IRELAND lost the first of their play off matches to France in the Women's world team squash championships in Malaysia yesterday. Aisling McArdle's straight games victory over French number one Corinne Castets prevented a whitewash by the number 10 seeds after Louise Finnegan and Olivia French had lost their matches.

The defeat means the Irish cannot now match their ninth place finish at the last championships in Guernsey - they play 19th seeds Spain in today's 13th-16th place play offs.