Chapel A grab top spot at Duffield

Arthur Curran reports

Here at Duffield tonight we see the top of the Group A battle between Benz Bavarian Duffield and league newcomers Chapel Allerton, to decide who wins the group and is therefore entitled to a home tie in the semi final. Chapel A are obviously weakened by the loss of Thierry Lincou their No 1, who is playing the final of the Super Series at Queens tonight, so not a good start for them. However Duffield are without their No 1 Ladies player Tania Bailey, so Laura Hill comes in and she says she will do her very best against British Champion and World # 5 Jenny Duncalf.

First match up was the ladies, and good hard work by Laura in the first game kept her level up to 9/9 but then Jenny struck out and took the game 11/9. Jenny started the second very much in control and despite Laura battling bravely as she always does, Jenny took the game 11/5. Jenny took control again in the third, despite battling hard again, levelling at 7/7, Jenny took four straight points to take the game 11/7 and the match 3 -0.

Meanwhile on the glassback court, the No 3 strings were playing, Andy Whipp for Duffield and Australian Scott Arnold for Chapel A. The first game went very evenly up to 8/8,Scott took the next point but Andy won out with two great shots and took the game 11/9. Scott got slightly in front in the second game, Andy could not quite find the shots to pull back and Scott took the game 11/5 – 1 game each. Whippy took control early in the third with his usual all action game and took the score to 9/5, but Scott fought back tenaciously and, although Andy had a game ball at 10/9, Scott levelled up and took the tie break to win 12/10.

Andy started off well again in the fourth, helped by five straight bad shots from Scott, then a lovely drop shot and a deep volley helped him take the game 11/3. 2 games all. The final game was a battle royal, the home crowd cheering madly every point won by Andy, with long rallies and great shots, the score moved to 7/7, after a couple of “discussions” with the referee Scott went to 9/7, Andy levelled at 9/9 with a sizzling drop shot but then tinned one to give Scott match ball. But Andy was not quite finished – he took the next point to go to a tie break, but unfortunately Scott took the next two points to take the game 12/10 and the match 3 games to 2 to rapturous applause from the audience after 61 minutes on court.

Andy must have been very tired, he must have had some sleepless nights the last couple of weeks since his lovely wife gave birth to a baby girl two weeks ago. Congratulations to Andy and his family!.

Meanwhile, on the adjoining court the 4th string players had started their match. Joel Hinds for Duffield and South African Steve Coppinger for Chapel A started off very quietly with a cat and mouse game, which went level up to 9/9. After a very long rally Joel got game point then with a lovely long drop shot took the game11/9.

The second game was again very close with both players battling hard. The game went to a tie break at 10/10 and was decided eventually in Joel’s favour 15/13. 2 games to nil. Steve took an early few points lead in the third and just managed to keep in front to take the game 11/7and stay in the match. Steve again took an early lead 4/0then went to 7/1and 8/3 with Joel fighting hard, but then took the game 11/3. This final game was all important – a win for Chapel A would give them the tie 3 games to nil with two matches to play. With a very tense crowd looking on, Steve took the first point, but then gave Joel 2 with two tins. After 7 lets at 2/1, the score went to 2/2, 3/3 (another 3 lets here), but then Steve moved slowly up to 8/3, however Joel had not given in.

He pulled the score back to 8/6 after a beautiful crosscourt shot got him back in the scoring, but then the much more experienced South African eased out to take the game 11/6, after 15 minutes, and the match 3 games to 2 after 71 minutes..

This meant of course that Chapel Allerton had taken first place in Group A in their first season in the league and Duffield were runners up.

However there were two matches still to be played, and they were certainly played competitively. First, Joey Barrington (Duffield) took 75 minutes to beat Chris Simpson (Chapel A) 10/12, 13/11, 11/8, 11/5. Then Nick Matthew came on court against Alister Walker, who has moved up to #16 in the World Rankings, but despite putting up a great fight Alister lost out 11/9, 11/3, 11/5 in 37 minutes.

The results we have had from the other matches means that Duffield will travel to Surrey H&RC, Croydon, and Chapel A host Bristol in the semi finals two weeks tonight on the 31st March.

Arthur Curran
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