Newport still seeking first win

Jethro Binns reports

Chapel Allerton made the long journey south to Newport this evening for Newport’s first home match of their debut season in the PSL. After receiving a text from Shaun Le Roux telling me they had left this morning chapel A arrive this evening bemused to find that Newport was actually south of the M4 and still in the Northern Division.

 

On paper this evening was always going to be a bit of a tough ask for Newport who were missing Rob “I don’t want to let the ball bounce” Sutherland who is away playing the Austrian open. This meant that as suspected Greg Tippings came out of retirement to show the young ones how to do it……

 

Greg went on first and as it transpired he did show the youngsters how to play both opponent and referee. Greg reached 69 in the world when he was full time and used all his experience to win the match 3-0. His young opponent described Greg as being “awkward” to play which I think is putting in nicely as anyone who has had the joy of playing tips will testify.

 

Deon Saffery knew that it was always going to be tough playing world number 6 Jenny Duncalf and found herself 9-0 down in the first. From this point on the match became a little more contested as Deon began to cope with the pace a little better but the outcome wasn’t really ever in doubt as Jenny ran out a winner in 3.

 

I went on against Shaun with the match stood at 1-1. Having lost all four of our previous meetings I was hoping to turn things around but it wasn’t to be. Feeling slightly under the weather and half a yard off the pace Shaun gave me a guided tour of the back corners as he hit “joke length after joke length in it”. I didn’t really make any impression on the match as he hit the ball to the back with such severe pace and accuracy that I wasn’t able to compete around the middle and he hit picked me off as and when he liked.

 

The Crystal Ball had us down for a 4-1 defeat but I though that it would 3-2 and felt that Campbell Grayson stood a very good chance against Chris Simpson. Having only flown back form Hong Kong on Saturday Campbell looked in control during the first two games as he took them 11-9 11-7. Hitting some outrageous winners on the volley Campbell hit what he described as “the best shot I have ever hit”  as he slammed the ball in to the nick with a cross court volley. I thought it was something to do with the fact that his string broke as he hacked at the ball forcing it to come off weird and bounce a bit funny but he maintained that it was deliberate. Simpo fought back to take the third as campbell got a bit excited and tried to play everything in front of the short line. The fourth saw Campbell get a good lead only for Chris to pull it back to 7-7, at which point Chris played a drop, didn’t clear too well, Campbell ran through and knocked Chris’ racket out of his hand before hitting a crosscourt drive. The point was disputed with Chris suggesting that his New Zealand opponent was perhaps getting a little too excited about the forthcoming Autumn rugby internationals. However the referee felt it was Chris who had caused the interference and the point went to the All Black. The crowd were very vocal and got behind Campbell in a big way. He gave them what they wanted as he took the game 12-10 and tied the match at 2-2.

 

The deciding match came down to Ali Walker and Aaron Frankcomb who regularly train together in Leeds. Aaron keen to impress his home fans got off to a great start hitting some fabulous winners as Ali found the tin too may times and won the first game 11-9. The crowd sensed an upset and a first win for the PSL newcomers but it wasn’t to be. Ali decided he would volley everything and try and play at 276mph which unfortunately for Aaron he succeeded in doing  With pacey length after pacey length and volley winners from anything that wasn’t skinned Ali took the last three games fairly comfortably.

 

So Newport left still seeking their first win in the League whilst Chapel A left with the prospect of a 4 hour drive “back t’ north” . The crowd went home slightly disappointed but impressed to have watched such high quality squash. The players commented on how good the fans were and all look forward to future matches at Wales’s premier club……

Jethro Binns

Oxford give Newport a tough debut

Jethro Binns reports

Esporta Oxford sent PSL debutants Newport back to Wales with an 18-6 defeat last night after welcoming Newport's players and supporters with great hospitality. The Newport supporters traveled up in a minibus and were very vocal in their support of their team during the course of the evening.

First on court were myself and Anthony Graham playing alongside Deon Saffery and Madeline Perry.

I got off to a bit of a slow start which Anthony took advantage of with good effect, He punished my over hit length and worked the ball in to the right areas displaying the qualities that won him the European Junior t itle earlier in the year. After a regroup with coach Greg Tippings I began the second with a better length, found a bit more confidence with my short game and pulled the match back to 1-1 taking the game 11-6 despite some dubious refereeing decisions.

The 3rd followed a similar pattern as I discovered a backhand drop shot that I never knew I had as I won the game 11-5. It was during this game that the most interesting refereeing decision was given following a counter drop exchange in the front backhand. I asked for a let, was told by the referee was unsighted and that we would have to make up our own minds as to what decision we wanted to be made. Obviously I wanted a stroke, Anthony wanted a no let so in the end we eventually got around to playing a let.

In the 4th Anthony began to get a bit tired, stopped retrieving quite so effectively and I ran out the winner 11-4.


On the other court Madeline and Deon were having a proper battle, which on paper going tinto the match looked like it could have been quite one sided. Deon played very well by all accounts and deserved to take one of the first two games. Sh e did manage to win the 3rd 11-9 before losing the 4th 11-3. If she could have sneaked a game earlier on who knows how it could have panned out.

Following my match Rob Sutherland took on Simon Rosner. Both having had tough weeks playing at one for their countries in the Worlds last week they both seemed quite relieved to have a dead ball which encouraged attacking squash and short rallies. Simon ran away with the first game 11-4, Rob came back on with a new game plan of trying to hit every ball in to the nick which seemed to work. He began stepping into lines very early and volleying anything that wasn't “joke tight”. He took the game 12-10.

The third followed a very similar pattern as both players took the ball in short at every opportunity playing fast frenetic squash, the rallies were short but the shot making and inventiveness were first class. Both players held game balls but it was Rob who snuck the game 17-15 with some outrageous volley drops. The fourth and fifth saw Simon out maneuver rob at the front with both players determined not to see the ball bounce off the back wall. The pace was frantic w ith great drops and kills from both players but ultimately it was Simon who won the shoot out in front of an entertained audience.


Campbell Grayson faced Chris Ryder in a rematch of last year's Australian open where Campbell ran out the winner in 5. This was always going to be a tough ask for Campbell following his week in the worlds where he played 6 matches. He earned himself a 7-4 lead in the first but was pegged back as he made some unforced errors and lost the game 11-7. The second was nip and tuck with Campbell leading 9-8 following a flat roller off a good serve but again it was Chris who held his nerve to take the game 12-10.

The third saw Chris get on top as Campbell’s effort from the previous week caught up with him and Chris took the game 11-5. When asked about making his PSL debut, Campbell said that “his first time was special”.

The final match of the evening was between the two Aussies, Cameron Pilley and Aaron Frankcomb, fresh from winning Bronze at the Worlds at the weekend. Both20players were evenly matched during the first game as they stood at 8-8 but perhaps a little tired following their performances on Saturday in Denmark. However it was Pilley who took the game as he went on to take the next two 11-6 11-6.


The Crowd left entertained and Newport went home a little disappointed not to have made a little more impact on their debut but will look forward to their first home match of the season in 2 weeks where team manager Greg Tippings is considering bringing himself out of retirement “to show the boys how it is done.”

Jethro Binns