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Sun 25th May, FINAL:
[1] Chris Simpson (Ggy) 3-2 [2] Adrian
Waller (Eng)
12/10, 8/11,
14/12, 3/11, 11/6 (104m)
Simpson still the Jersey
Champion
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 certainly 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.
 Simpson
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 com 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-aa, 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!”
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