Matthew and Moverley on the march in Manchester
By Squash Mad Reporter
Fiona Moverley took out No.5 seed Sarah Kippax in the first round of the Women’s National Championships in Manchester.
Moverley, who won the Edinburgh Open last week, is in fine form after a five-year break from the professional tour. She hit back from 2-1 down to beat her experienced opponent 3/11, 11/6, 6/11, 11/8, 14/12 in 55 minutes.
Millie Tomlinson came close to springing another shock, but lost a titanic battle against Sarah Jane Perry 14-12, 15-13, 11-9 in 52 minutes.
Defending champion Alison Waters is through to the quarter finals after a simple 11/4, 11/1, 11/3 win against Lucy Beecroft.
Top seed Laura Massaro also had a comfortable victory, over Cheshire’s Jessica Davis, winning 11-2, 11-2, 11-7.
“I’ve already won four national titles but I’d love to get my hands on it for a fifth time,” said Waters.
The men’s draw has been thrown wide open after the number two seed, James Willstrop, withdrew from the tournament due to injury.
Nick Matthew continues the hunt for a record seventh title after a 11/3, 11/9, 11/5 win against the up and coming Declan James.
Speaking afterwards Matthew said: “Declan is a good friend and we train a lot together so I had to be on my game. I really do feel for James (Willstrop) but I have to focus on my own job, there’s a lot of banana skins out there.”
The 2011 National Champion Daryl Selby also reached the quarter final stages, beating Eddie Charlton in straight games.
In the battle of the Scottish and Welsh number ones, it was a Tartan victory for Alan Clyne over Peter Creed with an 11-6, 11-1, 11-8 scoreline. Scottish number two Greg Lobban battled hard before going down to Guernsey’s Chris Simpson in four games.
National Championships, Manchester.
Women’s round one results:
[1] Laura Massaro (Lancs) bt Jessica Davis (Cheshire) 11/2, 11/2, 11/7 (21m)
[5/8] Emily Whitlock (Cheshire) bt Leonie Holt (Warwickshire) 11/4, 11/4, 11/4 (25m)
[5/8] Victoria Lust (Bedfordshire) bt Alison Thomson (Surrey) 11/4, 11/6 11/6 (26m)
[3/4] Madeline Perry (Northern Ireland) bt Georgina Kennedy (Kent) 11/5, 11/4, 11/3 (18m)
[3/4] Sarah-Jane Perry (Warwickshire) bt Millie Tomlinson (Derbyshire) 14/12, 15/13, 11/9 (52m)
Fiona Moverley (Yorkshire) [5/8] Sarah Kippax (Cheshire) 3/11, 11/6, 6/11, 11/8, 14/12 (55m)
[5/8] Jenny Duncalf (Yorkshire) bt Rachel Chadwick (Cheshire) 11/4, 11/5, 7/11, 12/10 (37m)
[2] Alison Waters (Middlesex) bt Lucy Beecroft (Northumbria) 11/4, 11/1, 11/3 (19m)
Men’s round two results:
[1] Nick Matthew (Yorks) bt [9/16] Declan James (Notts) 11/3, 11/9, 11/5 (42m)
[5/8] Alan Clyne (Scotland) bt [9/16] Peter Creed (Wales) 11/6, 11/1, 11/8 (38m)
[3/4] Chris Simpson (Yorkshire) bt [9/16] Greg Lobban (Scotland) 11/6, 10/12, 11/9, 11/5 (67m)
[5/8] Joe Lee (Surrey) bt [9/16] Jaymie Haycocks (Warwickshire) 11/8, 12/10, 11/7 (48m)
[5/8] Tom Richards (Surrey) bt [9/16] Ben Coleman (Essex) 11/5, 11/4, 11/4 (35m)
[3/4] Daryl Selby bt [9/16] Eddie Charlton (Notts) 11/8, 11/4, 11/7 (34m)
[5/8] Adrian Waller bt James Earles (Yorkshire) 11/8, 11/4, 11/7 (34m)
[9/16] Charles Sharpes (Surrey) w/o [2] James Willstrop (Yorks) withdrawn
For more information visit: www.nationalsquashchamps.net
Pictures courtesy of National Championships