LEAMINGTON Royals suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat against Coolhurst Cavaliers in their first-ever match in the newly-launched Optasia Squash Super League (SSL).

Defeat in the final game of the match denied the Royals a maiden SSL win at Coolhurst Tennis and Squash Club.

Former world champion and world number one, Karim Abdel Gawad, beat Leamington’s Declan James 11-4, 8-11, 11-7 to clinch a 3-2 victory overall for the Cavaliers.

Leamington made the perfect start to the tie when Sam Cross defeated Damian Duckett 7-11, 11-9, 11-7 in the club heroes match.

Coolhurst drew level when Kiera Marshall recovered from a 9-2 deficit in the first game to defeat Leamington’s 15-year-old talent Mariam Eissa.

Marshall won nine straight points to win game one and clinched victory in the second game.

Japanese number one, Satomi Watanabe, then claimed a routine 11-6, 11-4 win against rising star Hana Ismail.

The Royals came away from the fixture with two points while the Cavaliers took three points from the tie.