Local hero Richie Fallows wins fiery fifth to set up last-eight clash with Eddie Charlton
By TIM GARNER at Dulwich
Top seed Tom Richards was forced to pull out of the Dulwich Open second round because of injury.
A great day’s squash at Dulwich Sports Club in SE London saw all the seeds move smoothly through round one. Indeed, the only game dropped was by Paul Rawden, who started slowly against Herts’ Keith Timms before edging home in four tight games.
The last 16 threw up some much more testing encounters. Charles Sharpes and Rex Hedrick got through in straight games, and top seed Richards looked to be following suit before losing the third and putting out his hand to concede against a surprised but delighted Jim Bamber.
It turned out to be a precautionary withdrawal (because of a strained glute) by the event favourite, who has several PSA events coming up in early April. It does, however, open the door not only for the Dulwich Open title but also the race to the JW Cannon Grand Prix title.
It’s now a two-horse race and, with Sharpes safely into the quarters, Eddie Charlton was keen to avoid falling at the last-16 hurdle and managed to see off a couple of game balls in the first before getting past Paul Rawden.
Angus Gillams has been moving stealthily through the draw and upset the World rankings with a straight-games victory against Lewis Walters, where he was joined by Declan James.
The Nottinghamshire-based player was made to work hard for his spot by the youngest competitor in the draw, British Under-17 Champion Kyle Finch. James lost the first and only just edged the second before strength and experience took control.
The final match of the evening was well worth waiting for as Richie Fallows and Malaysian Sanjay Singh fought out an entertaining encounter that went the full five games. Singh was the first to match ball but couldn’t find the winner and it was local favourite Fallows who got home 12-10.
BSPA Dulwich Open sponsored by Harvey & Wheeler.
Quarter-finals:
Gillams v Bamber
Coleman v Hedrick
Sharpes v James
Fallows v Charlton