (3-0) – 11/1, 11/9. 11/8
John Slater v Rhys Thomas (3-2) – 11/5, 4/11, 11/4, 1/11,
11/7
Yannick Treming v Nikhil Shah (3-0) – 11/6, 11-8, 11-8
Ben Molyneux v Jonny Cortaux (1-3) – 6/11, 0/11, 11/8, 3/11
James Barlow v Peter Tsang (3-1) – 10/12, 13/11, 11/9, 11/7
Edinburgh University 1-4 Loughborough University
Iain Tennant v Richard Underhill (1-3) 12/10, 7/11, 9/11,
9/11
Rik Keating v Neil Waller (0-3) 3/11, 7/11, 9/11
Nigel Anthony v Tristan Eysele (1-3) 11/8, 5/11, 9/11, 13/15
Michael Grinton v Sam Carr (0-3) 7/11 8/11 3/11
Dan Ward v Alex Byrd (3-1) 11/7, 7/11, 16/14, 12/10
Birmingham off to a good start, but
...
Henry Birch reports
Birmingham v Nottingham
Birmingham's first match of the day was against Nottingham
in what looked like would be a close encounter. Henry Birch
got the team off to a good start by beating Jon Maloney as
despite initially loosing the first game 11/7, Birch came
back to win the next three games comfortably as Maloney
struggled to keep up with the pace as Birch worked his
opponent all around the court. In the end Maloney's fitness
seemed to cost him with Birch taking the 4th game 11/4.
Oliver Dixon successfully saw off Adam Oakley to win 3-1
despite carrying an injury and put in a strong performance.
Both Simon Culver and Lee James lost their first games 3-0
and 3-1 respectively.
The key match up proved to be between Nick Hornby and Jon
Underhill. By far the most thrilling of the matches
Underhill proved a force to be reckoned with. Hornby
narrowly took the first game 11/9 but Underhill responded by
taking the second 11/9. At this point the match was poised
for a five setter.
But Hornby upped the pace and managed to break Underhill in
the third. The forth was crucial for both players and the
rallies were long and tough with both players trying to ware
the other down. However Hornby turned out to be the better
man on the day and took the 4th by winning 13/11 in a tight
final game.
This win clinched the win for Birmingham, and after the
match Hornby said 'this is possibly the best result of my
squash career. The lads normally call me HMS Hornby and
Captain Slow due to my lack of speed, however today I was
like a greyhound straight out of the gates, I chased
everything down and kept digging in every rally.
I am absolutely over the moon with this result... terrific!'
Underhill on the other hand commented 'I'm really
disappointed with my match today, and perhaps its about time
that I went away and learned to hit some shots as I'm
certainly not as fit as I used to be...in between games one
of the lads said to me that the nick is where the side wall
wall meets the floor and although I know that I still missed
it!! I think it feels worse because the match came down to
our game and I felt I could have won.
Afternoon match v Imperial College.
The University of Birmingham had not lost a BUCS fixture in
three years before today, and despite regular number 1
Alistair Mutch being unavailable all weekend the team were
still hopeful that they would be able to keep this run
going. That said the team knew that it was never going to be
easy as they were up against a strong Imperial College team
that included the ex world number 2 Peter Marshall.
The team got off to a good start when usual Men's 2nd team
player Richard Shellam won at number 5 on his 1st team
debut, however unfortunately this was as good as it got for
Birmingham as they lost all of the other key matches. Olly
Dixon and Lee James both lost 3-2 to Harry Beeston and James
Simpson, whilst Nick Hornby ran out of legs in a tightly
fought 3-1 defeat to Ahmed El-Refee. Simon Culver was
industrious as ever in his match against Peter Marshall but
ultimately it was to no avail and he lost 3-0.
Club Captain Henry Birch commented that although we are
obviously gutted to have given up our unbeaten run we knew
this weekend was going to be a tough one and all of the boys
played well and tried as hard as they could.
It won't be any easier tomorrow as we will also be losing
Olly Dixon to an injury picked up today and were already
without Ali Mutch however we will give it our best shot
against Manchester, and if nothing else we'll go down
fighting!
Women’s
Matches
Group A – Women’s Play off positions 1-4
Cambridge University
University of Birmingham
University of Leeds
Leeds Metropolitan University
Cambridge University 0-4 University of Birmingham
Ann Babtie v Lotte Eriksen (0-3) 6/11, 5/11, 6/11
Alexandra Bryant v Jenny Tamblyn (0-3) 3/11, 8/11, 6/11
Rebecca Palmer v Hannah Carey (0-3) 9/11, 5/11, 5/11
Katie Mason v Nichola Howell (0-3 6/11, 5/11, 6/11
Leeds University 1-3 Leeds Metropolitan University
Sarah Hudspeth v Vanessa Atkinson (0-3) 4/11, 4/11, 2/11
Sophie Cassidy v Rachel Crowe (3-2) 11/7, 8/11, 11/6, 8/11,
11/9
Rachel Buckingham v Leigh-Anne Murray (2-3) 11/3, 9/11,
3/11, 11/5, 3/11
Phyllis Mok v Shanna Ward (2-3) 4/11, 6/11, 15/13, 11/5,
14/16
Group B – Women’s play off positions 5-8
Oxford University
Aberdeen University
Bristol University
Bath University
Oxford University 3-1 Aberdeen University
Aly Hollington v Christine Duncan (3-0) 11/1, 11/3, 11/6
Sarah Blakey v Jill Easton (3-1) 11/6, 6/11, 11/3, 11/3
Emily O’ Brien v Eilioh Bowen (3-0) 11/4, 11/7, 11/4
NO PLAYER v Cheryl Ennis (0-3) W/O
Bristol University 4-0 University of Bath
Olivia Howell v Rosie Hamilton (3-0) 11/6, 11/9, 11/7
Sahar Abdul Rahim v Simone Clarke (3-0) 11/1, 11/5, 11/4
Emma Custance-Baker v NO PLAYER (3-0) W/O
Vicki Welburn v NO PLAYER (3-0) W/O |
 |
| |
|
