The Chichester Centurions delivered a statement performance on their maiden appearance at the Optasia Squash Super League as they claimed a clean sweep 4-0 win over the Bexley Ballers at the Chichester Racquets & Fitness Club.
England quartet Noah Meredith, Alex Broadbridge, Katie Malliff and Jonah Bryant all secured individual 2-0 victories for the Centurions as they scooped up the maximum five points on offer for the match-day win.
The Centurions’ 4-0 win tonight sees them surge to the top of the Optasia Squash Super League table with five points, with the Bexley Ballers in fourth position with two points.
First up on court for the evening was the Centurions’ Club Hero Noah Meredith, who secured an entertaining 2-0 victory over the Ballers’ Jack Mitterer.
In a match that was full of classy strokeplay from both rackets, it was Meredith who pulled away at the end of the first game to move 1-0 up, and delivered a series of clutch winners to come from behind in the second and claim victory.
Meredith managed to claw his way back from 8-4 down in the second game to force a sudden death tie-break at 10-10, before sending the home crowd into rapturous applause with a cross-court winner on the return of serve to take the victory.
The following U25s encounter saw the Centurions double their lead in the tie, as Alex Broadbridge delivered a clinical performance to overcome Dylan Roberts by an 11-2, 11-8 scoreline. After surging into a one-game lead, Broadbridge saw his opponent come fighting back into the encounter, with Roberts at one point looking like he could send the tie to a deciding game.
However, Broadbridge managed to hold off the late charge to walk off court the victor after 24 minutes of play.
The Centurions’ Katie Malliff put the tie beyond reach in the one women’s match of the evening, battling her way to an 11-3, 11-7 victory over Australia’s Alex Haydon.
Malliff, currently ranked at a career-high World No.29, transferred her impressive recent form on the PSA Squash Tour to the Squash Super League circuit, moving ahead in the middle phases of the first game and never letting Haydon get a considerable foothold back in the match.
The Ballers’ Haydon did rally right until the close, almost pulling her way back into the second game in the latter stages, but Malliff ultimately proved too strong on the night.
Last up on court was a tantalising matchup between England’s Jonah Bryant and Egypt’s Mohamed Abouelghar, who met last week at the QSF5 PSA Squash Tour event – a match which former World No.7 Abouelghar took the honours in.
19-year-old Byrant, though, managed to get his revenge as he ended a perfect evening for the Chichester Centurions by securing a hugely impressive 11-4, 11-7 win.
Bryant barely put a foot wrong during his 23 minutes on court, hitting with precision into the front two corners and displaying his incredible athleticism to negate the attacking threats of Abouelghar.
Next up for the Centurions in the Optasia Squash Super League is an away tie against the St George’s Hill Knights, with the Bexley Ballers travelling to the Coolhurst Cavaliers. Both matches will be played on Friday, 17 January.
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Results:
Noah Meredith [CC] bt Jack Mitterer [BB] 2-0: 11-7, 11-10 (25m)
Alex Broadbridge [CC] bt Dylan Roberts [BB] 2-0: 11-2, 11-8 (24m)
Katie Malliff [CC] bt Alex Haydon [BB] 2-0: 11-3, 11-7
Jonah Bryant [CC] bt Mohamed Abouelghar [BB] 2-0: 11-4, 11-7 (23m)
