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  Cleethorpes
Invitational 2017
18-19 Aug, Cleethorpes CC,
Yorkshire |
Willstrop makes it ten
Malcolm Willstrop reports
So to the final of the 20th Cleethorpes Invitational and
fittingly between the two top seeds and two of England's
outstanding foursome of Nick Matthew, James Willstrop, Peter
Barker and Daryl Selby.
Willstrop, 9 times winner and Selby,3 times runner up both, made
their way to the final with two 3-0 wins, Willstrop beating
George Parker and Declan James, Selby beating Richie Fallows and
Chris Simpson.
They were not to disappoint, both players continued in the
attacking mode and from the middle of the first game and served
at 10-8 for the first game. Having in the end to produce two
winners to take the tie break 12-10.
The second was straightforward for Willstrop, attacking
classically he drew away from Selby to win 11-5.
At 2-0 it looked like Selby had too much to do but he has never
been one to give way and fortified by an early lead of 4-1 he
was back in the match 11-7.
He again started well in the fourth, as the match continued to
be high quality and although Willstrop recovered to 7-7 two
strokes settled matters and it was 2-2, 11-7.
In the fifth it was Willstrop who started better leading 5-1 but
once again Selby was not done with and even led 7-6. At 7-7
Willstrop played three winners and served 10-7 for the match,
Selby then produced an outstanding rally picking up a series of
seemingly winners and eventually and incredibly winning the
rally.
As Willstrop said in his winners speech, it was a shame it was
not recorded as it would have ranked up there with the best. The
next match ball was enough and Willstrop sealed his 10th
Cleethorpes title 11-8.
It had been a top class final certainly amongst the tournament s
best and a fitting end to the 20th edition.
Willstrop thanked Mike Hallam, his team and all involved for
their efforts in sustaining such an enjoyable tournament for 20
years.
Malcolm Willstrop |
Draw & Results
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Cleethorpes
Invitational 2017
18-19 Aug, Cleethorpes CC,
Yorkshire |
Round One
18-Aug |
Semis
19-Aug |
Final
19-Aug |
[1] James Willstrop (Eng)
11/5, 11/5, 11/6 (32m)
George Parker (Eng) |
[1] James Willstrop
11/7, 12/10, 11/6 (40m)
Declan James |
10th CI title for James
[1] James Willstrop
12/10, 11/5, 7/11, 7/11, 11/8 (64m)
[2] Daryl Selby |
[3/4] Alan Clyne (Sco)
11/3, 6/11, 9/11, 11/6, 11/7 (84m)
Declan James (Eng) |
Jaymie Haycocks (Eng)
6/11, 11/6, 13/11, 11/5
[3/4] Chris Simpson (Eng) |
[3/4] Chris Simpson 11/6, 11/8, 11/8
[2] Daryl Selby |
Richie Fallows (Eng)
11/5, 11/6, 11/7
[2] Daryl Selby (Eng) |
Semi-Finals :
Malcolm Willstrop reports
James Willstrop impressed beating George Parker
with attacking intent in the first round, and he adopted a
similar approach in his semi final with doubles partner Declan
James, who provided stern resistance.
Willstrop led 5-1 in the first and although James recovered well
to 5-7 Willstrop won the game 11-7. A couple of errors by the
No1 seed helped James to a 4-1 lead and playing his best squash
of the match he led 10-7. Willstrop however was not giving way
and held his game together and won it 12-10, to take a 2-0 lead.
James' disappointment at not being 1-1 was quickly reflected as
Willstrop led 6-0 in the third and he served for the match at
10-2. To his credit James saved four match balls to lose
11-6. Willstrop will be well pleased with his effort so far and
there was much to like about James' performance against both
Willstrop and Clyne.
The World doubles players have all look sharp, even though this
a worlds apart from singles. Daryl Selby moving well, led
clean in each of the games against Chris Simpson.
He would be 6-3 in the first, 5-1 inthe second and 6-1 in the
third but in each instance Simpson would recover well to 5-8,7-7
& 8-6 before Selby finished the games off.
Simpson has made a encouraging recovery and body willing Nantes
is his next challenge.Quarter-Finals : Malcolm
Willstrop reports
The first match of the tournament, involving the holder Alan
Clyne and Declan James, both fresh from the world
doubles. It promised a close and physical encounter and the
promise was fulfilled.
Clyne must have shocked to find himself 10-1 down in the first
and he lost it11-3 making six unforced errors. James hadn’t had
to do much to win the first and Clyne reducing his error rate
led 6-3 and 9-5, winning the second 11-6.
Despite some positive play by James in the third, Clyne always
led winning 11-6. He led 6-4 in the fourth, but James finished
the game impressively and Clyne didn’t score again, so 11-6 two
all.
Anybody’s guess now, but amazingly James romped into a 6-0 lead
with a string of winners. Just amazingly Clyne came back to 5-6,
James perhaps gone a little negative. He held it together
though, produced 3 winners to take the game and match 11-7 in 84
minutes.
The second match between James Willstrop, looking for his
10th win and George Parker was a complete contrast to the
first. Willstrop, seemingly eager to attack on a court hardly
conducive, found 8 winners in the first, there were errors too
but he took the first 11-8.
He continued in the same vein in the second and third and
although Parker resisted as well as he could, there was little
respite for him and Willstrop eased to a 3-0 win in 32 minutes,
which will do him no harm for what lies ahead tomorrow.
What some thought might be a tight game between Daryl Selby
and Richie Fallows was the complete opposite. Selby wins
first 11-5, the second is a closer game until Fallows was
unsettled by a decision, Selby 11-7 and he took the third 11-6,
3-0 to Selby.
It was good to see Chris Simpson back on the court, but
he contributed too many errors as Jaymie Haycocks took
the first game 11-6. Simpson seemed to find his rhythm in the
second and took it 11-6.
A much closer third game, nip and tuck as Haycocks has game
ball, Simpson fights back and three points later Simpson takes
it 13-11.
This seemed to knock the stuffing out of Haycocks and Simpson
won the 4th 11-5 to advance to a semi-final against Selby.
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Draw & Results
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Preview:
20 up for Cleethorpes Invitational
We have reached the 20th year of the Cleethorpes Cricket
Club Professional Invitation Squash Tournament, who would
have believed it.
I have had the benefit and support of the team from day one,
Rick Havercroft, Brian and Julie Barrett and one of the now
world class referees, John Massarella.
Many thanks to the main sponsors, Oceanblue Logistics,
Specsavers, Van Franchise, Rudd Solicitors, XceCo Ltd, Bring
Logistics, A.P.Robinson Accountants, MHI Vestas C/O Eon and
Cristal Pigments UK for their generous support. Without such
support we would never be able to put on such an event, I
cannot thank you enough.
The quality of the players is as strong as ever, we are
privileged to have them in Cleethorpes. With two world top
ten, three world top 30 and the others all world top 90,
there is sure to be some quality squash on view.
As always I would like to thank each company that has placed
an advert in the program, some who have been with us from
day one, yours is a massive contribution to the event.
Mike Hallam
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