Lobban and Clyne survive semi-final epic to keep title defence on track

Defending champions Greg Lobban and Alan Clyne will meet second seeds Ryan Cuskelly and Cameron Pilley of Australia in the final of the WSF World Men’s Doubles in Manchester tomorrow (Saturday) after surviving an 82 minute last four epic.

Lobban and Clyne took the first game 11/7 in their semi-final this evening against Kiwis Paul Coll and Campbell Grayson before, from 1-7 down, the New Zealanders levelled, taking the second game, 8/11.

But despite that setback the Scots held their nerve against the fourth seeds to seal their place in a second successive world final.

Straight off court, Lobban said: “We knew it would be a long, tough match, that’s their strength. I’m glad we refocused in the third and kept our title defence going.”

Cuskelly and Pilley beat England’s Declan James and James Willstrop, 11/3, 11/7 (37m) in their semi-final clash.

Tomorrow’s final in Manchester takes place at 4pm and will be streamed live on the official website – http://wsfworlddoubles.com/

Meanwhile Lisa Aitken and Doug Kempsell lost an engrossing mixed doubles quarter-final against Welsh pair Peter Creed and Tesni Evans this morning in a tense, hour long match 6/11, 11/6, 11/9.

Aitken and Kempsell can be proud of their efforts having beaten number one seeds and defending champions  Joelle King and Paul Coll from New Zealand in the group stages. The Kiwis will meet England’s Daryl Selby and Alison Waters in tomorrow’s final at 3pm.

For full details and results, visit the official website at: http://wsfworlddoubles.com

Day FOUR Matches

WOMEN’S SEMIS
[1] King / Landers-Murphy (Nzl) w/o [3] Grinham / Urquhart (Aus) Urquhart injured
[5] Duncalf / Waters (Eng) 2-1 [2] Chinappa / Pallikal (Ind) 6/11, 11/6, 11/8 (49m)

MIXED SEMIS
[5] Selby / Waters (Eng) 2-1 [7] Creed / Evans (Wal) 11/10, 10/11, 11/8 (68m)
[1] Coll / King (Nzl) 2-0 [4] Palmer / Grinham (Aus) 11/8, 11/8 (29m)

MEN’S SEMIS
[1] Clyne / Lobban (Sco) 2-1 [4] Coll / Grayson (Nzl) 11/8, 8/11, 11/8 (82m)
[2] Cuskelly / Pilley (Aus) 2-0 [5] Willstrop / James (Eng) 11/3, 11/7 (37m)

MIXED QUARTERS
[7] Creed / Evans (Wal) 2-1 [9] Kempsell / Aitken (Sco) 6/11, 11/6, 11/9 (60m)
[5] Selby / Waters (Eng) 2-0 [3] Pilley / Urquhart (Aus) 7/5 rtd (9m)
[4] Palmer / Grinham (Aus) 2-1 [6] Malhotra / Chinappa (Ind) 8/11, 11/9, 11/9 (50m)
[1] Coll / King (Nzl) 2-1 [2] Ghosal / Pallikal (Ind) 11/7, 10/11, 11/9 (56m)