Scotland success for Briggs (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Lauren Briggs wins Artemis Edinburgh Open

9:10am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Sport

Squash star Lauren Briggs claimed victory at the Artemis Edinburgh Open with a straight games win against Orla Noom in the final of the $5,000 event at Edinburgh Sporting Club.

Unlike earlier matches over the weekend, the Chingford-based player came out stronger and faster during the final.

Her Dutch opponent seemed to struggle at first, subsiding to 11-3 in relatively quick time in the first game.

However, the second seed battled back in the second game to level at 9-9, only for Briggs to take the next two points to move 2-0 ahead.

An early 3-0 lead for Noom didn’t last long as the top seed took seven points back in a row to move within sight of the title.

Another respectable effort from Noon made it 9-7 but her opponent successfully closed out the third game 11-8 to clinch the title.

Briggs said: “I went on with the intention of taking the game to her and put as much pace into it as possible.

“I got a good start, volleying when I could and putting her under a lot of pressure.

“In the second and third she got used to it, and slowed the pace a lot. You always have to be alert against her, she can turn her intensity on at any time and hit some good winners out of the blue, then her confidence really grows.”