Champions Establish Narrow Lead After First Semi-Final Leg

Yorkshire's world No3 Lee Beachill clinched victory for title-holders Manchester/Pontefract in the deciding match of the first semi-final leg in the National League against Team Chichester, to give the trans-Pennine cooperative a 3/2 lead going into next week's home second leg tie at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.

The northern team, winners of the National League title for the first time last year, reached the semi-final playoffs after winning Group A unbeaten in all but one tie - while Chichester made the knockout stage for the third year in a row after finishing as runners-up in Group B.

In front of a capacity crowd at the Chichester club, Sussex's British National champion Linda Elriani put the hosts into the lead with a comprehensive 9-0 9-6 9-3 win over England team-mate Jenny Duncalf.

Local star Tim Vail then delighted home fans when he stemmed a valiant fight back by Nick Taylor to defeat the Manchester/Pontefract fourth string, a former world No14, 9-5 9-3 5-9 4-9 9-7. It was Taylor's first defeat in six National League matches - and it increased the Chichester lead to 2/0.

However, in what was probably the defining match of the tie, Yorkshireman Marcus Berrett - the visitors' dependable No3 who 'retired' from the PSA Tour four years ago - pulled off a devastating 9-3 9-7 9-4 win over Chichester's Tim Garner, also a former full-time player, to give the advantage back to the visitors.

Tensions rose leading into the second string match, in which Chichester stalwart Peter Genever took on James Willstrop, who with Beachill had arrived in Chichester direct from last week's PSA Super Series event in Bermuda. Genever put up a brave fight against the world No8 from Pontefract, but ultimately went down 10-8 9-4 9-11 9-7 as Willstrop levelled the tie to leave his training partner and Chichester No1 Mohd Azlan Iskandar to contest the decider.

Despite a determined effort by Chichester's adopted Malaysian, Lee Beachill was simply too strong for Iskandar as he swept to a 9-2 9-3 9-2 win to give the visitors a 3/2 victory - and a vital advantage going into the second leg tie on Tuesday 19th April.

"It was a brilliant night of really good squash, and the place was absolutely packed - you couldn't have fitted in a single extra person," said Manchester/Pontefract captain Nick Taylor afterwards. "But it was good to get the win to take the pressure off us when we're at home next week at the National Squash Centre."

The other first leg semi-final tie, between Oberthur Strings Tewkesbury and Wolverhampton, has been rescheduled and will also take place on 19 April.

Semi-finals (first leg), Tuesday 12 April 2005

Team Chichester 2-3 Manchester/Pontefract
Mohd Azlan Iskandar lost to Lee Beachill 2-9, 3-9, 2-9
Peter Genever lost to James Willstrop 8-10, 4-9, 11-9, 7-9
Tim Garner lost to Marcus Berrett 3-9, 7-9, 4-9
Tim Vail beat Nick Taylor 9-5, 9-3, 5-9, 4-9, 9-7
Linda Elriani beat Jenny Duncalf 9-0, 9-6, 9-3