Chichester Win, But Guildford Celebrate Highest PSL Finish For Three Years

The delayed seventh round Premier League (PSL) tie between PNH Properties Chichester and UniSport Guildford - postponed after the heavy snow in early February - produced delight for both teams: A final win for last year's runners-up Chichester, and a fourth-place finish in the Group B tables - their best for three years - for Guildford.

Chichester captain Tim Vail clinched victory for the hosts after beating the University of Surrey team stalwart Stephen Meads 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7 in the second string clash - but crucial to the visitors was gaining valuable game points in the three matches lost.

Chichester took the lead after the opening match when 16-year-old Annabelle Collins-Ballands beat Emma Wardle, aged 17, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-6 in a hard-fought clash between two stars of the future.

The visitors fought back when coach Phil Rushworth beat Sussex 20-year-old Olivier Pett 12-10, 11-3, 11-9. In another five-game battle, Chichester's Scottish international Neil Frankland dealt a cruel blow on his former club when he beat Guildford's Mick Biggs 11-5, 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5.

After Vail put the tie beyond the Surrey club's reach, Stacey Ross clinched the valuable points which took Guildford to fourth place in the table when he fought back from two games down - and saved a match ball in the third - to beat Chichester's former world No5 Alex Gough 5-11, 7-11, 15-13, 11-5, 11-7 in the end-of-evening top string clash.

Group B:
PNH Properties Chichester 3 UniSport Guildford 2
Alex Gough lost to Stacey Ross 11-5, 11-7, 13-15, 5-11, 7-11
Tim Vail bt Stephen Meads 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7
Olivier Pett lost to Phil Rushworth 10-12, 3-11, 9-11
Neil Frankland bt Mick Biggs 11-5, 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5
Annabelle Collins-Ballands bt Emma Wardle 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-6