Hard-fought squash semi-final

Press, 23 April 1984, Page 26

Hard-fought squash semi-final

Freda Walker (Linwood) needed all her customary tenacity to beat the exciting women’s squash prospect, Justine Marriott (Sumner), in a 50min semi-final in the Sumner club’s Vistalite Easter Open last evening. Marriott, the New Zealand under-17 champion, interspersed her strong driving game with some fine touch to lead Walker, 7-2, in the fifth, but was unable to score the last two points she needed for an upset victory. Both players looked tired in the final stages, but the more experienced Walker pulled off some exftemely tight boasts from ti** back

of the court to leave her young opponent stranded and from 5-7 took the last four points in one hand. In the final today Walker, the No. 2 seed, will meet the top-seeded Kathy Hargreaves, a four-times winner of the tournament, who controlled play throughout her semi-final to beat Rowan Toia (Lincoln) in straight games, 9-3, 9-3, 9-3. The No. 1 men’s seed, Craig Hibbert (Linwood), was pushed hard by Lyn Sparks (Marist), seeded sixth, before winning his semi-final in five games. Sparks had come back from

2-6 down to win the fourth. Hibbert’s opponent in the final will be the No. 2 seed, John Oakley (Christchurch Football), who also had a tough match yesterday, being kept on the court for well over, an hour by an inform Blair Michelson (Sumner), who had already upset the No. 3 seed, Tim Cook, in the previous round. Results: Men Division A — Quarter finals: C. Hibbert (Linwood) beat S. McDonald (Football), 9-2, 9-6, 9-6; L. C. Sparks (Marist) beat P. Ntonk (Sumner), 1-9, 7-9, 9-4, 9-6,T-l; B. Michelson (Sumner)

beat T. Cook (Football), 9-3, 9-4, 9-1; J. B. Oakley (Football) beat J. H. Christensen (Sumner) 9-5, 10-8, 7-9, 9-5. Semi-finals: Hibbert beat Sparks, 6-9, 9-4, 9-6, 7-9, 9-3; Oakley beat Michelson, 9-1, 4-9, 9-6, 6-9, 9-4. B grade - Semi-finals: E. Post (Christchurch) beat J. Hampton (Sumner), 9-6, 9-7, 9- G. Hayes (Christchurch) beat J. Dallas (Blues, Invercargill), 9-1, 9-0, 9-3. C grade — Semi-finals: T. Burgess (Lancaster Park) beat D. Lloyd (Blues), 5-9, 9-5, 9-1, 10- P. Clifford (Sumner) beat C. McNab (Sumner), 9-5, 9-5, 9-2. D grade — Semi-finals: H. Fletcher (Nelson) beat *3. Cassidy (Sumner), 9-2, 9-1, 9-5; D.

Boreham (Sumner) beat P. Moore (Christchurch), 9-0, 9-3, 8- 9-4. Women A grade — Quarter-finals: K. F. Hargreaves (Burnside) beat K. Gilray (Suburbs), 9-3, 9-1, 9- 9-3; R. Toia (Lincoln) beat J. Terrell (Sumner), 9-5, 9-3, 9-2; J. Marriott (Sumner) beat M. Hunt (St Andrew’s), 9-2, 9-2, 5-9, 9-6; F. Walker (Linwood) beat W. Thompson (Christchurch), 9-4, 3-9, 9-6, 9-0. Semifinals: Hargreaves beat Toia, 9-3, 9-3, 9-3; Walker beat Marriott, 9-4, 4-9, 10-8, 4-9, 9-7. B grade - Semi-finals: K. Connew (Nelson) beat P. Anderson (Oamaru), 6-9, 9-3, 9-1, 9-4; J. Hooker (Kawaroa Park) beat R. Lee (High School Old Boys), 9-6, 9-0, 9-3.