Round SEVEN Roundup, 03-Feb

With the Leagues season approaching the stage where teams can see their prospects of reaching the semi-finals firming up or disappearing, tonight’s seventh round (of ten) pitched several of the teams in playoff contention against each other.

Duffield march on as St George’s take over in Division B

SH13440In Division A London Coolhurst hosted Nottingham, with just two points separating them at the start of play, and the on-court action was just as close. Madeline Perry put Coolhurst ahead, but Nottingham struck back with wins from Mark Fuller and Chris Longman – who came from 2-1 down to beat Coolhurst manager Nick Sutcliffe. Ollie Holland then came from a game down to beat Joe Green, giving Nottingham the away win. In the all-Scottish number one match Greg Lobban prevailed over Dougie Kempsell to make the final score 2-3 as Nottingham recorded their fifth win of the season.

SH13433Leicester, in their first PSL season, played hosts to Birmingham Lions, who consolidated their second place with an impressive away win. Sarah-Jane Perry started the ball rolliong for the visitors with a 3-1 win over Tania Bailey, and when Peter Creed beat Daryl Selby 3-2 at the top of the order things were looking good for Birmingham. Bradley Hindle and Miles Jenkins weighed in with wins to put Birmingham 4-0 up. George Parker maintained his unbeaten record to put a point on the board for Leicester, but the playoffs now look out of reach.

Runaway leaders Duffield were at home to bottom of the table Pontefract, and no mercy was show as Duffield took all five matches three-nil to send Pontefract home pointless.

SP_3730In Division B champions Surrey, who were still top despite suffering their first defeat last week, entertained near neighbours St George’s, who started just one point behind. Yathreb Adel and Charlie Lee won at four and five for St George’s, Kristian Frost and Lyell Fuller were winners at two and three for Surrey, setting up the decider that always looked likely. Borja Golan beat Mazen Hesham 16-14 in the fourth game of a tremendous match to give St George’s the win, taking them to the top of the table.

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Chichester and Bristol started the evening in third and fourth places, Chichester ahead by just two points, but here again it was the visitors who prevailed, swapping positions with their hosts. Lauren Briggs put Chichester ahead, but Bristol won all four men’s matches courtesy of Josh Masters, Mike Harris, Tom Ford and Lucas Serme.

Exeter started the day bottom of the table without a win to their name, and when Jenny Hayley put visitors Winchester ahead the omens didn’t look good. But Exeter, fielding their world number one Mohamed Elshorbagy, grabbed their first win as, like Bristol, all four of their men – James Snell, Tim Vail, Ollie Pett and Shorbagy – won. Exeter remain bottom but they’ll just enjoy the win for now!

Division A

Coolhurst London 2-3 Air-IT Nottingham (9-14)

Greg Lobban  3-0 Dougie Kempsell  11-7, 11-8, 11-3 (46m)
Angus Gillams 0-3 Mark Fuller  11-13, 5-11, 5-11 (52m)
Joe Green 1-3 Ollie Holland  11-6, 10-12, 8-11, 9-11
Nick Sutcliffe 2-3 Chris Longman  11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-13
Madeline Perry 3-0 Sophie Lemom  11-6, 11-8, 11-1

Everards Leicester 1-4 Birmingham Lions (9-17)  REPORT

Daryl Selby 2-3 Peter Creed  8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 9-11
George Parker 3-0 Joel Makin  11-9, 11-9, 14-12
Andrew Birks 1-3 Bradley Hindle  6-11, 11-8, 6-11, 4-11
James Bowden 2-3 Miles Jenkins  6-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11
Tania Bailey 1-3 Sarah-Jane Perry  12-10, 6-11, 4-11, 5-11

Benz Bavarian Duffield 5-0 Pontefract  (20-0)

Chris Simpson 3-0 Aqeel Rehman  11-8, 11-5, 13-11
Declan James 3-0 Ben Grindrod  11-4, 11-5, 11-6
Andy Whipp 3-0 Alex Hodgetts  11-7, 11-8, 11-6
Ashley Davies 3-0 Lewis Doughty  11-6, 11-9, 11-9
Fiona Moverley 3-0 Carrie Ramsey  11-4, 11-6, 11-6

Division B

Virgin Active Surrey HRC 2-3 Luxford/9 Group St George’s Hill (7-15) REPORT

Mazen Hesham 1-3  Borja Golan  10-12, 11-6, 8-11, 14-16
Kristian Frost 3-1 Alex Ingham  11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9
Lyell Fuller 3-0 Phil Nightingale  11-6, 11-8, 11-9
Ben Ford 0-3 Charlie Lee 9-11, 7-11, 8-11
Katie Wilson 0-3 Yathreb Adel  2-11, 7-11, 6-11

Team Chichester 1-4 UWE/Elite Bristol (5-17) REPORT

Robbie Temple 0-3 Lucas Serme  8-11,  2-6 rtd
Sanjay Singh 1-3 Tom Ford  7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 8-11
Tristan Eysele 1-3 Mike Harris 8-11, 7-11,  11-8, 6-11
Kyle Finch 0-3 Josh Masters  12-14,  1-11,  9-11
Lauren Briggs 3-0 Kip Quiney  11-3, 11-3, 11-4

Exeter Diamonds 4-1 Winchester Racquets & Fitness (17-5)

Mohamed Elshorbagy 3-1 Scott Handley  11-7, 11-6, 11-13, 11-9 (35m)
Ollie Pett 3-0 Robbie Downer  13-11, 11-9, 11-7 (39m)
Tim Vail 3-0 Scott Fitzgerald  11-6, 11-7, 13-11 (23m)
James Snell 3-1 Steve Wykes 11-5, 12-10, 4-11, 11-6 (40m)
Natalie Lawrence 0-3 Jenny Hayley  4-11, 5-11, 4-11 (27m)

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