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Fri 28th, Day THREE:
Semi-Finals and Play-offs
Steve Cubbins reports from
Vienna
The
pool stages are over and it's down to business in Vienna, with the men's
semi-finals featuring the top four seeds, both matches played out on
the Glass court - France v Wales and England v Netherlands
with England and France winning through to their seventh consecutive final
against each other.
The women's semis both started at 10am, with hot favourites England
beating yesterday's last-gasp winners Germany on the inside courts,
while the Netherlands beat France in their first outings
the glass court to move into a third consecutive final against the 28-times
winners of the event.
Elsewhere competition was fierce as the struggle for the highest possible
finishing position was under way ... |
EN FRANÇAIS
100 for Juha |
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Men's Semis
England 4-0 Netherlands
Lee Beachill
bt Dylan Bennett 9/2, 9/3, 9/1
Peter Nicol bt Laurens Jan Anjema 6/9, 9/6,
9/2, 9/2
Peter Barker bt Tom Hoevenaars 9/4,
9/2, 9/3
Nick Matthew bt Tommy Berden 9/5, 8/10,
9/3
France 4-0 Wales
Thierry Lincou bt Gavin Jones
9/5, 9/1, 9/7
Gregory Gaultier bt David Evans 9/0,
9/3
Renan Lavigne bt Jethro Binns
9/2,9/2, 9/3
Julien Balbo bt Rob Sutherland
10/9, 6/9, 3/9, 9/1, 9/3
Visit the French site for more
coverage
Women's Semis
Netherlands
3/0 France
Vanessa Atkinson bt Isabelle Stoehr 9/4, 3/9, 6/9, 8/10
Annelize Naude bt Camille Serme
9/6, 9/5
Orla Noom bt Soraya Renaï 9/3, 9/1, 1/9, 9/2
England
3/0 Germany
Vicky Botwright bt Daniela Schumann 9/3, 9/0,
9/3
Tania Bailey bt
Kathrin Rohrmueller 9/1, 9/0
Linda Elriani bt Katarina Witt 9/2, 9/3, 9/1
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Match Schedule, Fri 28th, Day THREE:
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Order: glass 3-1-4-2, others
1-3-4-2 |
Order: 1-3-2 |
| 10.00 |
* = glass court
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Semi: Netherlands
2-0 France
Semi: England 3-0 Germany
5/12: Ireland 1-2 Switzerland
5/12: Spain 2-1 Wales
5/12: Scotland 1-2 Czech Rep
5/12: Denmark 3-0 Italy |
| 12.00 |
13/20:
Hungary 4-0 Ukraine
13/20: Austria *2-2 Italy
21/22: Gibraltar 1-3 Turkey |
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| 13.00 |
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13/16:
Belgium 3-0 Norway
13/16: Austria 2-1 Finland |
| 14.00 |
Semi:
France 4-0 Wales *
23/24: Russia 4-0 Isle of Man
5/12: Spain 3-1 Finland
5/12: Ireland *2-2 Sweden |
9/12: Ireland 2-1 Scotland
9/12:
Italy 0-3 Wales |
| 16.00 |
5/12:
Denmark 1-3 Scotland
5/12: Germany 4-0 Switzerland |
5/8: Denmark
2-1 Spain
Czech 2-1
Switzerland |
| 18.00 |
Semi:
England 4-0 Netherlands *
13/20: Hungary bt Ukraine
13/20: Austria bt Italy
13/20: Belgium bt Israel
13/20: Czech bt Slovakia
13/17: Hungary bt Austria
13/17: Belgium bt Czech
17/20: Italy bt Ukraine
17/20: Israel bt Slovakia |
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| 20.00 |
5/8:
Ireland *2-2 Spain
5/8: Scotland 1-3 Germany
9/12: Finland v Sweden
9/12: Denmark v Switzerland |
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Day 3 Schedule
Play-Off Schedules & Results (pdf)
MEN
Places 1-4
Places 5-12
Places 13-20
Places 21-24
WOMEN
Places 1-4
Places 5-12
Places 13-17
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5/8 Semi-final:
Ireland 2 Spain 2 (Ireland win on points) |
Ryan
Rescues the Irish
One of the last matches of the day proved to be one of the most exciting of
the week.
Earlier in the day both had won close contests - Spain spoiling
Juha Raumolin's 100th appearance for Finland and Ireland
squeezing through on points countback against Sweden.
This was to be just as close, with a nail-biting finish.
First round honours were shared as John Rooney turned in what was to prove a
crucial performance at third string, dropping just two pints in a 3/0 win.
At number one Borja Golan returned the favour, beating Liam Kenny for ten
points. One all.
With Angus Kirkland rested it was young Arthur Gaskin at four, and although
he couldn't muster a game his 12 points were invaluable.
So it came down to the number twos. 'Veteran' Derek Ryan against young
Alejandro Garbi. Ryan has been in the world's top ten, and
Garbi is ranked 244, so the 'Big Irish' started favourite, but my, was it
hard work.
Twenty minutes for the first game, 9/1 to Derek - there were lots of long
rallies, lots of hand-outs. 9/4 to the Irishman in the second, but he was
working hard, and the 9/7 in the fifth defeat earlier in the day was
beginning to take its toll.
By this time the other matches were over and, calculators out, the sidelined
Kirkland had worked out that Derek just needed to win the next game to be
sure of victory on points countback.
Trouble was, should Garbo win the game then Spain were guaranteed a win on
games countback
So it all came down to a one-game shootout.
It was hot, it was bouncy, there was lots of physical contact, lots of
decisions to be made. It was gripping stuff. Garbi got a conduct
warning, towels were required frequently, Ryan conned the ref a couple of
times, but also played what Kirkland described as "the best lob I've ever
seen".
To cut a long story short Ryan made it to 8/5 match ball, and 15 minutes
later won it 9/6 to put Ireland into the 5/6 playoff. An epic. And you never
know, maybe another one tomorrow ... |
"Did I really win 3/0? It felt like five! It's so hot and bouncy on
there you have to play a different game.
"He was quite loose so the ball was going down the middle a lot which
created quite a lot o situations.
"It's been a hard old week ..."
Derek Ryan |
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100 ... and counting
A milestone was reached today as Finland's Juha Raumolin made his
100th appearance for the senior national team.
Finland were playing Spain, and although Juha won't fondly remember the
result - team or individual - the occasion is sure to be treasured.
"I first played for Finland as a junior in 1985," he said before going on
court today. "But I first played for the senior team in 1992 in the European
Team Championships.
"We had a strong team then, and had a real chance to win against Scotland in
the final.
"We haven't come as close to winning since, but I've enjoyed all my
appearances for Finland and look forward to a few more." |
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Seventh Date for
England and France
Top seeds England and France will contest their seventh consecutive European
Teams final after both recorded comfortable victories in the semi-finals.
First up on the glass court were France. Renan Lavigne got them off to a
flying start against Jethro Binns, followed by Thierry Lincou who faced
Gavin Jones, Wales having rested Alex Gough.
Lincou took the first two and moved quickly to an 8-1 lead in the third
before a mini-comeback from Jones made the scoreline closer. But Lincou
closed it out and France knew one more game would be enough.
It was left to new cap Julien Balbo to secure the final berth, but Rob
Sutherland certainly made him work for it. Eventually Balbo prevailed 10/9
in the first and the match was effectively over, but both players, as their
team's reserves, had a point to prove. Kenny took the lead but Balbo took
the last two to the delight of the French team, a popular win.
After Gaultier read the last rites, it was left to England to meet their
annual date with the French.
Lee Beachill did a Lavigne, easing past Dylan Bennett, but at number one -
England were resting James Willstrop - Peter Nicol found himself a game and
4-2 down to Laurens Jan Anjema.
The early stages had been fiercely contested, but from that point on Nicol
began to take control, moving Anjema around the court before despatching a
variety of winners. As Nicol's points tally rolled on Anjema became more
resigned to his fate, but at the end neither player was particularly happy.
In a parallel to the French match it was left to debutant Peter Barker to
seal yet another final for England. He needed two games, but quickly grabbed
three from Tom Hoevenaars. The date was set.
It was Nick Matthew's on last, beating Tommy Berden 2-1 in the best of three
finale, but it will be Matthew on first tomorrow as the really serious stuff
begins ... |
 "Very
pleased with that. I've had an amazing week and really enjoyed it. The
team has been really great, good fun.
"We knew we were likely to have a good run to the final, but we're here
to win it so I'm not disappointed not to be playing tomorrow, it's been
great."
Peter Barker |
 "I'm
very pleased with how our players performed against four of the best
players in the world - their lowest player is ranked 21 and our highest
is 27.
"My players showed they wanted to play in the semi-final, I can't
believe you would give up a chance of a possible place in the final for
a possible third place.
"I'm proud of my players today and very pleased."
Sjef van der Heijden
Dutch Coach |
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England 3-0 Germany
Vicky Botwright bt Daniela Schumann 9/3, 9/0,
9/3
Tania Bailey bt
Kathrin Rohrmueller 9/1, 9/0
Linda Elriani bt Katarina Witt 9/2, 9/3, 9/1 |
29
Finals for England
England's women's team cruised to their 29th successive European Teams final
with a comprehensive win over surprise semi-finalists Germany.
 Played
on the traditional court 9, first up was Vicky Botwright against Danielle
Schumann.
Each game followed a similar pattern, with Daniella competing well at the
start of each game, engaging Vicky in lengthy rallies, although it was
generally the English girl doing the pressing.
But as each game progressed the pressure began to tell, Vicky was able to
create openings for winners, and started forcing errors from the German
racket.
From 2-3 behind in the third she finished it off with a run of points, the
last three being a lucky winner, a German tin and a lovely long drop from
the back of the court.
England's place in the final was assured when Linda Elriani, playing at an
unaccustomed number three, made quick work of Kathrin Rohrmuller, and Tania
Bailey finished off the dead rubber against Katharina Witt, dropping just
seven points between them.
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 "When
players play for their country they play maybe 20% better than normal,
with the coaches and crowds to help them. England are always under
pressure to maintain their position, because we're all much higher
ranked.
"Daniella was much stronger at the start of each game, she proved she
can live at this level, she just needs to get stronger, like a lot of
the girls from the other countries.
"We're playing on the circuit and getting hard games week in week out,
which makes such a difference."
Vicky Botwright |
 "That
was quite comfortable, but then you'd probably think it would be playing
at number three.
"I'm pleased to win obviously, to get the team into another final, but
disappointed that this was my last ever match for England after, they
tell me, 70 or so appearances.
"It feels like a bit of an anticlimax at the moment."
Linda Elriani |
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Netherlands 3-0 France
Vanessa Atkinson bt Isabelle Stoehr
9/4, 3/9, 6/9, 8/10
Annelize Naude bt Camille Serme
9/6, 9/5
Orla Noom bt Soraya Renaï 9/3, 9/1, 1/9, 9/2 |
Holland
set to face England Again
The Netherlands will contest their third successive final against England,
after beating France in straight games, although for a while it looked as if
it may be tighter than that.
Isabelle Stoehr was first out of the blocks as the match began, catching
world number one Vanessa Atkinson out at the front of the court as she took
the first game.
Atkinson fought back, utilising her lobs well to keep Stoehr at the back,
took the lead at 2-1. But the French woman wasn't finished as she reached
8-5 in the fourth and a decider looked on the cards.
It wasn't to be though, a couple of tins from Stoehr
and a winning boast from Atkinson levelled it, and despite feeling aggrieved
at a stroke given to Stoehr, held it together to take the Dutch into the
lead.
At third string Orla Noom dominated the first two games against Soraya
Renaii, and although the French youngster hit back in the third the pattern
was soon resumed as Noom took the Dutch into the final.
Annelize Naude took the Dutch clear, with Camille
Serme expecting a third game, not realising it was best of three ...
 "I'm
happy, firstly because the Netherlands put out their strongest team, and
second because the match between Isabelle and Vanessa was very close.
"Isabelle could have won, but maybe just lost a little bit of focus at
the end of the match.
"Soraya was a bit stressed to start with to play in such a big match,
but after two games she played her game and started playing well. 3-1 is
a good result for her, and I just wanted Camille to have a good match,
which she did.
Overall, I'm very happy with our performances here."
Philippe Signoret |
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 "I've
had hard games with Isabelle before, so I knew it wasn't going to be
easy. She likes to go short a lot and she's good on this court as it
suits that type of game.
"10am wasn't a good time for me, and I was just too far back in the
court in the first.
"It's down to who can get in front, you have to be on your toes all the
time. If you're a bit lazy on the volley you just end up doing court
sprints.
"On the other courts you can recover, but not on here.
"I had a couple of easy days so far, so it was good to get a good runout
today. It doesn't matter who I play in the final, all the English girls
are pretty strong, they're all up there."
Vanessa Atkinson |
 "I
was playing well to start with, but lost my length ... and my width ...
in the third, but from about 2-all in the fourth it all came back and
then it was over fairly quickly.
"I enjoyed playing on this court, we only had half an hour's practice
this morning, but it felt good and I didn't have any trouble seeing the
ball [Vanessa had asked for the lights outside the court to be turned
off, when in fact they weren't even on], and now at least we get to play
on here again tomorrow."
Orla Noom |
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