Nick Wall stuns James Willstrop and Jaz Hutton halts Millie Tomlinson in Manchester shocks
By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor
Nick Wall roared into the semi-finals of the AJ Bell England Squash Championship after recording a stunning straight-games victory over top seed James Willstrop.
Wall, whose arrival on the senior professional tour followed an outstanding junior career, won 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 to book a last-four clash against George Parker. Wall also beat Josh Masters in straight games.
Parker, meanwhile, won a tough match against Merseyside’s Patrick Rooney. The match featured a bizarre scoreline with Rooney taking a tight opening game and then failing to register a single point in the second. Parker went on to win 12-14, 11-0, 11-9, 11-5 in 56 minutes.
The other men’s semi-final will be between Declan James and Richie Fallows. James beat Miles Jenkins 3-0 while Fallows achieved a similar result against Charlie Lee to add to his walkover against Tom Richards, who withdrew because of injury.
Women’s top seed Sarah-Jane Perry continued her march through the competition but all eyes will be on today’s clash between Jasmine Hutton of Sussex and Kent’s Gina Kennedy. Both players won twice yesterday.
Kennedy also faces a tough battle against No.2 seed Millie Tomlinson, who will be looking to bounce back after losing in straight games to the in-form Hutton.
AJ Bell England Squash Championship 2021, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England.
Men’s Semi Finals:
Nick Wall (Yorks) v [4] George Parker (Leics)
[2] Declan James (Notts) v Richie Fallows (Essex)
Second Pool Round:
Pool A
Nick Wall (Yorks) bt Joshua Masters (Kent) 12-10, 11-9, 11-6 (31m)
Nick Wall (Yorks) bt [1] James Willstrop (Yorks) 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 (35m)
Pool B
Patrick Rooney (Merseyside) bt Tom Walsh (Sussex) 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8 (47m)
[4] George Parker (Leics) bt Patrick Rooney (Merseyside) 12-14, 11-0, 11-9, 11-5 (56m)
Pool C
Richie Fallows (Essex) bt Charlie Lee (Surrey) 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 (37m)
Richie Fallows (Essex) bt [3] Tom Richards (Surrey) w/o
Pool D
Miles Jenkins (Sussex) bt Joe Lee (Surrey) 5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-3 (43m)
[2] Declan James (Notts) bt Miles Jenkins (Sussex) 11-8, 11-4, 11-4 (41m)
Women’s Second Pool Round:
Pool A
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (Warwicks) bt Anna Kimberley (Essex) 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 (18m)
Grace Gear (Herts) bt Lucy Beecroft (Northumbria) 11-8, 11-1, 11-7 (20m)
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (Warwicks) bt [3] Julianne Courtice (Glos) 17-15, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 (58m)
Lucy Beecroft (Northumbria) bt Anna Kimberley (Essex) 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 (34m)
[3] Julianne Courtice (Glos) bt Grace Gear (Herts) 11-6, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4 (36m)
Pool B
Georgina Kennedy (Kent) bt Alicia Mead (Warwicks) 11-5, 11-5, 11-1 (19m)
[2] Millie Tomlinson (Derbyshire) bt Kace Bartley (Surrey) 11-3, 11-5, 11-6 (20m)
[4] Jasmine Hutton (Sussex) bt [2] Millie Tomlinson (Derbyshire) 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 (26m)
Georgina Kennedy (Kent) bt Kace Bartley (Surrey) 11-4, 11-3, 11-0 (17m)
[4] Jasmine Hutton (Sussex) bt Alicia Mead (Warwicks) 11-5, 11-4, 11-2 (22m)
Women’s Third Pool Round:
Pool A
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (Warwicks) v Grace Gear (Herts)
[3] Julianne Courtice (Glos) v Lucy Beecroft (Northumbria)
Anna Kimberley (Essex) v Grace Gear (Herts)
Pool B
Kace Bartley (Surrey) v Alicia Mead (Warwicks)
[4] Jasmine Hutton (Sussex) v Georgina Kennedy (Kent)
[2] Millie Tomlinson (Derbyshire) v Georgina Kennedy (Kent)
Pictures courtesy of England Squash