In front of a packed main court, Rodney Durbach, acting captain for TVS Broxbourne in the absence of world No.8 Mark Chaloner, proved that they were far too strong for the south coast side who came to the Broxbourne based club expecting to inflict damage to the slightly weakened local team.

 

First on court, Natalie Pohrer, World no.4, against News of the World glamour girl, Vicky Botwright who had built a reputation with a series of photographs of her wearing a 'sports thong'! Vicky who has been a squash professional for some years now is the envy of many a female sports professional. However, not detracted from her duties in hand, 25 yr old Natalie went out at a pace too hot even for the World No.15 to handle and won 9-4 9-0 9-0 in just 22 minutes.

 

One the second court, 4th string, Alistair Walker was making short work of Greg 'grumpy' Tippings, who had travelled from Wales earlier in the day to play, by winning 3-0 in 25minutes in a largely uneventful match.

 

At 2-0 TVS Broxbourne needed only one of the three remaining rubbers to win the match. It was too be Danny Meddings, ex-England team player, who was to earn the vital win. Playing Ben Howell, some ten years his junior, Danny twisted & turned to win a fiercely contested close first game 12-10. A slight lack of concentration let Howell back in to take the second game 7-9, but it was all downhill for Meddings from there. Experience showed as he won the next two games 9-5 9-7 to secure the points for Broxbourne in 40minutes. 

 

Disappointingly, Alex Stait, making his debut this season and at 2nd string, was Broxbourne's only looser of the evening, eventually going down 2-3 after saving 2 match points in the forth game. Alex desperate to win in front of his home crowd, lacked the killer instinct when it was needed most. His 55 minute encounter thrilled the local crowd.

 

Finally, acting captain and local favourite, Rodney Durbach, wrapped it all up in just 34 minutes, beating Lee on Solent captain, Bradley Ball, to inflict only the first defeat of the Lee-on Solent leader in the past four seasons at Broxbourne!

 

TVS Broxbourne spokesman, Andy Booth commented "We expected to win, but we are all desperately disappointed for Alex, who we thought would rise to the occasion at 2nd string and inflict a defeat of a player well above him in the World rankings. He is capable of it but lacks belief in himself! This win keeps us at the top of the table, well clear of Lexden who have lost more games than us.

 

TVS continue in the top spot of the South of England group with a superior game difference over Lexden, last season's National League Winners.    

 

• Pool B

Chichester  5-0  Guildford
   Peter Genever bt Stephen Meads  9/5, 9/4, 4/9, 5/9, 9/7
   Moh'd Azlan Iskander bt Stacey Ross  9/6, 7/9, 9/6, 9/5
   Tim Vail bt Neil Frankland  9/6, 12/10, 10/12, 9/4
   Ben Garner bt Ross Norman  9/5, 9/4, 11/13, 10/8
   Susie Pierrepont bt Anne Connell   9/0, 9/2, 9/1

Tek Sing Lexden 4-1 UK Packaging
   David Evans bt Tim Garner  12/10, 7/9, 9/5, 9/5
   Lee Drew bt Lee Jemmett   9/3, 9/6, 9/7
   Raj Nanda bt Stuart Cowie  11/9, 9/3, 9/3
   David Woodman lt Daryl Selby  9/11, 3/9, 1/9
   Cheryl Beaumont bt Carla Khan  4/9, 9/1, 9/5, 9/3

Broxbourne  4-1  Lee-on-Solent  
   Rodney Durbach bt Bradley Ball  9/7, 9/6, 9/6
   Alex Stait lt Mark Heather  9/2, 1/9, 6/9, 10/8, 6/9
   Danny Meddings bt Ben Howell  12/10, 7/9, 9/5, 9/5
   Alister Walker bt Greg Tippings  9/2, 9/6, 9/2
   Natalie Pohrer bt Vicky Botwright  9/4, 9/0, 9/0

 

Group B:
Team                   P W L MW ML  GW GL Pts
Broxbourne             4 3 1 13  7  44 24  19
Lexden                 4 3 1 13  7  41 30  19
Chichester             4 3 1 12  8  41 34  18
Lee-on-Solent          4 1 3  9 11  34 37  11
UK Packaging           4 1 3  8 12  33 39  10
Guildford              4 1 3  5 16  23 52   7