It is the final week of the South Wales Premier League (SWPL) this week and the top of the table is as tight as it can be, pre Christmas Champions Strings from Swansea are only one point behind league leaders Rhiwbina. Thursday 21st April are the final fixtures of the season with Strings at home to Cardiff and Rhiwbina at home to St Mellons.
Strings have led the league most of the season until the top two teams met on 31st March, Rhiwbina were strong on the night and won the match 4-1, 18-4 and turned around a 13-point gap. Alex Gough was called in for that match to the surprise of the travelling Strings, Alex played at 2 string that night strengthening the Rhiwbina team down the order.
Tonight Cardiff travel to Strings. Cardiff will be without Nyall Driscoll as he is away with the Welsh team in the Under 19 European Team Championships, they may be without Nic Birt at number 1 string as he was with the Welsh Team as their coach for the individual event. Strings will look to get maximum points tonight to keep the pressure on Rhiwbina who play St Mellons at home. St Mellons have David Evans at 1 for them; the former World Number 3 and 2000 British Open Champion will look to keep his unbeaten record in the SWPL tonight when he faces current Welsh number 1 and Welsh National Champion (2010 and 2011) Peter Creed.
Strings Captain Dave Howe said “ I'm excited about the last game and hoping to win the league outright rather than get dragged into a play off. Having led the league for most of the year by putting out the same committed group of boys it was a shame to lose top spot when the presence of Goughy (Alex Gough) in one match has thrown it wide open. Hopefully we can reward the commitment of Sue and Paul Davies(Strings Squash Club owners) and all members at Strings by becoming champions in front of a home crowd. Good luck to Rhiwbina in their match, great climax to the season”
Rhiwbina Captain Matthew O’Conner said “The Rhiwbina CSC team are looking for their first Welsh top league success after a few decades since they were last title holders. After the tightest season for a long time it comes down to the last match to decide the champions with the prospect of Welsh Champion Peter Creed vs Wales most successful player of all time David Evans being the match that clinches it for Rhiwbina or hands it to Strings depending on their result against Cardiff. Great night of squash ahead”
As well as the Rhiwbina and Strings fixtures, Caldicot travel to Llanelli and UWIC travel to Newport. Caldicot and UWIC are both hovering around the drop zone so vital games for these teams in a quest to stay in the SWPL. Good luck to all the teams and congratulations to all of them for providing us with a great season of top-flight squash.
If Rhiwbina do win the SWPL post Christmas league then Strings, who won it pre Christmas and Rhiwbina will have a playoff match at Cardiff Squash Club Thursday May 5th to determine the overall SWPL Champion of the 2010/2011 season.
Why not go down to a club near you with a SWPL fixture. There are matches at Newport, Llanelli, Rhiwbina and Strings as well as Premier ‘B’ fixtures at Abergavenny and Cardiff Squash Club. If you can’t get to one of these you can follow all that is going on at any of the matches LIVE on facebook, keep up to date with all the scores from all the games from 7pm on Thursday 21st April, it could be a great night with twists and turns around every corner.
Words From Damian Burgess Press Officer, Squash Wales
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