Squash: Nicol makes up for past loss

Peter Nicol atoned for the loss of his Commonwealth Games singles title by striking gold in the doubles yesterday. The world No 1 partnered Lee Beachill to a 15-11, 15-12 victory over Stewart Boswell and Anthony Ricketts of Australia which gave England their only squash gold medal in Manchester.

Hopes were high that Cassie Jackman and Tania Bailey could emulate their male team-mates but they lost 15-11, 5-15, 15-13 to New Zealand's Carol Owens and Leilani Rorani in the women's doubles final.

That result meant Rorani, who was competing in her first tournament since rupturing her Achilles tendon last December, became the only player to collect two gold medals. She had earlier claimed the mixed title with Glen Wilson, the New Zealand pair beating Beng Hee Ong and Nicol David of Malaysia 15-11, 15-9.

Nicol was desperate to make amends for relinquishing the individual title he won for Scotland four years ago to Jonathon Power. He and Beachill, who has fought back from three career-threatening injury and illness problems, were involved in a closely-fought battle in which the England duo only took control of each game in the later stages.

"This is absolutely fantastic," said the 29-year-old. "I was determined not to leave here without a gold medal. I felt I let the team down in the individual final but this makes up for it completely."

Beachill insisted the match had been played in a better spirit than Saturday's semi-final against the other Australians, David Palmer and Paul Price, which ended with the teams having to be separated. "There was a bit of rivalry but nothing malicious," he said.