Games Gold Medallist Peter Nicol In Home-Coming Debut At Chichester

 

Just 24 hours after returning home following his remarkable double gold medal triumph in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Peter Nicol will be making his first appearance on home soil when he leads Surrey Health & Racquets Club Croydon in tomorrow's (Tuesday) final (tenth) round of the Premier Squash League (PSL) at Team Chichester.

 

Nicol, who celebrated his 33rd birthday last week in Bermuda where he reached the final of the Bermuda PSA Masters, won his second singles gold medal in eight years when he beat the Australian favourite David Palmer in the final, then successfully defended his gold medal with Lee Beachill in the men's doubles – again triumphing over the Australian favourites in the final.

 

Nicol faces Chichester's Ben Garner in the top string battle of the tie which may decide the winner of the South Group.  Croydon currently lead the table with 94 points, ahead of second-placed Oberthur Strings Tewkesbury, with 87, and Chichester with 82.  The Gloucestershire club face University Sport Birmingham at home, whilst Chichester have a tie in hand, with their final clash against the Birmingham club scheduled to take place next week.

 

There will be Commonwealth Games medallists galore in the top-of-the-table battle in the North Group of the THB Clowes-sponsored league when group leaders Churchill Edgbaston Priory host Manchester/Pontefract.  Both teams are former champions and both squads will be at full strength.

 

England medallists James Willstrop (silver) and Lee Beachill (gold & bronze) lead the visitors' attack against the Birmingham club's Australians David Palmer (one silver & two bronze) and Stewart Boswell (silver), respectively.  Victory for Priory would ensure a top-place finish, though a win by Manchester/Pontefract – who have a tie in hand – could consign the 2003 champions to second place.

 

In the women's match, Manchester's silver and bronze medallist Vicky Botwright (representing Edgbaston) takes on England team-mate Jenny Duncalf.

 

The other tenth round tie in the North Group sees 1998 champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield entertain title-holders Wolverhampton.

 

10th round, Tuesday 11 April 2006

 

         North Group:

Churchill Edgbaston Priory                                v                                          Manchester/Pontefract

    David Palmer v James Willstrop

    Stewart Boswell v Lee Beachill

    Adrian Grant v Nick Taylor

    Peter Barker v Andrew Whipp

    Vicky Botwright v Jenny Duncalf

Benz-Bavarian Duffield                                       v                                          Wolverhampton

    Anthony Ricketts v Nick Matthew

    Alex Gough v Jonathan Kemp

    Scott Handley v Renan Lavigne

    Chris Ryder v Lawrence Delasaux

    Fiona Moverley v Laura Hill

 

         South Group:

Oberthur Strings Tewkesbury                          v                                          University Sport Birmingham

    Cameron Pilley v Joey Barrington

    Rodney Durbach v Jonathan Harford

    Daryl Selby v Steve Coppinger

    Rob Sutherland v Chris Truswell

    (TBA) v Georgina Stoker

Team Chichester                                                  v                                          Surrey H&RC Croydon

    Ben Garner v Peter Nicol

    Peter Genever v Phillip Barker

    Tim Vail v Tim Garner

    Tom Richards v Chris Simpson

    Linda Elriani v Jane Gardner

 

PSL TABLES (after 9th round)

(best viewed in ‘Courier New’ font)

                           Ties       Matches     Games     Pts

                         P   W   L    W    L     W     L

   North Group:

Edgbaston Priory         7   6   1   24   11    87    47     117

Manchester/Pontefract    6   4   2   20   10    67    46      87

Duffield                 6   4   2   18   12    64    45      84

Wolverhampton            6   2   4   10   20    44    72      54

Nottingham               7   0   7    8   27    38    90      38

   South Group:

Surrey H&RC Croydon      7   4   3   21   14    74    55      94

Strings Tewkesbury       7   4   3   17   18    67    70      87

UniSport Guildford       8   3   5   17   23    70    83      85

Team Chichester          6   4   2   17   13    62    52      82

Birmingham University    6   2   4   13   17    50    62      60

 

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