Upset results in squash

Press, 9 June 1980, Page 34

Upset results in squash

Canterbury’s representative squash selectors had quite a lot more to think about after the provincial championships which ended yesterday, when Craig Hibbert deservedly beat Chris Wasley, 9-2, 9-7, 1-9, 9-2, in the men’s open final. Just the fact that either of these two players had made the final at all was food for thought. Hibbert was seeded only third, while Wasley was unseeded. The top seed and New Zealand under-25 champion. Rod Hayes, had fallen to Wasley in the second round on Saturday morning, and during the plate competition which followed he was thrice taken to five sets, losing one of these contests. As a left-hander- he did not fare too well.

Bryan Simpson, the second seed, was also put out in the second round. He lost to Don Preston after enjoying a 7-0 lead over a tiring opponent in the fifth game. And in the plate competition the same day he lost again — to the lower-ranked John Oakley. As the tournament progressed it seemed that nothing could stop Wasley. He cleaned up Oakley for the loss of just six points, played good tight squash to upset Hayes, and then showed previously hidden attacking abilities to beat the fourth seed, Lawrence Skurr, in the semi-finals. The final itself was overshadowed by an enthralling semi-final, on Saturday evening between Hibbert and Preston. It took 70min to complete, and the first game alone lasted I9min.

Preston, who held match ball three times (all at 8-6) in the fourth game, made Hibbert work really hard and pull off some miraculous retrieves. There were great nick winners by both players to keep the gallery

i tense. In the last Preston finally ran out of steam 3 [little as Hibbert dragged him ; forward with tight drops and some boasts.

In the final, Wasley was unable to maintain his im* i petus. He made more urn forced errors than usual; while Hibbert kept up an exemplary length, interspersed with deadly drops into the nick. The women’s title was won for the second year in a row by the top-seed, Phil, ippa Idour, who showed excellent touch in her first tournament appearance of the season. Men Open.—Second round: C. J. Wasley beat R. W. Hayes, 9-4, 9- 7-9, 9-6; D. R. Preston beat B. J. Simpson, 5-9, 10-8. 9-4. 3-9, 10- Semi-finals: Wasley beat L. P. Skurr, 9-4, 5-9, 9-3, 9-1; Hibbert beat Preston. 9-10. 9-4, 5-9, 10-8, 9-3. Final: Hibbert beat Wasley, 9-2, 9-7, 1-9, 9-2. Open plate: L. C. Sparks beat Hayes, 2-9. 9-5, 9-5, 5-9, 9-7. Play-off for third and fourth: Skurr beat Preston,

9-5, 9-3, 9-5. B grade.—Final: R. Clements beat R. Marshall, 6-9, 9-5, 9-7, 9-6. C grade.—Final: J. Knight beat J. Tulloch, fi-10, 9-5, 9-5, 9-5. D grade.—Final: C. Abbot beat R. Armstrong, 9-6, 10-9, 9-7. E grade.—Final: A. Trenberth beat W. Smith, 9-2, 5-9, 9-6, 5-9, 9-1. F grade.—Final E. Post beat T. Cook, 7-9, 9-2, 10-8, 10-8. G grade.—Final: K. Roberts (Hokitika) beat J. Forrester, 6-9, 9-3, 9-5, 3-9, 9-0. H grade.—B. Newman beat C. Perry, 9-2, 9-1, 9-2. Women Open.—Second round: P. Idour beat L. Sutherland, 9-1, 9-10, 10-8, 9-5; K. Carpinter beat V. Dunstan, 9-4, 1-9, 9-7, 9-5; L. Symes beat J. James, 5-9, 9-6. 9-2, 9-4; M. Holland beat J. Terrell, 1-9. 9-4, 9-6, 4-9, 9-0. Semi-finals: Mrs Idour beat Mrs Carpinter, 9-1, 9-4, 9-3; Mrs Holland beat Miss Symes, 9-6, 3-9, 9-4, 7-9, 9-7. Final: Mrs Idour beat Mrs Holland, 9-4. 9-4, 9-0. Plate: S. O’Brien beat S. Lane, 9-3, 9-2, 10-8. Consolation plate: K. Gilray beat A. Mekenna, 9-3, 9-0, 9-1. Special plate: J. James beat L. Sutherland, 6-9, 9-2, 9-5, 9-2. B grade.—Final: L. Cowan beat S. Benrnes, 9-0, 9-1, 7-9, 3-9, 9-2.

C grade.—Final: S. Wasley beat K. Hatherton, 9-7, 4-9, 9-4, 9-3.

D grade.—Final: S. Roberts (Hokitika) beat A. Prier, 6-9, 9-4, 9-2, 9-4.