LAURA Massaro may well be a world champion, a double medal winner at the recent Commonwealth Games and ranked number one in Britain but, at the newly formed David Lloyd Squash team, she knows her place.

However Massaro, the world number two, is happy to play second fiddle – or make that third or fourth fiddle – in a team that also includes husband Danny and her brother Chris Lengthorn who is captain.

David Lloyd kicked off their campaign with routine 20-4 victory over Alderley Edge in North West Counties Squash League Division One where Massaro was ranked fourth in the team.

All five players won their matches with Massaro given the sternest test as she was taken to five games by young Oliver Harris before eventually winning 12-14, 11-4, 11-7 12-12, 11-6.

Brother Chris knows the pressure will be on his big sister as everyone targets a ‘prized scalp’ but admits there is also pressure on his team to succeed as well.

“Our sponsor said they would only back us if we won the league,” he said. “So no pressure there then.

“We have wanted to form a Division One team here for a while and now it has eventually happened.”

Lengthorn helped formed the team after Danny and Laura moved across from East Lancashire – a team they helped win the NWCL Division One title a few years ago.

“I have never won the league while Laura and Danny both won it while they were with East Lancs,” said Chris who has joined from Warrington. “So that is an extra pressure I have put myself under.”

Lengthorn has sacrificed his top ranking at Warrington to join David Lloyd Chorley where he is also a member.

Professional James Earles is ranked one with Danny Massaro two, Lengthorn three followed by Laura Massaro and junior player Isaac Rawcliffe.

Earles beat Alderly number one Aqeel Rehman 3-0 while Danny Massaro and Lengthorn had straight forward 3-0 wins against Oliver Wildig and James Pickles before Laura Massaro’s marathon five game victory.

David Lloyd Chorley completed a clean sweep thanks to an impressive 3-1 win for Rawcliffe over Adam Wildig.

“We were delighted with the way it all went and we had a decent crowd watching us as well,” added Lengthorn. “Obviously, there is a lot of attention on Laura and rightly so because she is a world champion.

“It’s not every day you get to play a world champion and everyone is out to beat her. But she is happy to be part of the team.”

While all the attention will be on Massaro playing for her home town club, Lengthorn said it was also important to look further down the ranks with the club boasting five teams.

“Squash in the area is really taking off,” said Lengthorn. “It is great to have so many teams and our fourth and fifth teams are full of players from in and around Chorley which is fantastic for the sport and the town.”