IT WAS third time lucky for Martin Watts at the weekend as he won his first Channel Islands title. In the previous two years he had lost to Jersey’s Rob Hickling, who was his final opponent once again this season.
Although Watts had beaten him 3-0 in their previous encounter at the Guernsey Bowls and Squash Games 2007, this match was special and Hickling was not going to release his crown without a fight.
In front of a packed gallery at Beau Sejour, the Jerseyman took control of the first game manoeuvring the assistant director of Guernsey squash around the court very skilfully.
Despite some very long and hard rallies, Hickling was the one who was coming out on top in these early exchanges as he took the first game 9-4.
The second game started well for Watts as he took an early lead, but once again Hickling had other ideas and after being down 5-2 he managed to find a vein of good form which enabled him to win it 9-6 and take a 2-0 lead.
In the break between games, Watts took some advice from ex CI champion Mark Roberts, who has never lost to Hickling but said: ‘He is a far better player now than when I used to play him.’
It proved to be a turning point as Watts dominated the third game with punishing drives and some lovely touch shots. While the rallies were still very long and demanding, he was now in the driving seat and secured his first game of the match 9-5.
The fourth started pretty much the same as the third with Watts taking an early lead and all Hickling could do at this stage was hang in there.
It was not long before Watts levelled the match by taking the game 9-4 to set up a decider, with the gallery now packed.
The Guernsey representative continued where he left off and was soon looking like a champion at 4-0 up.
However, Hickling patiently played his way back into the game as he kept his score ticking over. He levelled the scores and a short while later took the lead 6-4.
Watts’s concentration had lapsed and, in that moment, his opponent took full advantage.
‘It’s easy to lose concentration in a match, but it shows you how quickly the momentum of a match can change. Closing out any match is difficult, even more so when it’s a final,’ said Peter Bridgeman, director of island squash.
From 6-4 the game swung one way then the other as both players had opportunities to strengthen their grip on the title.
However, it was Watts who made the decisive move.
Soon he levelled the score, then he was 8-6 and serving for the match.
Once again Hickling fought back but this time his efforts were in vain as Watts, at the second time of asking, took the game 9-7 to become CI champion for the first time.
In the other categories Kate Cadigan of Jersey won her third women’s title as she defeated Natalie Dodd in the final 9-5, 9-4, 9-5.
Dodd, still only 15, played well and at times was more than a match for Cadigan. In the next few years she will have a great chance to win the title if she keeps on improving as she has done this season.
The women’s vets title was won by Nola May, who beat fellow Sarnian Julie de la Mare 9-6, 9-6,
9-2.
Last year’s beaten finalist Martyn Scrivens (Jersey) also won his first title, beating Max Trouteaud 9-6, 9-1, 9-6 in the men’s vintage competition for players over 55.
Guernsey’s Larry Grover also had to settle for the runner-up slot in the men’s vets after he defeated Steve Law to reach the final. He was overpowered by the speed of his opponent John Wood, who put out teammate and number one seed Hugh Jones.
n THE junior event was marred by the fact that the Jersey players were unable to attend due to the bad weather conditions.
A revamped draw saw Katherine Jensen win the under-13 girls’ title. Newcomer Olivia Bourge came second and Ellie Torode third.
Issey Norman-Ross won the under-15 title for the second time, with Amy Stenner the runner up. Imogen Oldfield came third and Jess Le Prevost was fourth.
Niall Adams beat Andrew Jensen in the under-11 boys’ final. ‘This was a closely fought match and both boys could have a promising future if they continue with their improvement,’ said Bridgeman.
Charles Stenner, having defeated Jacques Scowen earlier, put up a brave fight against Janick Radford in the under-13 final.
Radford, who looked comfortable in the first two games, only dropping three points, became over confident as his opponent fought back to level the scores at
2-2.
The fifth was nip and tuck with Stenner taking a 5-3 lead and looking every bit a champion.
Finally, Radford woke up and began to realise that if he didn’t start playing the title was going to be Stenner’s. Radford eventually won the fifth 9-5.
Harry Martel, who has won the most improved player for two consecutive years, reached his first competitive final in the under-15 category.
He pushed his opponent Jack Tacon all the way and led 2-1 in the match, having won a tight third game 10-9.
Tacon had to battle hard to secure victory, which he did but he knew he had been in a match as he eventually won the final two games 9-5, 9-4 just days before his 13th birthday.
In the under-17 boys’ final, James Brehaut predictably won the title, but Zak Parsons played very well and is now beginning to close the gap between the two.
For the first time in numerous contests against Brehaut he took a game and looked to have his opponent rattled at times.
‘This was a great weekend of squash and it emulated everything the GSRA does for our junior and senior players,’ Bridgeman said.
‘I would like to thank NRG international for their sponsorship for the last three years because without it we would not be able to host events like this. I would also like to thank all the players who participated.’
Loading ...
Share this article:
What are these?