Lincou & Gaultier Beat Willstrop & Matthew In Euro Final But England Celebrates Double Success by David Hood
AMSTERDAM SUNDAY 5th MAY 2013:
English Squash celebrated double success in the 40th European Team
Championships in Amsterdam last night, when both the men’s and women’s
teams retained their titles in hard fought battles over France and
Ireland respectively.
Both matches went to the wire. In the women’s best of three format,
Jenny Duncalf secured a hat-trick of titles for England’s women when
beating Laura Mylotte (11-4, 11-5, 11-2) in just 23 minutes. Duncalf’s
success was the decider following an opening match win by world number
two Laura Massaro (beat Madeline Perry 11-7, 11-5, 11-2) and a defeat
for Alison Waters by Aisling Blake 5-11, 9-11, 6-11.
The men’s final against old foe’s France was predictably tense and the
French looked like causing a crashing upset to England’s double title
hopes when they went two-nil up in the match with surprise defeats for
James Willstrop by veteran Thierry Lincou and Nick Matthew to French
number one Gregory Gaultier.
However, in the four-man team system, hope remained alive with Essex
pair Daryl Selby and Peter Barker both starting their matches aware
that a team victory remained a possibility if they could both win their
matches without dropping a game. Straight 3-0 successes for the pair
eventually sealed the title for England on games count back after the
tie ended all square at 2-2.
Final scores
Women’s Final
Laura Massaro (ENG) beat Madeline Perry (IRE) 11-7, 11-5, 11-2 (29 mins)
Alison Waters (ENG) lost to Aisling Blake (IRE) 5-11, 9-11, 6-11 (28 mins)