PSL Squash Pontefract v Nottingham 1st April 2014 It was the last fixture of the year for Air-IT Nottingham, travelling to Pontefract in North Yorkshire. Although the play-offs were out of reach the team were keen to finish on a high. The crowd at Pontefract was subdued. Pontefract have been languishing at the foot of the table all season, finishing last remained the mathematical certainty. But that didn’t stop them fielding the current world number 5 – James Willstrop. Willstrop should have been the crowd puller and crowd pleaser. Willstrop stepped on court last to face the tenacious Air-IT Nottingham man Alan Clyne. This was set for a mouthwatering battle. Willstop an imposing six foot four giant against the diminutive Scot. Willstrop fresh for a final place at the Canary Wharf Open where Clyne had lost in the first round to the eventual winner Nick Matthew. What happened next left the crowd silenced. Clyne won the serve and the next 11 points. Willstrop looked out of sorts. Clyne came back on and took the next four points – was this to be a whitewash? But he missed an easy drop and Willstrop was back in. Clyne lost the next point but then dug in and closed the game out 11-2. This is not supposed to happen and Willstrop suddenly woke up – showing some of the great shot-making you expect for a former world number one. CLyne has been one of the outstanding player of the season and maintained a cool head and fought for every point in the third. At one point he slipped and fell, scambling back up to win the point. At 8-8 he served into the side wall nick – the ball never came out and he had match ball. Willstrop found some energy and line but after a see-saw of points Clyne finished the game 12-10. Willstrop looked dazed – 30 minutes of squash he’ll want to forget. Emma Beddoes the regular team lady was away in Calgary giving newcomer and Nottingham University student Anna Openshaw-Blower an opportunity to play pro squash. But her opponent, Sarah Kippax had little regard for Anna’s new-girl status – showing a very different class. Anna fought hard but loose shots were instantly punished and the game was closed out – Pontefract had some points. Ollie Holland, the talented Nottingham player was pitched against Lance Beddoes a New Zealander who was the danger man in their side. He played a tenacious game recovering from seemingly impossible positions. Ollie took the first but lost the second to a tie break. The third was a tight game but Ollie took the spoils. Beddoes easily won the fourth but seemed to tire and the fifth was an easy affair for Holland – winning 3-2. Player manager Mark Fuller was next. His opponent Taminder Gata-Aura is a talented player but was no match for Fullers style and grit. Fuller pushed him around the court – lobbing him to the back and forcing him into the opposite corners. Although there were a few brilliant rallies Fuller took the match comfortably 3-0. Air-It Nottingham had won the match as Nottingham favourite Eddie Charlton stepped onto court number one. His opponent was another New Zealander – Chris van de Salm. It all looked comfortable for Charlton who eased through the first two games and then lost a series of key rallies in the third. But the fourth was a formality when Charlton stepped up the pace and pressured van de Salm into mistakes. Charlton finished the night on a high winning 3-1. Air-IT Nottingham finished the night 4-1 victors – and fourth in the league overall. Results: James Willstrop 0-3 Alan Clyne 0-11, 2-11, 10-12 Chris van der Salm 1-3 Eddie Charlton 5-11, 7-11, 11-7, 8-11 Lance Beddoes 2-3 Ollie Holland 4-11, 14-12, 9-11, 11-6, 4-11 Taminder Gata-Aura 0-3 Mark Fuller 9-11, 9-11, 10-12 Sarah Kippax 3-0 Anna Openshaw-Blower 11-2, 11-2, 11-2
Posted on: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 21:10:37 +0000
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