08-Jan 2010
North West Counties League hots up Yawar Abbas reports
The division one title in the biggest squash league in the
world (which includes nearly 350 teams, primarily
from Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside playing in 28
leagues!) is too close to call at the half way point, with
six clubs still in with a shout of claiming the North West
Counties title.
The current leaders are New Brighton, who've crept up
the league thanks to fielding a consistently strong team.
The ever present trio of new Wolverhampton Pro, Darren Lewis
and local brothers Mark and Ian Tomason have all contributed
with the Merseyside siblings having lost only 3 and 4
matches respectively.
Last
season's runners up Grove Park lie in second place
and are lead by rising Hull star, Lawrence Delasaux, who has
leapt up to 79 in the world after only two months on the PSA
Tour and his recent five set victory over Chris Simpson,
secured the match for the Cheadle Hulme club over newcomers
Lancashire Health and Rackets Club.
Although Delasaux's availability will be crucial, the
strength lower down the order has been the key for Grove
Park, with Ky Hibberd and Liam Foster having only twice each
all season.
Dark
horses for the title would probably be Manchester
Northern. New club pro Andy Whipp heads the team and has
a 100 % record from his eight appearances, but due to his
commitments to National League club Duffield, he will
probably miss matches again second half.
To address this, Whipp has recruited Austrian number 1,
Aqeel Rehman and Canadian Andrew McDougall, to bolster what
is already a strong squad.
Newly
promoted Lancashire Health and Rackets Club have both
Australia's world number 16, Stewart Boswell and world
number 47, Chris Simpson signed up, together with regular
Pete Billson. Although the Aussie has turned out only once
so far, the team is capable of beating anyone on their day
and have the talented local youngster Matt Sideway lower
down the order providing consistent performances having won
10 of his 12 matches played.
Fellow
newcomers Heswall led the league for much of the
first half having won 7 of their first 8 matches. Jaymie
Haycocks and Chris Truswell have turned out regularly at the
top end and lower down Mike Beacham and Mike Potter have
been strong at four and five.
National Centre based City of Manchester have fielded, Irish
Champion, John Rooney, Shaun Le Roux and Lewis Walters in
the same team, but suffer when the touring pros are away or
on National League match nights. However, they are not out
of touch and like Lancashire H & R can beat any team on the
night.
One
team that caught the eye was East Lancs', fielding of
Alison Waters, Laura Massaro and Tania Bailey all on one
night, although the appearance of these three internationals
could not help the team avoid defeat against struggling
Crewe Vagrants.
Along with Crewe, Chester look in trouble and will
need to get South African number one Steve Coppinger playing
regularly to preserve their league one status
With other professionals like Dave Barnett, Eddie Charlton,
Alan Clyne, Stewart Crawford, Aaron Frankcomb, Mark Fuller,
Chris Hall, Joel Hinds, Tom Pashley, Chris Ryder, Steve
Siveter and Alex Stait all qualified, there is everything to
play for in what should be an intriguing second half to the
season.
Table after 13 Matches
1 New Brighton
200
2 Grove Park
197
3 The Northern
188
4 Lancs Health & Racquets 175
5 City of Manchester
171
6 Heswall
171
Last
season's runners up Grove Park lie in second place
and are lead by rising Hull star, Lawrence Delasaux, who has
leapt up to 79 in the world after only two months on the PSA
Tour and his recent five set victory over Chris Simpson,
secured the match for the Cheadle Hulme club over newcomers
Lancashire Health and Rackets Club. 
Dark
horses for the title would probably be Manchester
Northern. New club pro Andy Whipp heads the team and has
a 100 % record from his eight appearances, but due to his
commitments to National League club Duffield, he will
probably miss matches again second half. 
Newly
promoted Lancashire Health and Rackets Club have both
Australia's world number 16, Stewart Boswell and world
number 47, Chris Simpson signed up, together with regular
Pete Billson. Although the Aussie has turned out only once
so far, the team is capable of beating anyone on their day
and have the talented local youngster Matt Sideway lower
down the order providing consistent performances having won
10 of his 12 matches played.
Fellow
newcomers Heswall led the league for much of the
first half having won 7 of their first 8 matches. Jaymie
Haycocks and Chris Truswell have turned out regularly at the
top end and lower down Mike Beacham and Mike Potter have
been strong at four and five. 
One
team that caught the eye was East Lancs', fielding of
Alison Waters, Laura Massaro and Tania Bailey all on one
night, although the appearance of these three internationals
could not help the team avoid defeat against struggling
Crewe Vagrants. 
