Duffield Beat Champions Surrey in Topsy Turvy PSL Semi by Steve Cubbins April 13, 2015
- The first semi-final of the 2014/15 season was a repeat of last
season's final with Division A winners Benz-Bavarian Duffield at home
against reigning champions Virgin Active Surrey HRC. Then, Surrey came
back from two-nil down to win the title, but tonight it was Duffield
who prevailed 3-2 in a match full of ebbs and flows to deny Surrey a
sixth successive appearance in the final.
Benz-Bavaria Duffield 3-2 Virgin Active Surrey HRC
Chris Simpson 3-2 Peter Barker 6/11, 10/12, 12/10, 11/1, 4/0 rtd (74m)
Joel Hinds 2-3 Adrian
Grant
11/7, 11/9, 9/11, 9/11, 5/11 (83m)
Declan James 3-0 Piedro Schweertman 14/12, 11/6, 11/9 (54m)
Richie Fallows 3-0 Lyell
Fuller
11/9, 11/7, 11/6 (41m)
Millie Tomlinson 2-3 Alison
Waters
5/11, 6/11, 11/8, 11/6, 6/11 (62m)
Match Report
The match started with Declan James v Piedro Schweertman on the show
court, but in the middle of the first game the Dutchman's racket
clipped James' eyebrow, necessitating a break for treatment - James
actually had the small cut "glued up".
Meanwhile on the other court Alison Waters looked to be in control as
she took a two game lead over Millie Tomlinson, but in a match which
required a good deal of decisions from the referee the Duffield
youngster fought back to force a decider. The world number three wasn't
to be denied though as Waters took the fifth to put Surrey ahead.
"It wasn't a pretty match," admitted Waters, "I'm just glad to be able to put the team ahead - and to keep my unbeaten record!"
On the showcourt Joel Hinds and Adrian Grant went on, and to the
delight of the crowd it was the Duffield youngster who took two close
first games. Grant though, playing his "first competitive match for
months" but famed as a slow starter and loving his five setters, took
the next two games both 11/9 to force a decider.
While that was in progress Richie Fallows levelled the match as he beat
Surrey's Lyell Fuller in straight games, but just moments later Grant
put Surrey back in front as he took the fifth 11/5.
"Happy to get the win to keep us in it," said Fallows, "I've been
playing this match in my head for three days now! We've played so many
times, in every event possible really, and I've always beaten him but I
hadn't won any PSL matches this season so I was nervous to start with,
but happy with how I played and managed to control it in the end."
James and Schweertman then resumed, and it was past 10pm when the
Duffield man took the first game 14/12, doubled his advantage 11/6 and
then held off recovery from the Dutchman to close out the match 11/9
and set up the top string decider.
"I sweated blood for the cause out there tonight," quipped James. "It
was difficult with the injury break, and it was very tight in the the
first and third games but I was pleased with how I played."
Chris Simpson had lost just once this season for Duffield, but his
opponent today was Surrey's Peter Barker, who had won all his PSL
matches including two against world number one Mohamed Elshorbagy.
Barker it was who took the initiative, controlling the first and then
holding on at the end of a tough second to lead 11/6, 12/10. Surrey
looked to have the match in the bag when Barker led 9-4 in the third,
but Simpson fought back with six points in a row to earn game ball 10-9.
Barker saved that with a stroke as he hit his opponent from the back of
the court, but Simpson took the next two points to pull a game back
then eased through the fourth with Barker looking decidedly
uncomfortable.
Barker took an injury timeout before the start of the fifth, but to no
avail as he was struggling to compete, Simpson taking a 4-0 lead before
Barker offered his hand and Duffield were in the final.
"It's always a shame when a player has to retire with injury," said
Duffield manager Felix Frixou, "but what a night's entertainment and
what a great performance from the team, I'm proud of them all.
"In all the 23 years I've been involved with the PSL that's probably
the most tense, exciting, on edge match ever. Only against Surrey can
this happen, and almost a role reversal from last year."
Surrey manager Pete Smith said: "It was a great match, it's a pity it
had to end like that but that's sport, and good luck to Duffield in the
final."
The second semi-final between St George's and Coolhurst will take place
on 5th May at St George's, with the final on 7th at a venue to be
decided.
Photos and tweets on the site report: http://www.pslsquash.com/15semi1/
