Bedell Jersey Squash Classic 2014 Report by Steve Cubbins May 25, 2014
- Chris Simpson retained his Jersey Squash Classic title with a
marathon victory over second seed Adrian Waller today at Jersey Squash
and Racketball Club.
With just four places
separating them in the PSA world rankings a close contest was to be
expected, and that’s exactly what the packed crowd got, a 104-minute
thriller full of momentum changes and tremendous play by both.
The first game alone
took 29 minutes, with plenty of long rallies as they matches each other
point for point. From 6-all Simpson let his concentration slip with a
couple of unforced errors, but from 9-6 up Waller chipped in with three
of his own. Waller had a game ball at 10-9 but Simpson took the next
three points to lead 12-10.
Waller regrouped to
take an early lead in the second, but couldn’t hold on to his 4-1
advantage, Simpson drawing level at 7-all, but this time it was Waller
who finished the game strongly to level 11-8.
By all rights Waller
should have taken the third, he was, if nt dominating then ceratinly
controlling most of the rallies, but by the time the score reached
9-all the majority of Simpson’s points had come through Waller’s errors
- more often than not at the end of yet more gruelling rallies, but
still errors.
Simspon dug in, issued
a few “CMON” cries to himself, saved a game ball again at 9-10 before
finally regaining the lead with a low crosscourt beyond Waller’s
considerable reach for 14-12.
By now they had been
on court for 75 minutes and in the fourth the effort seemed to have
taken its toll on Simpson. Waller was quickly ahead 6-2, and with
Simpson letting a few points go easily he levelled the match 11-3 for a
short 11-minute game.
At the outset of the
fifth Waller seemed to be the more composed player again, content to
take the pace off the ball and wait for an opening. Simpson was
pressing more, and led 3-1, but Waller brought it back to 3-all, and
then led 5-4.
A Waller tin at the
end of a long, patient rally was followed by two more, quicker, errors
and suddenly Simpson was ahead again. Seizing the opportunity Simpson
put in a trickle boast and a low drive, another Waller tin and it was
10-5 almost out of nowhere.
Two lets, one match
ball saved, but Simpson wasn’t going to let go of the title now, and
soon enough - after 104 minutes to be precise - he was celebrating
still being the Jersey Classic champion.
“The was a really, really tough match, played at a ridiculous pace on a hot court,” said an exhausted winner.
“He had me on the
ropes for a while and I was doing a lot of work, but I was really
pleased to come through to win the third especially.
“I ran out of steam a
bit in the fourth but I knew I had to give it one more push in the
fifth - my plan was to try to stay with him to say 5-all, then really
go for one last surge and it worked to perfection!
“It’s been a great
week here, massive thanks to all the supporters, sponsors and
especially Nick Taylor for making this a really great event, long may
it continue.”
Final: [1] Chris Simpson (Ggy) 3-2 [2] Adrian Waller (Eng) 12/10, 8/11, 14/12, 3/11, 11/6 (104m)
