National League FINAL 2005

Manchester/Pontefract 2-3 Wolverhampton
 
Lee Beachill lost to Anthony Ricketts
    1/9, 3/9, 1/9 (26m)
James Willstrop bt Alex Gough  
    9/3, 9/7, 9/6 (33m)
Marcus Berrett lost to Scott Handley  
    8/10, 9/5, 11/13, 12/10, 5/9 (61m)
Nick Taylor bt Mark Cairns
    3/9, 10/8, 5/9, 9/7, 9/4 (68m)
Jenny Duncalf lost to Shelley Kitchen
     8/10, 2/9, 8/10 (50m)

Wolves are the Champions

In just their fourth season in the National League, Wolverhampton claimed the title in a thrilling climax in Nottingham.

Shelley Kitchen put Wolves one up, but Nick Taylor dug deep to level the tie before James Willstrop put in a quickfire win to put Manchester/Pontefract into the lead.

As Marcus Berrett and Scott Handley battled it out on the 'outside' court Anthony Ricketts powered past Lee Beachill.

The two matches finished virtually simultaneously, with Handley and Ricketts not realising the team had won until they met in the corridor.

Delighted Wolves manager Stephen Russell collected the trophy to a standing ovation from the legion of Wolves fans.

The toast of
Wolverhampton
 Brian Hargrave
 
Final Roundup
Howard Harding
 
What a night,
What a season
Stephen Russell
One up for Wolves
Malcolm Willstrop reports ...

Shelley Kitchen gave Wolverhampton a 1-0 lead when she beat Jenny Duncalf 3-0, having always looked in marginal control against her younger, but higher ranked opponent.

Kitchen led for most of the first game, but Duncalf levelled at 8-8 before the New Zealander clinched it. More anxious, Duncalf lost rhythm in the second as Kitchen found the back of the court tellingly to lead 2-0.

However it was Duncalf who led 5-1 and 8-4 in the third, looking to have the physical advantage, which might have brought her back into the match. But undisciplined squash allowed the persistent Kitchen to fight back and take the game and match 10-8 for a deserved win.
 
"I got a good start in the third, and Shelley was beginning to look a bit tired.

"But I went for two stupid shots at 8-4 which let her back into it. Then she played some good shots to get level.

"Shelley played well, but you really shouldn't be losing these games from 8-4 up ..."

Jenny Duncalf
"Jenny and I always have good games, so it's great to pull it off for the team.

"After being 2-0 up I knew I wanted a good start in the third, but it didn't happen, so I just had to hang in there. I found my length, and Jenny made some mistakes, so I was pleased to win that third.

"It's a different sort of pressure from WISPA matches, but Stephen's a great manager, he encourages us without putting any pressure on us."

Shelley Kitchen

"It was one of those tough three nils. I played some good shots in the first two games, but Alex got better length and width and stopped me playing my shots.

"He's a good player who can cause you a lot of problems, so you have to focus for these matches.

"I knew I had to win, with the state of the match as it was ..."

James Willstrop

"I was really pleased to win, but I came off not knowing whether we'd won the match.

"I heard cheering from the other court, and as I went across there I saw Scott's face coming off court and I knew we'd won!"
Anthony Ricketts

Willstrop puts
Man/Pont ahead
Malcolm Willstrop reports ...

 James Willstrop began his match with evergreen Alex Gough as if he had a train to catch, slotting nicks from all over the place and not missing.

Having won the first easily he found the second more difficult as Gough contained him better with some controlled basic play. But Willstrop continued to finish decisively and won the second well.

Gough began the third positively, sustaining his movement and he took a 6-2 lead before Willstrop stamped his authority again, always looking for a chance to end rallies. Although the Welshman continued to resist Willstrop's momentum was irresistible and he won the last game, and the match, 9-6 after an impressive display.

With Nick Taylor having beaten Mark Cairns, recovering from 2-1 down and "running on pure emotion" towards the end, Manchester/Pontefract had a 2-1 lead.

 
"I needed to win that, I knew the team were down. Lee was helping me between games, telling me to 'keep it simple'.

"I scraped out the second, but from then on it was just down to emotion. I didn't care about the win for myself, that was for the team and the supporters."

Nick Taylor
Ricketts & Handley
win it for Wolves
Malcolm Willstrop reports ...

Anthony Ricketts began sharply, as he always does, against Lee Beachill, who was never moving with sufficient freedom to even get competitive.

As the Australian gathered momentum, Beachill was unable to regroup and Ricketts romped home 3/0.

With Scott Handley edging out Marcus Berrett 3/2, Wolverhampton were National League champions after a match which threatened to be a close run thing. So it proved and Wolverhampton will be delighted, probably seeing themselves as marginal underdogs before the event.
"To say we are very pleased would be a massive understatement. 

"It's been a remarkable team effort, not just tonight but throughout the season. 

"Whilst I am extremely proud of the players, I am also delighted for the club, winning this prestigious title in only our fourth season in the League."

Stephen Russell
"Disappointed to lose obviously, but it was a great night of squash and all credit to Wolverhampton, they played better than us on the night.

"It's good to see some new teams winning the title, it makes it more interesting and exciting for everyone concerned.

"But we'll be back next year and we aim to get it back ..."

Taro Nabetani

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