IT was just as well for Benz-Bavarian Duffield that the Hong Kong Open did not go to plan for two of their players.
Wins for Stephen Coppinger and Laura Massaro, who may have missed the fifth round of the Premier Squash League had they not made early exits in Hong Kong, were crucial to the Derbyshire club leaving the University of Birmingham with a 3-2 victory.
Their success – plus a 3-2 defeat for second-placed Coolhurst London – stretched Duffield's lead at the top of Group A to 16 points at the midway stage of the competition.
With the overall score at 2-2 on the night, the match came down to Coppinger's meeting with Birmingham number one Chris Ryder.
A tight first game reflected the significance of the match and though Ryder pushed and pressed for every point, it was the South African who came out on top 13-11.
Though he was never able to break Ryder's spirit, Coppinger had the contest under control midway through the second game and won in three.
After the match, Ryder announced that he was retiring from playing on the PSA circuit, though he will still play in the PSL.
Massaro showed a little of the effects of her setback in Hong Kong, where she went out in the quarter-finals to Annie Au, as Deon Saffery took the first game 11-3 for Birmingham.
The world number two was far from at her best but she came out fighting for the second, cut down on the errors and rattled off the next three games 11-4, 11-4, 11-8.
Duffield also had the better of the number fours match-up, where Adam Murrills came in for his first appearance of the season for the club and issued a reminder of his ability by recovering from losing a narrow second game to Scott Young to win 11-5,
10-12, 11-4, 12-10.
Scott Handley won the first two games against Bradley Hindle 12-10, 11-6 but the Birmingham player took the next three 11-9, 11-6, 11-7.
Joel Hinds had been in London Open qualifying action on the morning of the game and though he put in a noble effort, he lost 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 11-3 to Jaymie Haycocks.
It did not cost Duffield victory, however, and manager Felix Frixou said: "It's still very close below us but it's nice reaching half way with a 16-point lead – we cannot complain about that."
Duffield are next in action at Pontefract on January 7.
MATCH FACTS
University of Birmingham 2
Benz-Bavarian Duffield 3
Match scores (home player first): Chris Ryder lost to Stephen Coppinger 11-13, 8-11, 7-11; Jaymie Haycocks beat Joel Hinds 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 11-3; Bradley Hindle beat Scott Handley 10-12, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7; Scott Young lost to Adam Murrills 5-11, 12-10, 4-11, 10-12; Deon Saffery lost to Laura Massaro 11-3, 4-11, 4-11, 8-11.
Other scores: Group A Nottingham 5 Pontefract 0, Chapel Allerton 3 Coolhurst London 2. Group B Chichester 3 Exeter 2, Bristol 0 St George's Hill 5, Surrey Health & Racquets 5 Winchester 0.
