The Official Website of the British No.1 and Triple European Champion
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MIXED AND MEN’S DOUBLES – GOLD AND SILVER 12 Mar 2010 Paul playing with his girlfriend and partner of many years Joanna Parker – ranked English senior No.1, retained the title they won here twelve months ago with a superb example of mixed attacking and defensive play. After easing there way to the final, the pairing came up against the No.2 seeded pair of Kelly Sibley and Darius Knight, ranked 2 and 3 in England respectively. These four are no strangers too each other, having faced off many times over the years in both single’s and doubles encounters and lived and trained together in Sheffield at the English Institute of Sport as England teammates. There was a sense of real familiarity as eye catching rally’s followed, with the strong attacking style of Sibley and Knight being matched by the mixed styles of Paul and Joanna who both looped and defended depending on what was throw at them. After the match squared at two all, Sibley and Knight pinching the second and fourth games at 11 – 9, the crowd were set for a belter in the fifth as Paul and Joanna dug deep to take a mid game lead, Joanna using her improved attack and Paul his relentless power to win several quick points in a row and put them firmly in the driving seat. Knight and Sibley fought back with some superb fast attacking play of there own but it was too little too late as the top seeds moved to an impressive 11- 6 victory. Gold medal No.2 added to the crowded trophy cabinet the two share! The men’s doubles saw Paul teaming up with Darius to once again defend there title for would be the fourth consecutive year. The two did not drop a set en route to the final where they came up against a couple more familiar faces – Gavin Evans and Liam Pitchford who had fought there way to the final in an impressive fashion. The two younger players were clearly up for beating the ‘old hands’ and threw everything but the kitchen sink at the defending champions. With nothing to lose they attacked every loose ball and threw caution to the wind time after time, receiving service well and forcing the champions to the back of the court. Although Paul and Darius managed to take the third end with some impressive counter loops from the Drinkhall forehand, this time it was not to be and the title headed to the younger pairing after a really entertaining match. |
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