Ricketts Rides Back In With A Win
by Tim Garner
photo by Jordan MansfieldSeptember 19, 2011 - Anthony Ricketts has waited five long years for a return to competitive action, and the hunger was evident as he battled past ex-World no.1 John White to lift the 2nd edition of the 9 Telecom Squash Legends event at St. George’s Hill. It was a fitting finale to a weekend of word-class squash from the Legends, with both players displaying a mixture of court craft, agility and cunning to work their opponent over five tough games.
The first set the tone as Ricketts carefully worked his way to 9/7 before White exploded into action to edge it 11/9. However, the efforts seemed to have taken more out of White as the Ricketts again surged ahead closing out the game in impressive style, using both determination and guile to nullify White’s impressive striking and then lead 8-4 in the third. White bounced back to level at 8-8 before both players raised their game trying to gain the upper hand. A quick racket change by Ricketts seemed to do the trick as he squeezes out the game 12/10.
White wasn’t done and fired in a three wall boast nick followed by an un-returnable forehand straight kill to seize the momentum in the fourth. Despite looking to have run out of energy White managed to throw himself around the court, and on least one occasion was fully off the ground diving for a ball. The final rally of the game had both players diving, White’s final one forcing an error from his opponent to set up a decider.
Both players were clearly keen to get their hands on the trophy but it was eventually ‘youth’ that prevailed as Ricketts maintained an impressive pace through the fifth, forcing White into even more ambitious winners that started to find the tin. After a little over 65 minutes play Ricketts closed out the final to be crowned champion.
Afterwards he explained how much it meant to be back playing ‘Obviously it was tough having stopped my career when I still felt I had a lot more to give, so without getting too sentimental I just want to say how great it is to have the opportunity to get back on court and play with these guys. A big thank you to sponsor Nine Telecom for putting up the money as without it these type of events don’t happen, Danny Lee and the St. George’s Hill Club for all their efforts and to Tim & Peter of Eventis for coming up with this concept and always looking for ways to move things forwards.’
Earlier in the evening Peter Nicol made up for the disappointment of losing his first Legends event by beating Nick Taylor in a fast and furious match to secure third spot. The evening had kicked off with Jonathon Power & Tim Garner teaming up to despatch Simon Parke & Stephan Meads in a doubles matched played on the full size doubles court.
9Telecom Legends of Squash – St. Georges Hill
Group A
1. Jonathon Power
2. John White
3. Tim Garner
4. Nick Taylor
Group B
1. Peter Nicol
2. Simon Parke
3. Anthony Ricketts
4. Stephen Meads
Friday 16th September
5.00pm: Parke bt Meads 2-0 11/7 11/4
5.45pm: White bt Taylor 2-0 11/8 11/8
7.00pm: Power bt Garner 2-0 11/7 11/7
7.45pm: Ricketts bt Nicol 2-1 8/11 11/4 11/8
Saturday 17th September
4.00pm: White bt Garner 2-1 9/11 11/6 11/3
4.45pm: Taylor bt Power 2-1 4/11 8/2 retd inj
6.00pm: Nicol bt Meads 2-0 11/7 11/7
6.45pm: Ricketts bt Parke 2-0 11/9 11/9
Sunday 18th September
4.00pm: Taylor bt Garner 2-0 11/9 11/4
4.45pm: Ricketts bt Meads 2-1 8/11 11/8 11/5
6.00pm: Power bt White 2-0 13/11 11/5
6.45pm: Nicol bt Parke 2-1 12/10 4/11 11/8
Monday 19th September
7.00pm Doubles Power & Garner bt Parke & Meads 2-0 11/9 11/7
7.30pm 3/4th Peter Nicol beat Nick Taylor 2-0 11/9 11/8
Final Anthony Ricketts bt John White 9/11 11/7 12/10 9/11 11/3
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