First up for Chichester, Dominique Lloyd-Walter (No. 6 England and World No 22) played Emma Chorley who is ranked inside the world’s top 80. The first game was even until the half way point when Lloyd-Walter started to get in front and hold the ball well. The West Country girl Chorley did not like the sudden change of direction and lost 7/11. In the second game Lloyd-Walter stopped playing in the same vein and rallied more from the back of the court. This suited Chorley and a close game ensued; Lloyd-Walter eventually won it 9/11.
In the third, normal service was resumed and Lloyd-Walter started moving her opponent around the court more which, in turn, forced tin after tin errors. Lloyd Walter forged a 0/8 lead. Despite faltering slightly to allow Chorley back into the game the lead was too great to claw back and Lloyd-Walter closed the match 5/11.
On the adjoining court Chichester’s Tim Vail played World No.28, Joey Barrington. The fitness of the Chichester man was always going to be called into question and after big efforts in the first and third games (with game balls in the latter) he was finally defeated 3.0.
1-all
Alex Gough was next on court against World No.24, Jon Kemp. Kemp is playing at the top of his game at the moment and made the former World No 5 work very hard from the outset. Gough battled extremely gamely but the result was never in doubt and Kemp took the match 3.0.
2-1 to Exeter ... then 3-1
On the adjoining court Peter Genever, Chichester’s number 4 string, played Tom Pashley; both Sussex players. Genever worked hard to lead 1.2. Unfortunately a slippery court meant they had to change to a different court and use the higher tin. Coupled with the fatigue he was feeling, Genever never really got going again and lost the 4th and 5th games 11/4, 11/3 – giving Exeter an unassailable 3.1 lead on the night.
The dead rubber match was between Robbie Temple (World 71) and Exeter’s Stewart Boswell (World 16). Boswell’s pace and movement was superb in the first game, hitting better lengths than Temple, and he ran away with it 11/4. In the second game Temple dug in and made it competitive before losing it 11/8. The 3rd saw Boswell stumble early on and lose his concentration. The momentum suddenly swung in Temple’s favour and he took the opportunity and grabbed the game 3/11.
In the 4th, normal service was resumed and Boswell’s tempo, length and movement returned to wrap up the match 3.1 to give Exeter a 4.1 win on the night.
In 2 weeks' time Chichester entertain St. George’s, Weybridge. The return of Mo Azlan Iskandar means that Chichester will be a stronger squad. Winning can be a habit; conversely losing can quickly become the same and Chichester needs to change the habit before the season gets too far underway.
Mike Phillips
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