Premier Squash League Finals Report by Steve Cubbins May 7, 2015
- Losers of last year's final after being two-nil up, runaway winners
of Division A in this year's League stage, last-gasp narrow winners
against defending champions Surrey in the semi-finals, Duffield are the
PSL Champions after beating Division B winners St George's in tonight's
final at Hunts County.
Missing their top player Nick Matthew, who failed a fitness test on his
ankle just yesterday, Duffield were nonetheless buoyed by the return
from her mini-sabbatical of Laura Massaro.
Massaro it was who gave the Derbyshire side the lead as she beat
Yathreb Adel, who after missing Tuesday's semi-final has just flown
back in from the Egyptian League finals. Adel started strongly, taking
the first and she had a game ball at 10-9 in the second too, but
Massaro, improving as the match went on, saved that and went on to win
in four, taking the last game eleven-love.
"This is the exact type of atmosphere and match you'd want to make a comeback in after a layoff," said a delighted Massaro.
"Regardless of the result it feels really good to be back in the
competitive environment, and that's what I was missing at the beginning
of the year. I felt a bit match rusty at the start but I improved as
the match went on, so that's all positive. I just hope the boys can
finish it off now!"
On the outside court there was more good news for Duffield as Richie
Fallows beat Charles Sharpes to put Duffield two-nil ahead. Sharpes
fought back after losing the first two games, but Fallows was not to be
denied as he took the fourth 11-7 to his and the team's delight.
"I've lost to Charles in a couple of recent events , but this was the
big one, I really wanted to win this one," said Fallows. "I haven't
done so well in the PSL matches this season so I wanted to show Felix
what I can do.
In the next pair of matches everything was looking rosy for Duffield as
Declan James and Chris Simpson both took their first games within
seconds of each other. That was when the St George's fightback started
though, as Borja Golan and Joe Lee both levelled their matches.
The crucial match turned out to be on the side court in a fiercely
contested and sometimes contentious match. James regained the lead but
Lee levelled again with a roar of delight. But it was the Duffield man
who held sway in the decider, taking it 11/5 after 79 minutes to put
Duffield in an unassailable three-nil lead.
"I felt pretty relaxed on there," said Fallows, "I tried to focus on
just playing squash. Joe was getting a bit agitated with some of the
decisions, I tried not to let that affect me, tried to let my squash do
the talking.
"It's great to get the win to finish off a good season, and it feels good to win it for Felix."
By then the top string match on the show court was also into the fifth,
but here it was Golan who took it, after 98 minutes, to put St George's
on the scoreboard.
The last match, between number twos Joel Hinds and Tom Richards, was an
entertaining best-of-three with Richards winning to make the final
score Duffield 3, St George's 2.
Thus ends a wait of eight years for Duffield's fourth title (their
previous successes being in 1998, 2006 and 2007), and team manager
Felix Frixou was
understandably elated:
"I've been involved for 23 years as sponsor but this is my 7th year as
manager, so it feels great to win the title for the first time in that
role.
"The key to this win is the players, the team have been fantastic all
season, they gave me everything they had from the word go and no
manager could ask for more. They've done our supporters, me, and
themselves proud.
"We didn't know what to expect at Hunts County, but it's a great venue
and a fantastic club, superbly organised and we can't wait to play here
again.
As Felix lifted the trophy he told the crowd, "it feels like lifting the FA Cup ... it's coming home!!!"
Benz Bavarian Duffield 3-2 Luxfords / 9 Group St George's Hill
Chris Simpson 2-3 Borja Golan 11-8, 9-11 , 7-11, 11-3, 7-11 (98m) Joel Hinds 1-2 Tom Richards 8-11, 11-5, 8-11 (26m) Declan James 3-2 Joe Lee 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5 (79m) Richie Fallows 3-1 Charles Sharpes 11-5, 11-1, 9-11, 11-7 (51m) Laura Massaro 3-1 Yathreb Adel 7-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-0 (39m)
