Squash aces keep Chichester on top

Chichester remain top of their Premier Squash League group after a 4-1 win in their third match of the season against London Coolhurst.
The Chichester and Coolhurst line-upsThe Chichester and Coolhurst line-ups
The Chichester and Coolhurst line-ups

Jasmine Hutton made her debut for Chichester alongside Paul Coll, Nathan Lake, Tim Vail and Miles Jenkins.

Hutton was recently runner-up in the final of the British junior under-19 national final.

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First on the glass-back court Chichester’s Miles Jenkins (world 266) played Elliot Selby (world 195). Jenkins took a commanding 8-0 lead in the first game by hitting his targets and taking the ball early. Selby took advantage of Jenkins’ drop in pace to put six points back on the board. Jenkins held his nerve and eventually won it 11-6.

The second game was quite fragmented and the 11-4 scoreline highlighted a more consistent Jenkins taking the second. In the third Jenkins continued to play a better length and won the match 11-6 for Chichester.

Hutton (world 237) started well against Haley Mendez (world 78) and her all-court attacking game gave her a 9-6 lead before she faltered to lose it 12-10.

Hutton determinedly fought back and took the second 11-7 to level the match. Mendez regained hold to take the third 11-6. Midway through the fourth Hutton turned her ankle. She resumed play after an injury time-out but lost the third 11-4.

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Lake (world 74) played Angus Gillams (world 66) and Lake was in no mood to hang around and he took charge from the outset. He played tidy, efficient and error-free squash and ran through Gillams 11-6, 11-5, 11-2.

Meanwhile on the adjacent championship court Vail lost a tight opener 11-9 to Ondrej Uherka (world 190). While slight impatience and going too short too soon cost him the first game, more patience combined with some sublime touches enabled Vail to take the second 11-8 to even up the score.

The next two games involved long rallies and a lot of fortitude from Vail and some great touches at just the right time. Vail eventually ran out a 3-1 winner in a very hard-fought match to give Chichester another victory – upholding their unbeaten run.

Chichester’s rising star Coll (world 33) played former Chichester No1 string Adrian Waller (world 36). Coll was relentless from the beginning and his retrieving abilities and counter drops forced desperate errors from Waller as Coll speedily took an 11-3, 11-3 lead.

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Waller threw caution to the wind in the third and went for some great nicks, which came off and kept him in the game. Waller reached 10-8 before Coll applied more pressure and the errors from Waller returned. Coll took the game and the match 12-10.

Chichester’s next match is away to Surrey HRC on December 13.

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