Duffield & Bristol Bank On Britons For PSL Success

While defending champions PCL Whitehall Security Surrey H&RC and league newcomers Chapel Allerton will be led by top overseas players in tomorrow's semi-finals of the Premier League (PSL), opponents Benz-Bavarian Duffield and Probuild Bristol, respectively, will be relying on 100% British squads as they bid for places in the final of the 26th season of the world's most prestigious squash league.

Derbyshire club Duffield, three times PSL champions (in 1998, 2006 and 2007), are celebrating their fourth successive season in the semi-finals, while Croydon-based opponents Surrey Health & Racquets Club are hoping for a second successive year in the final after winning the title for the first time last year.

After an absence of more than a decade, well-established Leeds club Chapel Allerton are marking their first appearance in the semi-finals - while Bristol will be hoping to repeat the success they achieved in the maiden season in the league two years ago when they finished as runners-up.

Duffield will be fielding an entirely English squad, led by club stalwart Nick Matthew, the world No5 from Sheffield who is the reigning British National champion. Matthew, in his sixth season for Duffield, will line up against the Surrey H&RC number one Wael El Hindi, the world No9 from Egypt who made his PSL debut for the Croydon club last season.

The opening match of the tie in Croydon will feature England team-mates Vicky Botwright and Tania Bailey - with both players currently in top form. Botwright rounded off her illustrious career by reaching the World Open final in her home town Manchester last October - while Duffield star Bailey has just returned from Malaysia where she won the biggest Tour title of her career in Kuala Lumpur.

In addition to El Hindi, the home side will hope for Italian success in the third string clash where Davide Bianchetti takes on Duffield's Peter Billson - before England international Peter Barker, the world No10 from London, faces the visitors' Andrew Whipp in the battle between the second strings.

In the other tie, home side Chapel Allerton will be relying on the French influence of their number one Thierry Lincou and the Australian contribution of third string Aaron Frankcomb. Lincou, an 11-time winner of the French national title and a former world champion and world number one, takes on Bristol's top string Adrian Grant. Earlier this month, the world No13 from London won a PSA event in India to become the current Englishman with the most Tour titles.

Frankcomb faces Bristol captain Hadrian Stiff, a former world No54, while the visitors' David Evans - the now-retired Welshman who won the British Open crown in 2000 - will do battle with the Yorkshire hosts' rising star Alister Walker, England's Leeds-based world No16.

National and club pride is on the line in these crucial semi-final clashes: Said Duffield team manager Felix Frixou: "I am extremely proud of both Duffield Squash Club and all the squad members of Benz Bavarian Duffield for reaching this stage of what is without doubt the finest Squash League in the World. The standard of play by all teams so far has been magnificent, and I would like to thank all my team members for some enthralling matches.

"It would obviously be very disappointing to lose at this stage, but I appreciate it will be a very tough match against an in-form Surrey side. If this be the case, I honestly could not have asked or been given any more from my team. This said, I do believe we are in with an excellent chance of progressing to the Final and am sure it will be a wonderful if hard fought spectacle against Surrey.

"This season has been a sharp learning curve for myself, it being my first season as Team Manager. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all members of the various clubs we have visited for extending a very warm welcome, and very much look forward to continued success in the 2009 /2010 season."

Surrey Health & Racquets Club team manager Pete Smith responded: "After our success last year in winning the title, it was always going to be tough to defend it this year. The squad have been excellent and managing to finish top of the south league after 10 competitive matches and claiming a home draw in the Semi-Final was great news.

"Tuesday's match against Duffield is going to be a fantastic night of squash with both teams at full strength, a packed crowd and the prize a place in the final. We have utmost respect for the Duffield team, having won the title so many times before, so I am sure they will come at us with all guns blazing. We are looking forward to Tuesday very much and we hope we can play well and move through to the Final."

Mike Dickens, manager of the Chapel Allerton squad, added: "Chapel Allerton Tennis and Squash Club have made wonderful progression in their first season of PSL. We lost our first match to Nottingham, but have marched on since then to reach the semi-finals. The atmosphere at Chapel A has been superb all season, with sell out crowds every time. The home crowd are looking forward to the semi final, especially with Bristol having some absolute legends of squash in the line-up. It has been a fantastic season and long may it continue to the final (fingers crossed)."

Bristol team captain Hadrian Stiff concluded: "Although we are missing Peter Marshall, Lewys Hurst is playing well and is a good replacement. I feel we do have a chance of winning and, as usual, it's down to how we all perform on the night!"