By PAUL LINDSAY
Patrick Rooney meets Nick Wall in the men’s final of the Carter Jonas British Under-23 Championship at Roehampton.
Carter Jonas Under-23 British Open, Men’s Quarter Finals:
Patrick Rooney bt Jack Martell 3-1: 11/7, 8/11, 11/3, 11/7
Elliot Devred Morris bt Owain Taylor 3-1: 11/7, 12/10, 9/11, 11/7
Tom Walsh bt Seigo Masuda 3-0: 11/3, 11/5, 11/5
Nick Wall bt Ben Coates 3-1: 6/11, 11/5, 11/6, 13/11
Men’s Semi Finals: Patrick Rooney bt Elliott Devred Morris 3-0: 11/5, 11/7, 11/3.
Perhaps the Quarter final win earlier in the day had taken a lot out of Elliott’s legs, who tried his best. Some amazing rallies in the first 2 games and world class retrieving by both but Patrick was just too quick, too accurate and too good on the day.
Nick Wall bt Tom Walsh 3-1: 11/7, 8/11, 11/8, 11/4.
Both started a little slow but it was Nick who found more joy in hitting consistent length to turn a 3-6 deficit around and take a 10-6 lead before winning the game 11/7.
The second game was played at a high pace as each player looked to move the other, neither really found a rhythm to allow the game to flow freely, whilst encouraged to clear the ball and play squash. It was Tom who seemed to be playing a more attacking game and built a lead of 7/4 before holding on to win 11/8 and level at 1 game all.
The third game was a mix of world class squash and basic errors and at 6/1 down Tom’s lack of length was costing him. A few errors from Nick gave Tom some momentum to fight back to 8/9 before Nick rallied and closed the game 11/8 to lead 2-1.
The 4th game was played mainly in the middle of the court and it was Tom who suffered as he seemed to run out of ideas as Nick kept the pressure on. Nick remained focus and began to move the ball into the front corners of the court with purpose and won the 4th game 11/4 and with it the match, advancing into the final.
Men’s Final:
Patrick Rooney v Nick Wall
Men’s Monrad:
Jack Mitterer bt Dan Wells 3-0. 11/7, 11/4, 11/7
Donny van Hal bt Sam Price 3-1.
Dylan Martens bt Alisdair Shapcott 3-0. 11/8, 11/9, 11/9
Craig V-Wallace bt Harry Wyld 3-2. 11/3, 9/11, 11/9, 5/11, 11/8
Craig V-Wallace bt Alisdair Shapcott 3-2. 8/11, 11/8, 11/6, 9/11, 11/9
Jack Mitterer bt Dylan Martens 3-0. 11/7, 11/6, 11/9
Harry Wyld bt Sam Price 3-2.
Women’s Quarter Finals:
Ali Thomson bt Torrie Malik 3-1. 4/11, 11/9, 11/8, 11/2
Alicia Mead bt Elise Lazarus 3-0. 11/6, 11/4, ret inj.
Jasmine Hutton bt Kace Bartley 3-0. 11/6, 6/2 ret inj
Lucy Turmel bt Lowri Roberts 3-1, 11/6, 8/11, 13/11, 11/4
Women’s Semi Finals:
Ali Thomson bt Alicia Mead 3-0. 11/9, 11/5, 11/6. Ali was made to work hard for a 3-0 win with there never more than 2 points between the players. Ali finals taking an important first game 11/9. Another tight start as players exchanged points to 3-3 but then Ali’s control around the middle of the court saw her open a lead to 6-3 and whilst Alicia battled away Ali won the 2nd 11/5. Ali started the 3rd game well leading 3-0 and 9-4 and again Alicia was working tirelessly but could not close the gap as Ali won the game and match 11/6.
Lucy Turmel bt Jasmine Hutton 3-0. 11/9, 11/7, 11/4. Closer than the 3-0 score line suggest. Both players hitting the ball well and moving superbly around court. Jasmine started well to lead 6-2 as Lucy took her time to find her width but a spirited fightback saw the first game at 6/6 then 7/7 before Jas lead 9/7 only to see Lucy take the first game 11/9. Jas again got off to a quick start, 3/0, hitting lovely winning drops but Lucy remained patience to draw level at 7/7 before then taking 4 points in a row to win the 2nd 11/7, with Jas making a few more errors. Jas once more started well taking a 2-0 lead but Lucy kept the pressure on rally after rally to get into the lead at 5/4 and Jas confidence and patience disappeared as Lucy won the game and match 11/4.
Women’s Final:
Ali Thomson v Lucy Turmel
Women’s Monrad:
Katie Wells bt Tamaki Marumo 3-1. 8/11, 11/8, 11/6, 11/7
Picture by KIM ROBERTS