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England Breeze Into
European Semi-Finals
Defending champions England coasted into the men's and
women's semi-finals of the European Team Squash Championships after
comfortable victories in Friday's final qualifying rounds in Nottingham.
Peter Nicol was as clinical as ever as England's top-seeded men crushed
fourth seeds Netherlands 4-0 in a repeat of last year's semi-final. The
world No1 wasted no time in beating Dutch champion Tommy Berden for the loss
of only four points in the Pool A match. Simon Parke, playing in his home
club, despatched European Junior champion Dylan Bennett in straight games,
while England's World Junior Champion James Willstrop, in his debut for
England, won his third successive match in two days 3-0.
Only Lee Beachill, the England No2 playing in his first event since
undergoing ankle surgery two months ago, dropped a game before prevailing
9-1 9-2 2-9 9-4 over former Dutch champion Lucas Buit.
England will face third seeds Wales in the semi-finals after the 1997
runners-up were beaten 3-1 by No2 seeds France in Pool B. France,
runners-up for the past three years, secured their victory when
fast-improving Gregory Gaultier, a twice European Junior champion, beat
Welsh No2 David Evans 7-9 9-1 9-0 1-9 9-1. France face the Netherlands in
the other semi-final.
In the women's event, England confirmed their superiority over the
competition in Pool A with 3-0 wins over both Denmark and Wales. In the
three ties so far, the favourites have conceded neither matches nor games,
and only 15 points!
In the adjacent Pool B, sixth seeds Netherlands beat France and 3rd seeds
Germany to claim an unexpected semi-final place after finishing at the top
of the qualifying group. Second seeds Scotland made up for their 3-0 loss
to Netherlands on the first day by also beating France and Germany to finish
as runners-up.
In the first semi-final, England will face Scotland in a repeat of the 2002
final, before Netherlands take on Denmark in a bid to reach the final for
the first time since 1995. |
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