2013 Final – Surrey retain the title

Integrity Surrey Health & Rackets retained their PSL title tonight at Nottingham, but it went to the deciding tie as Duffield pushed them all the way …

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Benz-Bavarian Duffield 2-3 Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets

Court 9:
Laura Massaro 3-0 Nada Elkalaawy    11/9, 11/9, 11/2 (24m)
Andy Whipp 0-3 Adrian Waller 3/11, 6/11, 11/13 (39m)

Showcourt:
Joel Hinds 0-3 Karim Abdel Gawad 6/11, 8/11, 12/14 (43m)
Nick Matthew 3-0 Peter Barker  11/8, 11/9, 11/4 (43m)
Karim Ali Fathi 0-3 Adrian Grant 7/11, 9/11, 3/11

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The final, blow by blow

Duffield took the lead when Laura Massaro beat late stand-in Nada Elkalaawy in straight games. The teenager from Surrey held her own for the first two games before Massaro ran way with the third.

Meanwhile on the showcourt Karim Abdel Gawad got the better of Joel Hinds in a fast-paced match to put Surrey level. After taking the first two games the Egyptian let a 5-1 lead slip in the third, couldn’t convert two match balls at 10-8 and had to save a game ball before eventually taling it 14-12.

The fourth string match finished with an uncannily similar scoreline, also for Surrey, as Adrian Waller took the first two games, couldn’t convert a match ball and had to save a game ball before finishing off Andy Whipp in 39 minutes.

Peter Barker may have beaten Nick Matthew in their last meeting, but the Duffield number one still went into the fourth match of the night with a 25-2 winning record, and once again made it tell as he beat Barker in three tough games to set up a decider for the title.

That left Adrian Grant, Surrey’s perennial late-night finisher, taking on Duffield’s Karim Ali Fathi for the title. The young Egyptian competed well for the first two games, but it was the experienced Englishman who took both games before running away with the third to make it four in a row and a record fifth title for Surrey.

Full report to follow …

Photo Gallery

Some fish-eye views of Nottingham Squash Club