29 Oct 2009

MEDIA RELEASE

Australia down England to clinch third

Australia finished third at the World Men's Teams Squash Championship in Odense, Denmark after they upset second seeds England 2/1 in the playoff for third and fourth place on Saturday

Playing at 10.30am despite only finishing their semi-final against Egypt late the night before, the Australian team rallied after David Palmer (former AIS) lost the opening rubber to finish over the top of England and secure third place.

Egypt won the title when they downed France 2/1 in a thrilling finale to the tournament, Amr Shabana coming from behind to beat Thierry Lincou after Karim Darwish had lost to Gregory Gaultier and Ramy Ashour defeated Renan Lavigne.

Palmer opened proceedings for Australia against James Willstrop and conceded later he felt flat after his epic battle against world number one Darwish on Friday night.

The 34-year-old struggled early in the first two games before finding his range in the third and working his way back into the match.

However Willstrop reasserted himself and jumped out to a big lead in the fourth game, which he maintained to clinch the opening rubber for England 11-8, 11-2, 11-13, 11-2.

Cameron Pilley (former AIS) was next on for Australia against Alister Walker, currently ranked 12 in the world and a late replacement for the injured Nick Mathew.

Pilley started strongly in the first game before Walker overcame his initial nerves and settled into the match, the first two games going to tiebreakers.

Pilley played confidently in the third to move ahead 2/1 then had a bad start to the fourth, allowing Walker to take the game comfortably and level things up at two games apiece.

The stage was set for a big finish and Pilley didn't disappoint as he raced out to a big lead in the fifth with tight length and precise shots into both front corners.

The 26-year-old from Yamba in New South Wales closed out the match 10-12, 15-13, 11-3, 6-11, 11-4 to keep Australian hopes alive.

Stewart Boswell,(former AIS) who has been out injured for the past three months, then played some high intensity squash to dominate Peter Barker, winning in four games 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 12-10 to strike a big psychological blow one year out from the Commonwealth Games.

Results (prefix denotes seeding)

Final

1-Egypt bt 3-France 2/1

Karim Darwish lost to Gregory Gaultier 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 2-11
Ramy Ashour bt Renan Lavigne 11-3, 11-4, 11-5

Amr Shabana bt Thierry Lincou 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 12-10

3/4^th place

4-Australia bt 2-England 2/1

David Palmer lost to James Willstrop 8-11, 2-11, 13-11, 2-11

Cameron Pilley bt Alister Walker 10-12, 15-13, 11-3, 6-11, 11-4

Stewart Boswell bt Peter Barker 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 12-10