LEAGUE champions Eagle Star will go into the play-off round without a full team because two of their members have not fulfilled their quota of matches in the regular season and are ineligible. Players must play at least five matches to qualify for the play-offs and Eagle Star got into trouble with Alan Hicks having left Hong Kong and Ian Hardy sidelined by a nasty knee injury. They have only three players - Peter Hill, Joseph Kwok Man-wai and Malcolm Kerr - eligible for the end-of-season event. William Chu and Ken Geissler, their other players, have failed to play the minimum five matches. The Hong Kong Squash Racquets Association league committee has rejected their appeal to field Chu and Geissler, but allowed them to continue with three players if they wish to play in the play-offs. ''It is bad news but we have to accept the rules and get on with it,'' said Hill, who is the team's captain and coach. ''It would be very embarrassing going into the play-off without a full team and it is not good for the game, but the decision has been made by the league committee. ''It would be difficult for us to get motivated knowing that we have to give a walkover in one of the rubbers but we will be trying our very best to win it.'' Eagle Star are scheduled to face Express News at the Hong Kong Squash Centre tomorrow, with the winners going through to the play-off finals. The losers will meet the winners of the tie between Fuji and Cathay Pacific for the other berth in the final.
