TWP St George's Crash To Defeat at Bristol

Danny Lee reports ...

TWP St George's Hill squash team put up a brave showing away to Probuild Bristol with all players capturing at least one game for their endeavours. Nobody could quite manage to win a match on a frustrating night for the visitors. Probuild Bristol now move into 2nd place in The Premier Squash League with TWP St George's clutching on to 4th spot.

Julie Peachey making her debut for TWP St George's exceeded expectations with a brave display against England Junior International Sarah-Jane Perry. Peachey captured the first game and continued to impress narrowly losing the remaining three games, the last of which went to 13-11.

Neil Hitchens playing at number 4 for St George's Hill also took the first game from Welsh International Lewys Hurst. Hitchens didn't have enough strength after a lengthy lay off at Christmas to make any further impact and Hurst took the match comfortably.

TWP's British Junior Champion Joe Lee faced the experienced Peter Marshall who was once ranked World number 2. Marshall has a deceptive two handed style which he uses to great effect. Marshall's immaculate length was rewarded on the cold court and he won the first game 11-7. Lee responded with some fine squash of his own taking the next two games and working his older opponent into the four corners of the court. Marshall can be even more deadly when he is tired and he played constructive squash to wrap up the match leaving Lee frustrated but accepting that he learned plenty in defeat from a past master who can still compete with the best players in the country.

Nafizwan Adnan, TWP's Malaysian import enjoyed the rare sight of seeing England's picturesque snowscape on the journey down but struggled in the cold conditions on court. His opponent Hadrian Stiff the Bristol captain managed to hit enough winners to stop "Wan" prolonging the rallies. In the third game "Wan" found his form but narrowly lost the fourth to the popular home skipper playing in front of a large partisan crowd.

Daryl Selby, whose fitness was in doubt after a nasty stomach bug had hospitalised him last week, started promisingly against former British Open Champion David Evans. Selby, who has risen to a career high no 26 in the latest World rankings cruised through the first game but then found it hard to physically push himself as Evans gained control of the centre of the court and the match.

A disappointing night for TWP St George's Hill but the team will be hoping for a return to winning ways in their home fixture against PNH Properties Chichester on February 17th at 7.00pm.
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