Surrey in a hurry to get better of Chichester

Chi’s Lauren Briggs struggled to stay with world No8 Alison Waters, whose pace and quick hitting eased her to a 3-0 victory, 11-4, 11-4, 11-1.

Chichester’s Kyle Finch took on Lyell Fuller, who had beaten him in five at Chichester in the first half of the season.

Finch won a close first game 12-10 but Fuller’s experience forged through, allowing him to take the next two tight games 11-8, 14-12. He opened up an early lead in the fourth before closing the match 3-1 with an 11-3 victory.

Robbie Temple was up against former world No3 Peter Barker, who has just retired and was playing at No2 string for the first time.

A very entertaining match ensued – the momentum swayed one way then the other with good hitting and delightful touches from Temple.

Temple battled his way through to take the fifth-game decider 11-8 and narrow the match score to 2-1 to Surrey.

Match of the night was between the two lefties, Chichester’s Nathan Lake (world 77) and world-ranked 60 Piedro Schweertman.

Schweertman hit some really good straight lines and Lake was struggling to take control of the T to keep his opponent behind him and was forced to work hard to retrieve.

Lake engineered a match point in the fourth by sheer persistence and refusal to give up. But he didn’t convert the point and the match went to a decider.

Schweertman looked the fresher of the two and immediately capitalised on Lake’s fatigue to win 11-7 and give Surrey an unassailable 3-1 margin.

Adrian Waller faced Surrey’s world 13 Ali Farag. Waller quickly wrapped up the first game up 11-6. Farag showed his class and considerably tightened up his game. He upped the pace to win the next three games in style to give Surrey a 4-1 win.

Chichester are at full strength for the next match against Bristol at home next Tuesday (March 29).

Chichester are third but it is still tight between the top four teams. Tickets are now on sale on 01243 785664.

* Bognor’s first team eased away from the relegation zone with a convincing win when they travelled to play bottom team Chichester seconds.

Jon Corke set the scene for the visitors as he took the first game against James Stedman and, despite the home player levelling in a close second, edged an even closer third and went on to win 9-2, 7-9, 9-8, 9-5.

Fourth string Glenn Peskett was another 3-1 winner having lost the first game playing Chris Earl in a 4-9, 9-3, 9-4, 9-2 win.

Bognor’s No3 was Will Burley but he was outplayed by Ed McCarthy, who won 9-3, 9-4, 9-3.

Second string for the visitors was Alastair Campbell, who became the third from Bognor to record a 3-1 margin. Campbell lost the first game to Andrew Bishop but found his rhythm, taking the next three to win 6-9, 9-5, 9-2, 9-4.

In the top-string contest, Bognor captain Greg Jansz was facing Louie Martin. Jansz took a quick 2-0 lead before Martin took the third and fourth to level, but the visitor was not to be denied. Jansz took the fifth to win 9-3, 9-2, 8-10, 5-9, 9-6 and give Bognor a 4-1 victory ad 17 valuable points to Chichester’s six.

At Hawthorn Road the next action will be on Friday, April 1, when the second team entertain Bluecoats Sports from Horsham - visitors welcome, details on 01243 865462 or the club website.

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