World Number One Gaultier Leads French To Welsh Victory

Wales are out of the World Team Squash Championships after losing against hosts France.

World number one Gregory Gaultier led the French to a 3-0 victory, beating Welsh first string Joel Makin 11-6, 11-9, 12-10 in 54 minutes.

Mathieu Castagnet defeated Peter Creed, from Rhiwbina SRC, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 and Newport’s David Haley was beaten by Lucas Serme.

France now play Hong King China, who have former Wales national coach Chris Robertson in charge, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.

Full quarter-final draw, seedings in brackets: [1] Egypt v [10] Scotland; [3] France v [5] Hong Kong China; [4] Australia v [6] New Zealand; [2] England v [8] India.

There was drama in the England v Switzerland clash when, after James Willstrop put title-holders England head, teammate Nick Matthew faced his first ever defeat against Nicolas Muller when the Swiss number one built up a 2/0, 8-7 lead and was three points away from an historic upset.

With three World individual titles to his name and more than 100 caps for England, 37-year-old Matthew called upon his vast experience in the game to weather the storm and assert his authority on his opponent to close out the match 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 in 53 minutes to carry England into the last eight.

“The team stuck with me mentally,” said relieved World number five Matthew. “I wasn’t feeling confident and Nicolas played really well. The coach and the guys helped me stay positive.

Scotland’s Greg Lobban plays Malaysian Eain Yow Ng. Lobban won 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7.

“I was moving a little bit slowly and Nicolas is an extremely quick and dangerous player.”

Day four of the championships finished in dramatic style when 10th seeds Scotland fought out a shock 2/1 win over Malaysia, the ninth seeds.

When squad second string Greg Lobban defeated Malaysian Eain Yow Ng 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7 and team number one Alan Clyne forged a 2/1 lead over Nafiizwan Adnan, it looked as if Scotland were heading for a straightforward 2/0 upset over their more fancied opponents.

But Adnan, who had a superior head-to-head record over the Scot, regained control to overcome Clyne 7-11, 11-1, 11-8, 3-11, 8-11 in 74 minutes.

Scotland clinched victory when third string Douglas Kempsell beat Mohd Syafiq Kamal 11-3, 3-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6.

“I thought we had it in the second match,” said Scottish team manager Martin Heath. “I was quite confident once Alan went 2/1 up, but Wan (Adnan) played faultless squash in the fourth and fifth games to deny us.

“I didn’t know what to expect in the decider – it was always going to be close.

“But I am so proud of the guys for taking us into the last eight.”

RESULTS: WSF World Team Squash Championship, Marseille, France

Last 16 round:

[1] EGYPT bt [15] FINLAND 3/0

Ali Farag bt Jami Äijänen 11-5, 11-9, 11-6 (25m)

Karim Abdel Gawad bt Miko Äijänen 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 (41m)

Marwan Elshorbagy bt Matias Tuomi 11-6, 11-3 (16m)

[10] SCOTLAND bt [9] MALAYSIA 2/1

Greg Lobban bt Eain Yow Ng 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7 (50m)

Alan Clyne lost to Nafiizwan Adnan 7-11, 11-1, 11-8, 3-11, 8-11 (74m)

Douglas Kempsell bt Mohd Syafiq Kamal 11-3, 3-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6 (69m)

[3] FRANCE bt [13] WALES 3/0

Mathieu Castagnet bt Peter Creed 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (36m)

Gregory Gaultier bt Joel Makin 11-6, 11-9, 12-10 (54m)

Lucas Serme bt David Haley 11-6, 11-4 (19m)

[5] HONG KONG CHINA bt [11] USA 2/1

Leo Au bt Christopher Gordon 11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4 (43m)

Max Lee lost to Todd Harrity 7-11, 11-4, 7-11, 9-11 (45m)

Yip Tsz Fung bt Chris Hanson 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (40m)

[6] NEW ZEALAND bt [12] SPAIN 2/1

Campbell Grayson bt Iker Pajares Bernabeu 11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6 (65m)

Paul Coll bt Borja Golan 8-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-1 (76m)

Evan Williams lost to Carlos Cornes 11-5, 8-11, 8-11 (27m)
[4] AUSTRALIA bt [14] CANADA 3/0

Cameron Pilley bt Shawn Delierre 11-3, 11-3, 11-7 (28m)

Ryan Cuskelly bt Nick Sachvie 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (49m)

Rex Hedrick bt Michael McCue 11-9, 11-3 (27m)

[8] INDIA bt [7] GERMANY 2/1

Vikram Malhotra bt Rudi Rohrmuller 11-8, 11-1, 11-8 (27m)

Saurav Ghosal lost to Simon Rösner 9-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-6, 3-11 (57m)

Mahesh Mangaonkar bt Valentin Rapp 11-6, 11-8, 11-4 (31m)

[2] ENGLAND bt [16] SWITZERLAND 3/0

James Willstrop bt Dimitri Steinmann 11-6, 11-9, 11-3 (32m)

Nick Matthew bt Nicolas Müller 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 (53m)

Adrian Waller bt Reiko Peter 9-11, 14-12, 11-1 (33m)