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 SURPRISE
WIN FOR WOLVERHAMPTON
“We would like very much to get to the
semi-finals, and as we are at the moment third, it’s a very attainable
goal, I would say. So, let’s hope we do well tonight.”
That's what Wolverhampton manager Steve Russell said to me before
the match tonight. And you know what? They did…
Framboise |
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Nottingham 1
Wolverhampton 4 |
EN BREF
All you didn't know you needed to know about the National Squash League
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CAIRNS: A BIT OF A SURPRISE
David Evans lost to Mark Cairns
9/5, 6/9, 9/11, 7/9 (59m)
“Who do you think is going to win that one”, Scott Handley asked me at the
beginning of the encounter between two “retired” champions, David Evans
(for Notts), and Mark Cairns (for Wolves).
“Well, I think David Evans”, I said. “3/0 for Mark” retorted Scott.
Well, he was not far off, was he?
 It
was a long match, 59 minutes to be exact, and it started very well for
Evans, who just outplayed his opponent, leading 7/0 before taking the
first game 9/5 in ten minutes.
Then, it all went wrong. Mark starting pushing him to the back of the
court, putting David under pressure, and forcing him to make many many
tins. At 6/7, everything was still possible for Evans, but a forehand drop
shot and a superb backhand volley drop shot cross court gave Mark the
opportunity of levelling the games, 9/6 in 15 long minutes.
The third was decisive. It was the longest, 16 minutes, and could have
gone either way, as the two players were at 9/9. But through the whole
game, it was Mark that was attacking, and David that was retrieving. I was
expecting the reverse, I must say… Once again, a beautiful backhand drop
shot and a tin from Evans gave Mark a strong hold on the match, 11/9.
The fourth was still long, 10 minutes. But Evans' attacks (in particular
his backhand front court boast) didn’t seem to bother the Englishman, who
took the game 9/4, and the match, much to the delight of the Wolverhampton
supporters, and the disappointment of the home crowd…
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 “It’s
a nice change to win a match, although I don’t come to a match with
the idea of winning. All I want is to play decent squash, and if you
play well, there is a good chance that you’ll win anyway!
“Why do I keep on playing squash? I have absolutely no idea! And
actually, I was thinking about it as I was driving over here. I know
that I need something to keep me fit and get rid of the adrenalin. I
guess it must be for the love of the game…
“I know I still train like I did years ago, I still run, I still
work as hard as when I was a professional. And when it comes to
matches, as long as it’s competition, I’m happy. If it’s not
competition, I’m not even remotely interested...”
Mark Cairns |
 “I
have not played my best today, I was a bit tired, but most of all,
I’ve got a sore knee. I wasn’t supposed to play today, but as we had
a player that dropped out, I had to support the team.
“I was a bit slow, as I was trying to play only on one leg, to
relieve the other one. And that’s probably why I got tired rather
quickly. But Mark played some pretty good lengths, and put me under
a lot of pressure.”
Mark Cairns |
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JOHN IN GOOD
SHAPE
John White beat Alex Gough
9/6, 11/9, 4/9, 9/1 (42m)
 It
hasn’t been a good season for the Scott/Australian. From his top man of
the game position in March '04 to his 12th ranking this month, the drop
was severe. But new year, new resolutions (read all about it tomorrow)…
As usual, when an attacker plays a retriever, spectators have a good show
to watch, and this match between John White and Alex Gough was no
different…
The first game was played at a very high pace, and after leading 4/0,
White hit hard and precisely, and even if Gough was sticking to every ball
as only he knows how, counterattacking the lethal attacks, it’s the tall
man who seizes the first one, 9/6 in 10 minutes.
The second was quite “heated”, both players playing at their best, long
and disputed rallies, with John coming out on top most of the time, until
Alex decided to test John’s patience (not his best feature) by slowing
down the pace.
It nearly worked, as the players found themselves at 8/8, 9/9. Once again,
White prevails, this time in 16 minutes 11/9.
So many tins for White in the fourth, that Gough could only say “thank
you” and took the game easily 9/4. But it was the last points the Welshman
would placed, or nearly, as White squashes his opponent 9/1 to take the
only point of Nottingham… |
Duncan Walsh lost to
Joey Barrington
3/9, 4/9, 5/9 (30m) |
Pam Nimmo lost to Dominique. Lloyd-Walter
5/9,4/9, 3/9(35m)
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SCOTT ON
FIRE
Simon Parke lost to Scott Handley
7/9, 3/9, 2/9 (27m)
 What
to say about this one. A not in shape Sir Simon Parke against a full
confidence Scott Handley. Not a good combination for Nottingham favourite
son, who lost a very quick match in 27 minutes. And if the 1st game was
rather long (13 minutes, I missed it, as I was interviewed White), 9/7,
the rest was just a walk in the park (no play on words, please, too easy),
9/3, 9/2.
I must say I’m impressed by Scott’s form at the moment. I’m glad for him,
as he is a very good professional, who has proven times and times again
that he deserves a shot at the top…
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 “Scott
played very well and also, I’m just not fit at the moment, as I had
a bug on Boxing Day. I spent most of the holidays bedridden.
“I have only been training for the past week. But I’m not taking
anything away from Scott, who played very well, in particular low
hard cross courts, and you are not fit, it’s very hard to play
against somebody who plays that way…”
Simon
Parke |
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Nottingham 1 - 4 Wolverhampton (4-18)
John White beat Alex Gough
9/6, 11/9, 4/9, 9/1 (42m)
Simon Parke lost to Scott Handley
7/9, 3/9, 2/9 (27m)
David Evans lost to Mark Cairns
9/5, 6/9, 9/11, 7/9 (59m)
Duncan Walsh lost to Joey Barrington
3/9, 4/9, 5/9 (30m)
Pam Nimmo lost to Dominique Lloyd-Walter
5/9,4/9, 3/9(35m) |
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EN BREF
... from Nottingham
All you didn't know you needed to know about the National Squash League |
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