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New Zealand International Classic 2013
03-08 Sep, Palmerston North, $10k |
08-Sep, Final:
Clinical Clyne claims Classic title
Scotland’s Alan Clyne defeated New Zealand’s Martin Knight in a
fantastic final of the Fitzherbert Rowe Lawyers New Zealand
International Squash Classic in Palmerston North .
 In
front of a large crowd at the SquashGym courts and being ‘streamed’
live around the world, Clyne showed why he is number 33 in the world
and one of the fittest players on tour in an epic five game victory.
Clyne got off to a fast start in the first game gaining a 5 – 1 lead
early. Knight began the match witha number of loose shots and he was
punished by Clyne who did not need a second invitation. In typical
fashion Knight fought hard but eventually went down 11 – 9.
The second game started much like the first with Clyne getting on
top early. The feisty Knight once again would not let it go and
fought back to make the game 7 all. He then took the initiative
playing some attacking Squash to lead 9 -7.
But Clyne is not one to give up lightly either and he got it back to
9 all after a couple of very long rallies. Knight then lined up
Clyne’s next serve for a cross court nick to make it 10 – 9 game
ball in the kiwi’s favour. With the game there for the taking Knight
tried another cross court nick but it hit the top of the tin
bringing Clyne right back into it and made in 10 all.
The Scotsman then won the next two points to take a two game to love
lead.
Knight needed to come out fast in third game if he had any hope of
extending the match and he did gaining a 5 – 1 advantage. Knight was
starting to play some of his best Squash and although Clyne fought
hard, Knight took the third 11- 7.
The fourth game was a tight affair from the outgame with both
players going point for point but then Clyne started to make his
first errors of the match. A number of un characteristic tins
combined with a couple of nice winners from Knight meant the match
was destined for a fifth game and Knight claimed the fourth 11 – 8.
The match had turned into a battle of attrition and had been going
75 minutes by the start of the fifth. Clyne got off to a good start
leading 2 – 0.The next rally ultimately decided the match as both
players traded blows up and down the backhand wall in a rally that
seemed to last forever.
It finally came to an end when Knight lost patience and went for a
shot from the back of the court that resulted in a tin. Knight
looked particularly tired and maybe his 85 minute semi-final against
Leo Au the night before was catching up with him.
The next three points went Clyne’s way with the tournament number
one seed out to a 6 – 1 lead. Knight tried to come back but his legs
looked heavy and Clyne finished the match off 11 – 6.
The crowd went away from SquashGym having witnesseda 91 minute
display of world class Squash and a worthy champion in Alan Clyne.
Clyne is his winners speech said he hoped to be back to defend his
title next year which is good news for tournament promoters.
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  New
Zealand International 2013
04-08 Sep, Palmerston North, $10k |
Round One
05 Sep |
Quarters
06 Sep |
Semis
07 Sep |
Final
08 Sep |
[1] Alan Clyne (Sco)
11/9, 11/1, 11/9 (43m)
Dougie Kempsell (Sco) |
[1] Alan Clyne
11/4, 11/9, 11/6 (30m)
Matias Tuomi |
[1] Alan Clyne
11/4, 11/6, 11/7 (36m)
[4] Nasir Iqbal |
[1] Alan Clyne
11/9, 12/10, 7/11, 8/11, 11/6
(91m)
[3] Martin Knight |
Matias Tuomi (Fin)
11/1, 11/9, 12/10 (26m)
[Q] Ben Grindrod Nzl) |
Justin Beard (Aus)
11/2, 11/3, 11/6 (35m)
[Q] Adrian Leanza (Usa) |
Justin Beard
11/8, 11/7, 12/10 (36m)
[4] Nasir Iqbal |
James Huang (Tpe)
11/8, 11/6, 11/4 (20m)
[4] Nasir Iqbal (Pak) |
[3] Martin Knight (Nzl)
11/4, 11/8, 8/11, 11/4 (47m)
Lance Beddoes (Nzl) |
[3] Martin Knight
11/3, 11/6, 12/10 (50m)
Kashif Shuja |
[3] Martin Knight
11/9, 9/11, 15/13, 13/11 (85m)
[2] Leo Au |
Kashif Shuja (Nzl)
11/8, 11/5, 8/11, 11/9 (44m)
[Q] Chris Lloyd (Nzl) |
Paul Coll (Nzl)
11/5, 11/4, 7/11, 11/7 (29m)
Joseph Watts (Nzl) |
Paul Coll
9/11, 11/9, 13/11, 11/7 (58m)
[2] Leo Au (Hkg) |
[Q] Paul Rawden (Eng)
11/9, 11/5, 11/13, 11/7 (34m)
[2] Leo Au (Hkg) |
04-Sep, Qualifying Finals:
Ben Grindrod (Nzl) bt Wojtek Nowisz (Pol)
11/1, 11/5, 11/4 (21m)
Chris Lloyd (Nzl) bt Zac Millar (Nzl)
11/6, 4/11, 11/6, 5/11, 11/5 (46m)
Adrian Leanza (Usa) bt Matthew Nation (Nzl)
11/4, 11/4, 11/7 (26m)
Paul Rawden (Eng) bt
Jaakko Vahamaa (Fin)
11/5, 13/11, 11/9 (30m)
04-Sep, Qualifying round one :
Wojtek Nowisz (Pol) bt David Clegg (Aus)
11/5, 11/5, 11/5
Ben Grindrod (Nzl) bt Rohan Toole (Aus)
11/5, 11/1, 11/8
Zac Millar (Nzl) bt Chris van der Salm (Nzl)
11/9, 11/8, 5/11, 11/1
Chris Lloyd (Nzl) bt Regan Smith (Nzl)
11/5, 11/6, 8/11, 11/6
Matthew Nation (Nzl) bt im Cowell (Aus)
11/4, 15/13, 6/11, 4/11, 11/9
Adrian Leanza (Usa) bt Andrew Ellis (Nzl)
8/11, 11/6, 11/4, 11/6
Jaakko Vahamaa (Fin) bt Thomas Nash (Nzl) 12/14, 4/11,
11/8, 13/11, 11/5
Paul Rawden (Eng) bt Jason van der Walt (Nzl)
11/4, 11/3, 11/4
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06-Sep, Quarters:
Top seeds through to semis
in Palmerston North
The top four seeds have progressed safely through to the semi-finals
of the Fitzherbert Rowe Lawyers International Squash Classic at
SquashGym, Palmerston North tonight.
 Top
seed Alan Clyne of Scotland found his match a bit easier
compared to his first round against countryman Douglas Kempsell. He
defeated Matias Tuomi (Finland) in three straight games in 30
minutes. Clyne now plays the impressive Nasir Iqbal from
Pakistan who beat Australia’s Justin Beard in three games.
Iqbal was in control in the first two games but was pushed hard in
the third where he ground out a 12 – 10 win. Clyne is ranked33 in
the world and Iqbal is currently at 49 which will make for a high
quality semi-final tomorrow night.
 The
all New Zealand clash of Martin Knight and Kashif Shuja
didn’t live up to the pre-game hype with Knight putting in a
dominate display of outstanding retrieving and classy touch at the
front of the court to win in three straight games. Shuja threw some
of his best volley drops and boasts at Knight who continued to get
them back and then put pressure on Shuja.
“I was happy with my defensive lobs tonight and I was conscious of
not giving Kash (Shuja) too many chances as he is too good a player
and eventually one will be a winner,” Knight said.
“We know each other’s games very well and I knew it would be tough
tonight with Kash (Shuja) playing in front of his home crowd.”
In the night’s last quarter final, second seed Leo Au was
pushed hard by New Zealand rep Paul Coll. In the longest
quarter final of the night, Coll got the first game and pushed Au in
the next three but went down three games to one.
Au will now meet Martin Knight in the semi-finals in what should be
another high quality match with Au ranked 47 in the world and Knight
53. The two have never played each other in a tournament but have
trained together while on tour so will be aware of each other’s
game. |
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05-Sep, Round One:
Favourites through to quarters
in Palmerston North
The top seeds are through to the quarter finals of the Fitzherbert
Rowe Lawyers International Squash Classic but a number of them were
pushed a little harder than they would have expected.
That included top seed and world number 33 Alan Clyne of Scotland.
Clyne played fellow countryman Douglas Kempsell and took 43 minutes
to win in three games. Clyne impressed with his ability to play long
quality rallies but Kempsell was up to the task at times
particularly in the first and third games. Clyne is regarded as an
incredibly fit player and he did not look that fatigued when the
match finished which is an ominous sign for the rest of the players
in the tournament.
Fourth seed Nasir Iqbal was impressive in his 20 minute three game
win over James Huang of Taiwan. He will now play Justin Beard
(Australia) in the next roundas Beard also had a three game win over
American qualifier Adrian Leanza.
There were three all New Zealand clashes in the first round and the
three higher ranked New Zealandersall made it through including
Palmerston North’s KashifShuja. Shuja looked in control of his match
against Hamilton’s Chris Lloyd but had a third game slip up which
extended the match to a fourth game. He will now play Martin Knight
in the quarter finals in a re match of their New Zealand Champs
semi-final from a month ago.
Knight was victorious that day but Shuja will be out to avenge that
loss in front of home fans. The one match a day PSA format will suit
the veteran Shuja compared to the New Zealand Champs where he played
Knight only a couple of hours after his quarter final. Knight was
taken to four games by young Aucklander Lance Beddoes in the longest
match of round one (47 minutes).
Palmerston North’s other player in the draw Joseph Watts played some
attacking Squash against New Zealand representative Paul Coll but
ultimately went down in four games.
Second seed Leo Au was also pushed to four by English qualifier
Pablo Rawden in an entertaining match.Rawden’s third match in 36
hours caught up with him when he went down 11 – 7 in the fourth. Au
impressed the SquashGym crowd with his speed around the court. He
now plays New Zealand’s Coll in the quarter finals.
LIVE STREAMING |
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"It
is great to have the New Zealand Classic back on the calendar. It
has been missing for a couple of years and Palmerston North is the
perfect venue for its renewal. 