R1: Chichester off a flyer

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Team Chichester v ClubNet Winchester

The PSL [Premier Squash League] 2015 season started Tuesday October 6 and Chichester Racquets & Fitness Club hosted its first home fixture against local rivals Winchester.

Lauren Briggs [Team Chichester] was first on court and played British Junior Champion, Georgina Kennedy. Lauren won the first tie 3.0 in last season’s encounter but, as is the norm, junior players improve all the time and Georgina is no exception. This was always going to be a close match and the first two games were extremely evenly matched with both going to a tie-break and both players winning one apiece. From then on Lauren mixed the pace and added more variety to her game which slowed down Gina’s fast game. Lauren won the 3rd & 4th [11/5, 11/6] in what proved to be a very entertaining match.

Team Chichester’s Nathan Lake [WR 116] was first on the glass-back court and was in total control of his match against Sean Conroy. He convincingly won through in 3 [11/7, 11/4, 11/1].

2.0 up to Team Chichester.

Robbie Temple followed on and played Winchester’s Scott Handley. Temple’s pace and quick hitting took Handley out of his comfort zone. Handley competed well up to the middle part of the match before Temple’s game, and the pressure, took hold. Temple won in 3 [11/4, 11/5, 11/6] to give Team Chichester an unassailable 3.0 lead.

Brandon Hanley, Team Chichester, played Robbie Keefe and right from the start Hanley was focused on the match in hand. Brandon’s unorthodox style of squash, incorporating a lot of disguise, kept his opponent back on his heels; whilst Hanley’s pace anticipation and deception proved too much for Keefe as he struggled to find his own game. Hanley won 11/6, 11/0, 11/5 in 25 minutes.

The final match on the championship court was between the number one strings, Chichester’s Adrian Waller [WR26] and Robert Downer. Waller made a sluggish start and Downer capitalised on this to take the first game 9/11. Waller then regained control of the match. Although Downer gave a very good account of himself throughout the next games Waller’s experience and class proved too much for the young man. Waller won the next 3 games 11/6, 11/5 11/9 to give Team Chichester the best possible start to the new season. The next fixture is away to Exeter on 27 October and the next home fixture will be against Surrey on November 10th.

Mike Phillips – Team Manager

Team Chichester Winchester
Adrian Waller 3.1 Robert Downer 9/11, 11/6, 11/5, 11/9 (52m)
Robbie Temple 3.0 Scott Handley 11/4, 11/5, 11/6 (26m)
Nathan Lake 3.0 Sean Conroy 11/7, 11/4, 11/1 (29m)
Brandon Hanley 3.0 Robbie Keefe 11/6, 11/0, 11/5 (25m)
Lauren Briggs 3.1 Georgina Kennedy 14/12, 11/13, 11/5, 11/6 (35m)