Yorkshire end a long wait
Nottingham Squash Club hosted the Harris Inter County Finals, with
Essex women hoping to retain their title and the Men’s up for grabs
as holders Sussex had not qualified.
Essex and Lancashire contested the first Women’s semi final.
Despite former England International Rebecca Macree rolling back the
years in a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Becky Botwright,
Lancashire proved too strong in depth and knocked the holders out 4
matches to 1.
The second semi was a disappointment as Sussex had only
travelled with 3 players, so opponents Yorkshire easily
reached the final 5-0.
Lauren Siddall led a young Yorkshire team to win the war of the
roses final 4-1, proving just too strong for an experienced
Lancashire side. Yorkshire’s first win in these finals since 1998.
Surrey make amends
Two new teams to recent finals, Shropshire and Hertfordshire,
were drawn together in the first Men’s semi. A close fought match
was effectively decided by Jamie Haycocks at first string for
Shropshire beating Adrian Waller 9-7 in the fifth. Surrey
also had a close fought match with Yorkshire, going through
to the final 4-1, but it could have been a different story had Jamie
Matthews at three not pulled through in 5 games against Yorkshire’s
spirited Chris Rusling.
Both teams strengthened on Sunday making huge efforts to get the
strongest possible team out. A jet lagged Jonathan Kemp (Shrops)
literally stepped off a plane and on to court. Tom Richards, Joe Lee
and Phil Nightingale, knocked out of the Canary Wharf event the
previous evening, drove up in the morning for Surrey.
Last season a dejected Neil Desai blamed himself for Surrey’s loss
in the final, when he lost 9/10 in the fifth to Olly Pett of Sussex.
This time around Neil was all smiles as he set the ball rolling for
a Surrey whitewash over Shropshire.
Surrey has now won 5 of the last 6 titles.
Final Positions
Men
Women
Surrey
Yorkshire
Shropshire
Lancashire
Hertfordshire Essex
Yorkshire
Sussex |
Women's Results
Men's Results
Women's O50 |
