Nick Matthew v James Wilstrop is going to be a great match-up between the two English rivals to see who really is top dog!

(below is a great clip from the Shabana v Rodriguez match at match point!)

Draw is available here

Draw is available here

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 11,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Newlands tonight and the bad news was that we were without Kev at No.1, but the good news was that it wasn’t Newlands 1^st team!

So first on was our new No.5 Colin (Richards) v Gary Nicholson and what a start Colin made after initially going 1-4 down! A great come back saw Colin lengthen the rallies and play some great stuff to get to game ball.

To see David Lloyd Renfrew match reports click here

To see David Lloyd West End match reports click here

cont’d ………… But Gary wasn’t beaten and he took the game into a tie break at 10-10. However Colin was having none of it and he finished Gary off to win the next two points and take the game 12-10.

Gary obviously wasn’t happy with this and he didn’t take a break instead preferring to knock up with himself for 90 seconds. The 2^nd was level pegging all the way to 5-5 with both players making some great shots and mistakes in equal measure, but Gary went on a game winning 7 point run to take the 2^nd game 11-5. Once again he stayed on the court knocking up with himself and at 7-2 up in the 3^rd this was looking like the difference! Colin made a valiant come back but was up against it and lost the game 11-7. Again no between-game rest for Gary and another great lead was taken at 5-0. Colin made a valiant come back to 6-8, but again it was just too much to ask as Gary won the 4^th game 11-6 and the match 3-1. MOTM to Gary, for turning this tie around.

Dougie Kempsel was on next at No.1 against a much improved James Singh (judging by recent results!), but Dougie had been warned. Still it didn’t stop James playing some excellent stuff at the start of the first to get to 4-4. He volleyed well and played some great drops making Dougie dig deep. But dig he did and despite a good effort from James, Doug took the 1^st game 11-8. James kept the pressure up in the 2^nd and was in it at 5-6, but again Dougie kept the pace up and it was soon 11-6 and 2-0 up. Doug was looking fresh and fit and James was looking like he’s already put a shift in! Not sure what happened in the 3^rd as I went on court, but Doug handed James a doughnut to complete another solid performance and win the match 3-0.

I was on against Stewart ‘the dog’ Brunton, and I was hoping to get a match that didn’t involve a lot of running! I’d treated myself to a new racket and what a difference it made to my game, the balance felt great and the Ashaway strings were cutting like Frankie Boyle’s tongue. Well Stewart wasn’t on form, but I played some precision stuff (even if I do say so myself!) to keep him under pressure and so was delighted with a 3-0 win. MOTM…. me – I was bloody great!!

Sean ‘trawler man’ Norris was on the next court (Sean has begun taking fishing to a whole new level) against Pete Cumine at No.3. I missed most of the 1^st game as I was on court, but Sean won 11-9 and Pete was annoyed to have hit the tin twice just at 9-9. The 2^nd game saw Sean take control of the match and keep himself in a dominant position throughout the game. Again Pete hit a couple into the tin at the sharp end of the game, but even so Sean deserved that one. The 3^rd was a different matter though and it was nip-and-tuck all the way 4-5 & 8-7 to Sean, but Pete took it to a tie break and got the first game point 11-10. Pete was far from happy at a call he got at 12-12 and as he remonstrated with the marker probably lost a bit of focus (and breath). Sean went on to take the game 16-14 and the match 3-0.

Anyone seen Grumpy Old Men on the telly? Well John Singh was a prime candidate for a role on the show tonight. He was not happy about anything at all, anywhere, at any point. Mind you he was getting frustrated with hitting a few tins (I’m being nice here, it was actually a few floors!). He played Jason Lang at No.4 and Jason was doing his best to stay out of the way of his wrath. Jason was able to hit a better length than John and this was the main difference as he took the 1^st game 11-8 and the 2^nd 11-7. John had a real tantrum in the 3^rd as he got more frustrated with his game and I was wondering if Super Nanny would have put him o the naughty step if she was there! Anyway Jason managed to let John implode and he took the last game 11-7 and the match 3-0 (John soon cheered up after the game as was on good form in the bar).

So a good 16-3 win without our No.1 and the best I can come up with for Quote Of The Night was from Gary when he said “A couple of drinks at lunch time really seemed to help my game!” (I paraphrase!)

The Artemis Sponsored ‘Edinburgh Open’ will be on between 26th and 29th of Jan to showcase some of the worlds biggest names in squash.

To see the draws chick:

Here for the Men’s BSPA Draw

and

Here for the Women’s WISPA Draw

Hope to see you there to watch some great live squash.

Happy New Year! Well it’s good to be back after the holidays, but having eaten too much and put on about a stone I thought I was in for a thrashing against a tough Western side, but of course you always forget that it’s not just your team that hasn’t played much and has eaten all the mince pies! Anyway I was inspired to greatness by watching the Squash on TV this weekend (What a fantastic match; amazing shots and wonderful movement, which doesn’t resemble my game in any way!)

I was on first at No.3 against the legend who is Kevin Lawlor. Beating Kevin for the first time is still one of my best ever matches (back in the day!) and so a healthy amount of respect is due every time you play him.

The first was a tight one at 5-5 and any time Kevin had a volley he comfortably tucked me away, fortunately……… (contd below)

To see David Lloyd Renfrew match reports click here

To see David Lloyd West End match reports click here

I realised this quickly and managed to keep it away from him with some good straight hitting to the back and then following up on the volley/drop to win the first game 11-6. The second game went all my way and Kevin never really got into his stride (11-4). But then there was a change of fortunes and suddenly the old K.L. was back on the court. He put me away on the volley and if I was able to scrape anything back I was sent the wrong way at the front with some brilliant holds. To be honest I wasn’t sure where the ball was going for most of this game and was gubbed 2-11. So it was time to realise that if I didn’t chase much better, hit straighter and volley I was likely to get thrashed again

I got my between game instructions from Guru Ray and also got my feet moving much better. And on top of this got a good run of early points to go 8-2 up, which as it transpired was good enough to take me over the line 11-6 and take the match 3-1. Relief!

Next up was Sean (Norris) against Steve Luker at No.4 and I missed the first two games as I was on court, but Sean was up 11-8 11-6. Steve took the 3^rd game 7-11 with some good retrieving and when Sean questioned why a shot wasn’t a stroke (which it quite obviously wasn’t) the only reply was, “Because that’s the rules Sean!” Normal service was resumed in the 4^th as Sean got back to winning ways to take the match 11-7. (MOTM to Steve)

Jason Lang was on next against Paul Whitley at No.5 and was looking for his 2^nd win for the team. He had a very shaky start and Paul raced to a 3 points to nil lead with Jason hitting quite wayward. However as soon as he got into his stride he started to get the ball much tighter and drop well to take the 1^st game 11-5 and in the 2^nd game Jason took full control and won 11-3. So Paul was going to have to find a different way if he was to get anything out of the game, and what a difference! Suddenly Paul turned into the lob/drop specialist. He was floating the ball about like a balloon and the lack of pace completely confused Jason, who gave away about three strokes in a row and was now scrapping for his life. Paul got a 9-5 lead; Jason pegged him back to 9-9; then it was neck-and-neck all the way to 13-13 with Paul getting 2 game balls and Jason getting his own match ball. Fortunately Jason managed to stumble across the finishing line 15-13 and looked mighty relieved to do so (Paul left the court muttering that the ball had hit Jason on the way to the front wall and he seemed a bit aggrieved, but I certainly saw no change in the flight, Jason felt nothing and Paul’s team mate didn’t see anything either, but Paul felt it was the turning point none-the-less!). MOTM to Jase for a good win.

Kev (Moran) took to the court at No.1 next against Peter Halliday, with Peter saying that he wasn’t looking forward to it.

“Don’t worry,” I said “just run round at top speed for an hour and hit lots of nics!”

“Five minutes if I’m lucky!” was the reply.

I didn’t see much of this match as I was marking, but Peter seemed to be in the rallies especially in the 1^st and 3^rd games and had a lot to hit (and chase!), but Kev’s speed around the court stopped him getting many points. Kev won comfortably 11-6 11-3 11-5.

Last on was the brand new (as of Monday!) 2012 Scottish Junior Open Under 19 Runner-up Dougie (Kempsell) against Jamie Henderson, who also played the tournament and finished in 10^th place – click here for the full results.

Dougie was out of the blocks like a whippet with his new Harrow Power Spark racket and raced to an 11-2 win in the 1^st game. The 2^nd saw Jamie get right back into it with some powerful hitting to go 6-4 up, but Dougie was soon flying again and took the 2^nd 11-6. The pace was very high and both under 19s were flying about the court; it reminded me of when I was under 19…..last millennium…..with a single yellow dot………….. and a wooden racket!!

Anyway back to the future and the 3^rd game saw Dougie take a 7-2 lead before Jamie had even woken up and it seemed that there was no coming back from that. Jamie did come back however to 7 (to Dougie’s 10 points), but it wasn’t enough and Dougie finished it off to win 11-7

So a good 18-2 win and we retired to the bar to listen to Sean’s New Year jokes, which resembled the Old Years ones………………… and the year before that!

To see David Lloyd Renfrew match reports click here

To see David Lloyd West End match reports click here

First up was Kev (Moran) against Peter O’Harrow (!) at No.1 – Was this going to be the year that Kev would make deeper inroads into Peter’s game? Unfortunately not, as Peter won the match 3-0 with some tight play to the back and the trade mark rocket to the front. I arrived at the end of the 2nd game and I thought that Kev let Peter dictate the pace a bit too much giving him a little too much to hit especially at the front of the court. Still all good experience and many have visited Newlands and come off second best to Mr O’Hara.

Ewen Urquhart went on next against Paul Bell from Carlisle at No.3 (yup, that’s right Paul Bell at No.3!) and he never really got into his stride. Paul was a little too experienced and Ewen was soon 2-0 down. Paul had an altercation with the marker in the 3rd game as he was expecting the call to be “Stroke to Newlands!” and was amazed when he didn’t get it. So in pique he started battering the ball as hard as possible; well like an alarm clock this woke Ewen up and he responded by also walloping everything at 200mph; suddenly the game came to life and Ewen was staging a comeback. Unfortunately it was a little too late and Paul’s lead meant that he was able to get the last couple of points needed, leaving Ewen high and dry; and I was left wondering if the clobberfest had started in the 1st game, would it have been a tighter game and how would Paul have responded??

Next up was me against Mark Ford at No.4 (I know – I wonder when the last time Mark played at No.4!). Anyway no surprises to hear that I got chopped 3-0 although I played quite well at times. I thought my length shots were working well and I volleyed well to boot. But when Mark realised that he’d have to get out of 3rd gear, he did and 7-7 became 11-7 in the 1st – I didn’t even get a sniff at the ball in the 2nd as Mark was almost trying at times and consistently sent me the wrong way – then in the 3rd he once again forgot that I could still hit the odd good shot and I almost sneaked a game, but it wasn’t to be and all I was left with was a strained Achilles on the down side and two pints of Erdinger on the up side!

Next on at No.2 was new Harrow signing Dougie (Kempsell) against England U19 No.4 Tom Ford all the way from Gloucester. Dougie had played Tom last year and been beaten 3-0 (in a Scotland v England Test Match) so it was going to take a gargantuan effort to turn that around; and a gargantuan effort is exactly what we got……………… from both players. Dougie took a very physical, tight 1st game, but Tom came back and took an exhausting 2nd and a lung-busting 3rd. Dougie won the 4th more easily and both players looked very tired going into the 5th, but none-the-less the match continued with its high quality shots and high-octane speed. Dougie was going cross-court from the front left too often for my liking (I know I’m a fine one to talk) and then having to do a lot of chasing to make up for losing the ‘T’. It was becoming a match about who could chase to the end and unfortunately although both players gave 100% it was Tom who prevailed and closed out the match 3-2.

Last up was Sean (Norris) against Malky Watt at No.5 (!). Bit of a tough one for Sean and 3-0 was tempered by the fact that he played well in the 1st to get 9 (ish) points, but it was always going to be a tall order to get a game, and a tall anything is not Sean’s strongest suit! Good effort though and anyway we discovered that (according to AP) Newlands weren’t really playing us tonight – they were competing against Giffnock! Ho hum.

I know it’s a bit vain to laugh at your own jokes and quote yourself, but then again I am vain, so with that in mind QOTN (quote of the night) was either:

No.1 from Tom Ford “The reason I took so long to get ready after every match is because I have to stretch and also have a couple of rehydrating drinks otherwise I suffer the next day.”

Reply from me “That’s very interesting as I also have to have a couple if rehydrating pints after my match!”

Or

No.2 from Alan (Newlands) Pearson “I remember once when we were celebrating a great victory we all went into that student Club in town, what’s it called? Oh yes Bamboo – and they let an old fart like me in, I couldn’t believe it.” Reply also from me “The only reason they let you in Bamboo Alan, is because you look like a Panda.”

Unfortunately he was knocked out last night by Alister Walker (PSA No.17) in a tough 1st round encounter as (apparently) Alan was suffering from Delhi-belly.

Nick Matthew had to pull out of this tournament with an adductor injury and this has left the door open for James Wilstrop to take the World No.1 spot if he wins the tournament; but it’s a big ‘if’ with Ramy Ashour back  and with both Gerg Gaultier & Karim Darwish in great form.

Have a look at the 1st round highlights here

Have a look at the Tournament Draw here

Also don’t forget the World Open Squash Tournament is on on Sky this week on Wednesday 10.30am (Sky Sports 2) – 1.00pm (Sky Sports 2) - 4.00pm (Sky Sports 3). Set those digi-boxes!

Fed up with getting sock as deodorant as Christmas presents? Well why don’t you tell your loved ones to get you anything squash and I’ll dash over a gift certificate to you in time for Christmas. It’s the future!!

(you can redeem hem against any Harrow products, squash coaching, squash balls etc).

To see David Lloyd Renfrew match reports click here

To see David Lloyd West End match reports click here

The first two on court were Sean (Norris) and Jason (Lang) at 4 & 5 respectively, both before I got there. Sean played Dave Kelly and had a bit of a battle. From what I hear Sean and Dave were going by the old adage “Why win in 3 when you can string it out to 5 games!” The crux of the game seems to have been the 4^th. Sean was 2-1 up and had three match balls! But DK must have put every last bit of effort into not only saving these points, but to go on and win the 4^th game 16-14. I say he must have put every last bit of effort as he got pumped 11-4 in the 5^th! But if you’re going to lose you should do it in 5, so good effort from the big man (and MOTM to Sean)

Jason was up against a West Squash legend in John Morris and I wouldn’t be surprised to see John being promoted up the teams soon. The first game was tight at 11-9, but Jason admitted to losing his confidence (and his length) after that and the next two games also slipped out of his reach 11-1  11-9, no problem losing to John and I’m not sure I would have like to play him myself.

Dougie (Kempsell) took to the court against Logie at No.2. This game had ‘high pace’ written all over it and it didn’t disappoint. This match was basically a game of court sprints with the ball being speeded to the back with tight low drives and then fizzed to the front with low two-wall boasts (and the odd drop – and they were!). Well it was a good match to watch and Dougie looked in control of much of it as Logington tired. But not before he made a major challenge in the 2^nd at 9-9, however Dougie even wrestled this game back to win it and although Logie gave it everything in the 3^rd he was spent by this time; so 3-0 to Dougie and a good performance.

I went on next against Graham Dunns at No.3 (some of you may have noticed that this was for the match!). Dunsey, or the Grinch as he’s known to his team mates, was playing better than he has for a while as he’s been (relatively) injury free. This was going to be a tough one! The first three rallies were crash, bang, wallop and it didn’t take me long to realise that this was never going to last. So I took the pace right off the ball and went for accuracy instead. This turned out to be the way ahead and I took the 1^st game 11-6. At 4-0 down in the 2^nd game I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to change the plan already and luckily at this point I went on a 9 point run to secure the game, despite a comeback from Graham (11-8). The 3^rd saw Dunsey get into his stride and volley much better. I was cross-courting too much and Graham was taking full advantage. It was close, but I lost it 11-9. In the 4^th I got a good 9-5 lead and Dunsey was questioning a few decisions (despite having the old fishing-racket out for the odd stroke himself! (Funnily enough I recall playing Dunsey in a National League match when I first arrived up here. I remember thinking that some of the decisions were on the harsh side – mind you it was 1989 and I was a soft southerner then! Whereas now I’m a kilt wearing, whiskey drinking soft southerner. A bit of a Ronny Corbett digression there; anyway back to the match. I was 9-5 up and the Grinch was on the charge as he pulled back two match balls to make it 10-9. At this point I edged forward in the f/h box to receive serve (as he’d been serving very well) – this was really just to put him off a bit, but as the ball came towards me I was just far enough up the court to have a go at it, but the only shot on was a short cross-court. I was both committed to the shot and worried about it at the same time so I gave it a thwack and what do you know it went into the nic and I won the game 3-1 (and the team got the match bonus points!). Classic – that shot is definitely the future! (Along with Greggs macaroni pies).

Last up was Kev (Moran) against Steven Halliday at No.1 and Kev was playing slightly differently in the 1^st game. He seemed to be trying to just move Steven round the court and manoeuvre him out of position. This was going OK in the main and if Kev didn’t get the shot quite right he was so quick to cover that Steven had to win every rally 3 times to get the point. However Steven went 8-6 up (must have hit 24 winnrs!) I was wondering how Kev was going to come back against someone with Steve’s racket skills, but comeback he did and showed great poise in doing it to win 11-9. The 2^nd game saw Kev start to generate much more pace on the ball and this made a massive difference to the plan. He was in control of much of the 2^nd game and making Steven wonder again what he had to do to play a winner as Kev took it 11-6; the 3^rd was not much different as Kev took a 9-2 lead and won the match 11-5. Beating Steve Halliday 3-0 is no mean feat and although Kev didn’t think it went to plan I thought it was a good performance.

A Chinese and a Deuchars with the guys after and tales of an “interesting” nights squash for the other Western 1^st Division team!?!?!?!

QOTN (Quote of the Match) – The Grinch (aka Dunsey) to Dougie K “There’s some strange decisions coming down from you marker, don’t get me wrong I’m not going to be waiting outside later, but never-the-less???”