Port Elizabeth
Monday 8th July 2013
The 54th Jarvis/Kaplan Cup with a record entry of 28 men’s teams and 16 women’s team: 2 of the top 20 men – 13thranked, Cameron Pilley (Australia) and 16th ranked ,Steve Coppinger (RSA) and a further 5 in the top 100 – Olli Tuominin (Finland) 26 , Shaun Le Roux (49), Eddie Charlton (60), Peter Creed (ENG) 74, Clinton Leeuw(RSA) 86: 4 of the women’s top 34 players – Line Hansen (Denmark) 21, Lauren Briggs (Eng) 29, Emma Beddoes (Eng) 31 and Siyoli Waters (RSA) 34 – got off to an interesting start on Monday 8th July in the windy/friendly city, which having experienced rain for a week, greeted the visitors with beautiful blue skies, sunshine and a calm sea.
Defending champions, Western Province Men’s A team sporting a powerful line-up of Cameron Pilley, Shaun Le Roux, Clinton Leeuw, Rodney Durbach and Zuko Kubukeli limped to a 15-7 win over Central Gauteng. First match between Leeuw and Devon Hendricks resulted in a straight games win for National player, Leeuw with Durbach adding another win to the pot when disposing of former National player, Mike Tootill in 4 games. However, Paul Atkinson (CG), although resident in Cape Town (WP) then upset Zuko Kubukeli 3-1. Le Roux and Thoboki Mohohlo took to the court. Playing accurate, attacking squash Mohohlo raced to a 10-4 lead before Le Roux clawed back to 9-10. An intense rally followed with Le Roux trying to equal matters but in lunging forward to retrieve a drop shot from Mohohlo, he injured his calf muscle. Le Roux took a 3 minute break , conceded the next game hoping to be able to continue after a further 3 minute break but had to then concede the match. An extremel unfortunate start to the week for Le Roux and Western Province.
In the Kwazulu Natal/SACD encounter, Tuominen playing for SACD, caused the major upset by disposing of Coppinger in four games. JP Brits provided a second surprise when he outplayed Andrew Martin (Kzn) in 5 tough games but for Kwazulu Natal, last year’s runners-up and winners in 2010 and 2011, Hungarian Marc Krasjcak, Adrian Hansen and Gary Wheadon who beat Christo Potgieter, Jimmy Schlebusch and Francois le Roux respectively, returned the match to “on paper” sanity.
In the final A section encounter , which could well decide the wooden spoon position, Border lead by England’s Tim Garner beat Northerns with Peter Creed at the helm, 16-9.
Favourites to take the women’s title, Western Province, had a runaway 20 -2 win over Kwazulu Natal. Spearheaded by Denmark’s Line Hansen and Siyoli Waters, who both had straight games victories over Lauren Briggs and Samantha Herbert respectively. Karen Schultz and Sacha wst also notched 3-0 wind for Western province with Alex Fuller compketing the victory after a hard fought 5 game battle with Julie Lee. 2012 winners, Central Gauteng did not have many things things their own way against Eastern Province. In the first match on court Elani Landman took the first game against her Univesity of Johannesburg team mate, Cheyna Tucker but with advice from the captain, Emma Beddoes, Tucker rolled off the next 3 games. In the number 4 clash Central Gauteng’s Karen Hawyes faded against Elani’s twin, Lume bowing out 1-3 and Central Gauteng were experiencing even more anxious moments as they watched their number 5 , Sharon le Roux lose a tight 5 game struggle against a super fit, Anlen Jarman. The next match on also caused some anxious moments for the ladies in red (Central Gauteng) as Jacquie Ryder took her more highly ranked opponent and national champion, Diana Haynes to 5 games. It was left to Beddoes to calm the beating hearts as she raced through in straight games against Lizelle Goosen.
SACD lead by Lauren Siddall, who were demoted last year but with the qothdrawl of Easterns filled the vacant spot this year, started their week off on a comfortable 16-9 win over Northerns.
The week is but young and more interesting results will be expected.
Liz Addison
National Director/Development
Manager
Squash South Africa
Telephone : 011 4428056
Fax: 011 4428036
