Superb play in England squash clash

Press, 4 December 1985, Page 80

Superb play in England squash clash

NZPA staff correspondent HUGH BARLOW Cairo A 2-1 win by Pakistan over Australia cleared the way for a superb match between New Zealand and England at the world teams squash championships in Cairo. The matches were the last in the top two pools at the tournament. With the winner of one playing the loser of the other in the semi-finals, they were likely to have a big influence on the outcome of the championship. It had been expected that Australia would beat Pakistan, leaving New Zealand needing to lose to the English if it was to avoid an almost certainly disastrous semi-final clash with Pakistan. Australia’s win meant the New Zealand trio of Ross Norman, Stuart Davenport and Paul Viggers went on court knowing that only a victory would keep their hopes of a world title alive. England’s hopes also depended on a win. The English regard New Zealand as their biggest threat and it would have suited them to see Pakistan beat New Zealand in a semi-final. England was disappointed, however, as first Davenport thrashed Phil Kenyon, and then Norman overcame Gawain Briars to put New Zealand into the semi-finals against Australia. Davenport’s win was decisive. Kenyon, ranked ninth in the world, looked in a totally different league as he lost 5-9, 0-9, 0-9, to the Wellingtonian, who only once in the final two games lost the serve. Norman had to work much harder against Briars.'

The tall Englishman K‘ ed with more purpose he did when losing to the New Zealander, 0-3, in the semi-finals of the individual championship last week. It was not until well into the third set that Norman assumed a measure of control. The first two sets lasted 45 minutes, with Norman winning the first, 9-3, but Briars taking the second, 92. In the end it was the hectic pace that counted against Briars. The match was evenly poised up until the middle of the third game, when the score was tied, 5-5. Then the more fit Norman gradually took over, to win the game 9-6. He then took the fourth game, 9-2, as Briars found his legs too slow to respond. Paul Viggers played extremely well against Hiddy Jahan, aged 35, ranked eleventh in the world. Viggers held set point three times in the first set but clumsy errors allowed the Englishman a lucky 10-9 win. Viggers, aged 25, appeared more settled in the second game, and quickly moved to a 7-1 lead before winning, 9-5, to tie the score at 1-1. Then the New Zealand manager, Don Cotter, decided that with important semi-final and perhaps final matches ahead, there was no point in Viggers expending his energy on a game that did not matter. Results.—New Zealand beat England 2-1: S. Davenport beat P. Kenyon, 9-5, 9-0, 9-0; R. Norman beat G. Briars, 93, 2-9, 9-6, 9-2; P. Viggers lost to H. Jahan, 9-10,9-5,1-9,2-9.