Reigning champs too hot for Chichester squash stars

Chichester and Surrey line up before the action

For Chichester, Emma Chorley made her home debut in a tussle with world No5 and national champion Alison Waters.

It was always going to be a tough task for Chorley but she equipped herself well and matched Waters for pace. The games were all well-contested but Waters ran out 3-0 winner.

Alex Gough was up against Lyell Fuller who was a European under-19 championship semi-finalist earlier this year.

Gough mixed it well in the first and Fuller hit eight tins, and Gough snatched it 11-7. Fuller found his range and hit back immediately with a 11-4 win in the second game.

Gough began to struggle and Fuller’s error count was much less as he took the third 11-6. In the fourth, the players were neck and neck. It went to 10-10 but Gough just lost out on a game ball and Fuller clinched it 13-11 to take Surrey 2-0 up.

Kyle Finch made his debut for Chichester against Surrey’s Robert Dadds. Finch, only just 16, is the youngest Englishman to play in the PSL.

From the outset, Finch dominated with pace and tempo and with his better shot variation and selection, he won 11-4, 11-6 and 11-4 in 28 minutes.

Chichester’s Robbie Temple was hoping to close the gap, as he took on world 24 Fares Dessouki of Egypt. The gallery was treated to an excellent match with great skill on show from both players.

Temple drew first blood with a superb range of shots and outstanding all-court squash to win it 11-6. Dessouki surged to an early lead in the second and ran away with it 11-4.

In the third game, Temple built up an 8-5 lead but Dessouki fought back and pushed through to snatch it 11-8. Dessouki was always the odd point up in the fourth and he maintained the upper hand to win 11-8 and clinch the overall match for Surrey.

The final match was between Chichester’s new number one, world 26 Adrian Waller, and world No6 Peter Barker.

Waller forged a lead in the first and although Barker managed to fight back, Waller played error-free squash to win 11-9.

Barker tightened his game in the next and hit the corners to take the next 11-8. By the third Barker’s game was in full flow and he forced errors and tins from Waller to win 11-8.

The fourth followed in the same vein and Barker won 11-6 to give Surrey a 4-1 victory.

After the Christmas break, Chichester hope to sign a couple more players to strengthen the squad. 