Tesni Evans is loving life playing in her home city of Cardiff.
The World-ranked number 10 player now lives at the family home in Rhyl and regularly heads South to link up with the Welsh Wizards team.
Tesni is a mainstay of the Wizards bid to qualify for the Premier Squash League play-offs and said after a 5-0 win against Chichester: “A great night at home, happy to come out winners 5-0.
“I love playing at home and can’t wait for November 27 when we play St George’s on our home courts.
“It’s going to be awesome. @welsh_wizards.”
There were only six tickets left this morning (Friday) for the home clash with reigning champions St George’s after Wizards’ win against Sussex visitors Chichester.
Overall, it was an astonishing victory for Wizards, who lost their three leading players through injury. The trio are all ranked inside the World’s top 15 – number three Marwan ElShorbagy, French ace Gregory Gaultier, who is at seven, and 14th ranked Egyptian Omar Mosaad all injured.
Wizards are hoping that at least one of those three will return against St Geroge’s, who are led by World number one Mohamed ElShorbagy, the brother of Marwan.
Wizards were given the go-ahead by PSL officials to make an emergency signing with their top three ruled out at the same time that Emyr Evans and Spain’s Edmon Lopez, both registered with the Welsh team, were away playing tournaments.
Egypt’s Mazen Gamal flew in to play at number two behind Creed. Both won, while Welsh players Elliott morris Devred, from Cardiff SRC, and David Evans joined in with the winning spirit.
For former World number three Evans, who won the British Open title 18 years ago, it was a chance to wind back time.
The 44-year-old from Griffithstown, near Pontypool, took on Miles Jenkins, who is aged 23 and was born in Chichester.
The tall, technically excellent Evans won 11-9, 9-11, 11-9.
Now Wizards are winding up for a major clash with reigning PSL champions St George’s and if the Welsh team can put out some of their leading players they will certainly pose a major test for their visitors.
Welsh Wizards play out of the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff.
Wizards results this week:
Welsh Wizards 5 (13), Team Chichester 0 (4)
Peter Creed 2-1 Omar Abdel Meguid 5-11, 11-5, 11-6
Mazen Gamal 2-1 Olli Pett 9-11, 11-4, 11-4
Elliot morris Devred 2-1 Tim Vail 11-8, 8-11, 11-8
David Evans 2-1 Miles Jenkins 11-9, 9-11, 11-9
Tesni Evans 2-0 Amanda Landers-Murphy 11-5, 11-3
Remaining PSL fixtures in 2018
Friday 9: Bristol v Newcastle.
Tuesday 27: Warwick/Kenilworth v Pontefract, Welsh Wizards v St George’s, RAC v Bexley, Birmingham v Nottingham, Coolhurst v Chichester.
December
Tuesday 4: Newcastle v Warwick/Kenilworth, Bexley v Welsh Wizards, Nottingham v Bristol, Chichester v RAC, Pontefract v Birmingham, St George’s v Coolhurst.
Second Half fixtures reversed, dates to be confirmed.
The third round of league action in the Premier Squash League saw Warwick/Kenilworth, Luxfords St George’s Hill and Team Pontefract claim third wins of the season and extend their unbeaten records.
The line-up for Pontefract v Newcastle promised much and attracted a full house, bolstered by the vociferous Newcastle support.
The players were introduced on court accompanied by Pontefract’s future stars – the highly promising eight-year-old Fearne Copley, Logan Willstrop-Atkinson, Emmie Beachill, Oscar Johnson and James Barker.
Patrick Rooney gave Pontefract a start beating the promising 17-year-old Max Forster 2-0, but the all Dutch clash between World Over-35 champion Laurens Anjema, soon to head for Manhattan to coach, and Piedro Schweertman went Newcastle’s way 2-1.
Chris Simpson, error-ridden in the first, lost it 11-5, but did well to steady the ship to win 2-1 against Alan Clyne.
Laura Massaro beat Lisa Aitken to win the match for Pontefract and it was left to James Willstrop and Cameron Pilley to round the night off, which considering the lateness of the hour they did in style with a quality match.
Pilley won a tight first, Willstrop levelled 11-9 and it was he who edged home 11-9 – apparently under the mistaken impression that the outcome of the match depended on him. It all ended at 11.10pm, another PSL night which did nothing but good for the game.
Reigning PSL champions St George’s Hill from Surrey had another glorious evening at home when they overwhelmed Bexley 5-0 in front of a full house to maintain their unbeaten record.
PSL Results
St George’s Hill (13) 5, Bexley 0 (2)
Mohamed ElShorbagy 2-0 Josh Masters 11-0, 12-10
Tom Richards 2-1 Olli Tuominen 11-2, 8-11, 11-6
Sebastien Bonmalais 2-1 Rui Soares 11-6, 12-14, 11-7
Robbie Temple 2-0 Bradley Masters 11-7, 11-5
Jasmine Hutton 2-0 Kace Bartley 12-10, 12-10
Welsh Wizards 5 (13) Team Chichester 0 (4)
Peter Creed 2-1 Omar Abdel Meguid 5-11, 11-5, 11-6
Mazen Gamal 2-1 Olli Pett 9-11, 11-4, 11-4
Elliot Morris devred 2-1 Tim Vail 11-8, 8-11, 11-8
David Evans 2-1 Miles Jenkins 11-9, 9-11, 11-9
Tesni Evans 2-0 Amanda Landers-Murphy 11-5, 11-3
Tradition @ RAC (11) 4-1 Coolhurst 1 (4)
Daryl Selby 2-1 Greg Lobban 3-11, 12-10, 15-13
Ben Coleman 0-2 Adrian Waller 9-11, 8-11
George Parker 2-0 Karim Ibrahim 11-4, 11-7
Peter Marshall 2-1 Lewis Anderson 11-7, 9-11, 11-4
Alison Waters 2-0 Haley Mendez 11-6, 11-4
Warwick/Kenilworth 4 (11) Nottingham 1 (3)
Raphael Kandra 0-2 Nick Matthew 7-11, 4-11
Iker Pajares 2-1 Richie Fallows 7-11, 11-5, 11-4
Daniel Mekbib 2-0 Julian Tomlinson 11-5, 11-7
Nick Wall 2-0 Jayden Gough 11-4, 11-8
Sarah-Jane Perry 2-0 Hana Ramadan 11-8, 11-8
Team Pontefract 4 (12), Newcastle 1 (4)
James Willstrop 2-1 Cameron Pilley 9-11, 11-9, 11-9
Chris Simpson 2-1 Alan Clyne 5-11, 11-8, 11-8
LJ Anjema 1-2 Piedro Schweertman 8-11, 11-2, 9-11
Patrick Rooney 2-0 Max Forster 11-5, 11-2
Laura Massaro 2-0 Lisa Aitken 11-5 11-4