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12th
April,
Semi-Finals first leg
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 GREAT
NIGHT…
A full house, nobody dared sneeze, well, not
enough space for that really, people cheering their champions, great
atmosphere, great games, great night. Passion, cheers, sweat, adrenalin…
In another words, another day of National League really… |
 "It
shows what members’ clubs are all about: a full crowd of true
supporters for the game of squash."
"Long may it continue…"
Peter Genever Senior |
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Peter Genever lost to James Willstrop
8-10, 4-9, 11-9, 7-9 |
PETER SO FOCUSED…
 Yes,
I know, Peter Genever lost the match, but still, he was playing
extremely well against young James Willstrop. Actually, the best
game I saw him play in a while.
In the first game, those two were so close, 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4, 6/6. James
puts two cross courts in the tin, and game ball for Peter. The crowd goes
mad. Two very long rallies. James equalises 8/8, plays an acrobatic drop
shot on one foot, 9/8, then hits as hard as he could, and plays a backhand
winner in the nick. 10/8. Peter was so close…
The second game lasts 12 minutes, long rallies, don’t trust the score of
9/4 for James, it lies… Peter runs a lot, fights hard, find ssome good
lengths, James is so “fluid”, his movement is so free, it’s a pleasure to
see.
The third so magic. James is way in front 6/3, but carried by the crowd,
retrieving some great attacks, Peter comes back and equalises at 7/7.
Galvanised, Peter is! Then 8/8. A perfect cross court nick for Peter. Game
ball. He puts it in the tin. 9/9. This time, it’s James that puts it in
the tin, another game ball for Peter, 10/9. One last exquisite backhand
drop shot, and Genever delights the crowd, 11/9.
In the last game, James is once again ahead 4/1 then 5/2, but today, Peter
doesn’t let go of anything, and claws back to 5/6, James is firing, Peter
is retrieving. The Chichester man will save a match ball after a titanic
rally, but won’t be able to save the second one.
James wins 3/1, but Peter has made his club, friends and supporters proud…
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 "I
felt in control. I wasn’t particularly good or sharp today, and I
was very happy to beat him in four, here, in front of his crowd. I
didn’t play too bad, but I didn’t move that well, I was very
tired, I have been training quite hard since my return from
Bermuda.
"I’m quite used to that sort of court, I seem to only play on that
kind of court recently! It’s so hard to get a dead court these
days!
"Playing Peter is always very hard, because although he doesn’t
have extraordinary shots, he keeps at it, and just keeps on
retrieving and sending everything back…"
James Willstrop |
 "I
played ok, I moved OK. It’s strange, I’ve hardly won for the team
this year, it’s like it’s harder for me to play here, because I
know everybody here, I’ve got so many friends, it puts me under a
lot of pressure.
"But it’s so much harder for a professional player just back from
a tournament abroad, and who probably wishes he was elsewhere than
all the way down here…
"I was not playing too bad, then I got a bit tired, a few thoughts
started to creep in. I’ve been playing squash for 21 years, you
would think that I could do what I want on a squash court…
"But no, overall, I thought I played OK…"
Peter Genever |
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 "I’m
pleased with the way I played, especially considering how tired I
was yesterday. I stopped and had a hit with Mike Harris, and I felt
good with a racquet, so I knew I was going to be ok.
"I succeeded to get in front of her from the start. If you give her
the front of the court, she can make you run like a nutter! She can
hold it very well, she can flick it, so you have to play a good
length on the court, and you’ll get the reward. And the only time
you can play short, is when she is way behind you…
"So far, I’ve always manage to beat her, but it’s getting harder and
harder with those youngsters! We’ve got so many good players coming
through at the moment, it’s encouraging for England, but it makes my
life much more difficult…"
Linda Elriani |
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 "I
was still on the motorway, I think… All my shots were half court
or over hit. I couldn’t control my squash at all, and if you give
loose shots to Linda, trust her to just put it away…
"I seem to lose focus sometimes, I’m going to be perfectly
concentrated for a couple of rallies, for a couple of games, and
then I lose it. And against top players, you can’t afford that.
"Linda played well tonight, and I felt I was still in the car…"
Jenny Duncalf |
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Linda
Elriani beat Jenny Duncalf
9-0, 9-6, 9-3 |
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 "This
part of the season is quite hard, there are a lot of tough games to
play. I’m certainly feeling a little bit tired at the moment. I had
just enough of my length to stay in front of him.
"I was pretty much in control. But in the second, although I was in
control in most of the rallies, he chased everything down and
managed to snatch a few winning points.
"Tim has a lot of experience, but he doesn’t train as much as he
used to anymore. When he was a pro full time, his best feature was
probably his fitness, so he's learnt to adapt his game, he is
playing more reverse angles, etc. He is playing a smarter squash,
and made it quite hard for me…"
Marcus Berrett |
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 "He
didn’t play a single tin, which I thought was very nasty of him…
"I thought I played quite well, considering that he plays two to
three matches at that pace per week, whereas I play two to three
matches like that per month… Also I haven’t played much squash for
the past five to six weeks, for different reasons. So, all that
considered, I thought I didn’t play too badly, but I didn’t seem
to trouble him much…"
Tim Garner |
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Tim Garner lost to Marcus Berrett
3-9, 7-9, 4-9 |
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Tim Vail beat Nick Taylor
9-5, 9-3, 5-9, 4-9, 9-7 |
TIM VAIL: GOOD WIN!
We had it all in this game. First, a very dominant Tim Vail,
exploiting a poor start of the Manchester Star Nick Taylor. Then
a return of energy, and a real dominance of Nick, imposing his rhythm,
slowing down the game, and forcing Tim to attack in bad positions,
increasing his unforced errors.
And then the fifth! Some great rallies, some long rallies, the game
lasted 15 minutes, a long time for a score to 9 PAR, a bit of drama with
the ref, but not too much, just enough to make it lively, the crowd
clapping, cheering, tapping their feet, a fantastic atmosphere, and at
last, at last, a first match ball for Tim, 8/6.
Nick saves it with a remarkable backhand deception drop shot. But still,
another match ball… and very kindly, Nick puts it in the tin!
A great match, Tim Vail in top nick form, Nick Taylor in a very good
spirit, thanks guys, good work…
 "A
few years back, I was playing against Steve Meads in Guilford, and I
had no chance to win. So I concentrated on playing a good length and
if there was any loose ball, I just went for it. And that’s what I
did today…
"Nick was a bit slow to start with, then in the third, I didn’t get
in front of him enough. Even when he came back to equalise at 2/2, I
still thought I could win, I always want to win when I play for the
team, I always give my heart for Chichester. The crowd was lovely,
they kept me going on adrenalin. At 8/6, I was so afraid, I was
shaking really, so I’m so glad he eventually put it in the tin! It
was really amazing to have a crowd like that supporting, carrying
me…"
Tim Vale |
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 "I
had a really bad start, I didn’t play well at all, but that’s not
taking anything away from Tim, who played really well. In the
third and the fourth, I got some structure back into it, and in
the fifth, it was nip and tuck all the way!
"At 7/8 match ball, when I put the ball into the tin, I just had
too much time on my hands. If I'd had less time, I would have
probably won the point.
But in fact, I just wanted to make the game interesting, and I
wanted to please the crowd….!!!!!"
Nick Taylor |
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Mohd Azlan Iskandar lost to Lee Beachill
2-9, 3-9, 2-9 |
LAST ONE…
As next door, Marcus had won his match against Tim Garner, there we
were, 2/2, everything depending on the last match. Lee Beachill,
the top man, for Manchester/Pontefract, and Azlan Iskander, the
up and coming youngster.
Could he…?
On paper, yes, probably, he could have threatened Mr Precision Lee
Beachill. With the crowd behind him, the result at stake, the adrenalin
flowing throughout the court, throughout the crowd… But not today. Too
tired, Azlan was. Against somebody of that quality, one must be at one's
top, mentally and physically.
Azlan was neither.
He tried hard, but just didn’t have any answers to the perfect length of
the Yorkshireman's backhand drives in particular. Unbeatable…
So in 3 short games, 5, 7 and 5 minutes, Lee Beachill was giving a
logical victory to his team…
 "I’m
so tired, I’m so tired after Bermuda, after the season… Not to
mention he was pretty darn good! He didn’t give me anything.
"Everybody goes through phases where you are not hungry enough, and
right now, I think I need a break. But I feel so bad, I’ve got the
feeling I disappointed the club. But it was a match too far.
"After my match against Peter in Bermuda, it’s like I let my
shoulders down. I have pushed so hard through the whole season, and
I look forward to the next one… But right now, I just need to rest a
bit…"
Azlan Iskandar |
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"I played well, I played the ball
well, and then, the pressure I applied on Azlan started to take its
toll physically. Somehow I’ve got the feeling that he never really
got into the match, neither physically or mentally.
"And that kind of match was exactly what I needed after Bermuda…"
Lee Beachill |
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 "It
was fantastic squash. It’s the first time we sold out, we could have
sold twice as many seats! There was a great atmosphere, and I think
it was really good on the court for the players…
"Peter played perfectly, his best game of the season, Tim Vail
played even more nicks than usual… And Lee was awesome! To play a
top 20 player like Azlan, and be that confident, and make him looked
that “ragged” takes enormous talent!
"Like I told you last time you came here, we do it because of the
pleasure to be associated with the players. It’s all worth it, and
that’s why we will all be back for more…"
Peter Crabtree |
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Team Chichester 2-3 Manchester/Pontefract
Mohd Azlan Iskandar
lost to Lee Beachill 2-9, 3-9, 2-9
Peter Genever lost
to James Willstrop
8-10, 4-9, 11-9, 7-9
Tim Garner lost to
Marcus Berrett
3-9, 7-9, 4-9
Tim Vail beat Nick
Taylor
9-5, 9-3, 5-9, 4-9, 9-7
Linda Elriani beat
Jenny Duncalf
9-0, 9-6, 9-3
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