Squash: England defence delayed

A SHOCK defeat for world No 2 Martine Le Moignan delayed but did not destroy England's title defence in the World Team Championships here yesterday. Le Moignan, the only member of the squad to have played in all of the last four world title-winning teams, was beaten by Rebecca O'Callaghan, but England still beat Ireland 2-1.

O'Callaghan, the world No 13, thus had a memorable 100th cap. She trailed by two games and 0-4 and then saved four match points in the fourth game before emerging winner by 1-9, 1-9, 9-4, 10-9,

9-2. 'I just set out to keep Martine on court as long as possible and not worry too much about the points,' she explained. 'And when she started making mistakes I found more control.'

O'Callaghan has twice beaten Lisa Opie, the 1989 world champion twice before and also overcome former British Open champion, twice while playing for Ireland. But Le Moignan currently looks something less than her skilfully unorthodox best and her place in Saturday's final, should England get there again, could be in doubt.

Wins for Opie and the British national champion, Sue Wright, against Brona Ringland and Jill McCaughey, ensured England's survival. Victory over Canada today would see England qualify for the quarter-finals top of their group. South Africa, on their debut in the competition, were first into the quarter-finals with four wins. Australia, England's closest rivals, have two wins and will finish top of their group if they beat New Zealand today.

WORLD SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS (Vancouver, Canada) Pool A: England 2 Ireland 1 (S Wright bt J McCaughey 9-1 9-4 9-1; M Le Moignan lost to R O'Callaghan 9-1 9-1 4-9 9-10

2-9; L Opie bt B Ringland 9-3 9-0 9-0). Germany 2 Canada 1.

Pool B: Australia 3 Finland 0; New Zealand 3 Netherlands 0.

Pool C: South Africa 3 France 0.

Pool D: Scotland 3 Malaysia 0 (A Bowie bt Sandra Wu 9-5 9-0 9-0; E Donaldson bt Koh Yoke Keet 9-3 9-1 9-1; S Brown bt Kong Yuen Yuen

5-9 9-2 9-1 9-2); USA 3 Japan 0.