YMG Capital Classic: Second Semi

Another Gem in the Rivalry - Power's comeback comes millimeters short.

by Martin Bronstein, Toronto, 22 Nov 2001
All content © 2001 Squashtalk

THURSDAY MATCH TWO: Power falls just short in great contest.

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SQUASH TO SAVOUR

The Nicol/Power roadshow resumed today and what a welcome return it was of these two totally different squash players. I don't even feel bad about getting my predictions wrong - picking Beachill over Boswell - WRONG ! - and forecasting an easy 3/0 decision for NICOL. WRONG, oh how WRONG WRONG WRONG. (But a friend informed me that I had been inducted into the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame and it went to my head. Strange, nobody had told me or even asked whether I wanted to be in it)

My admiration for Peter Nicol and Jonathon Power was once more regenerated and renewed by the way these two athletes played the game of squash over 103 dramatic, breathtaking and awe-inspiring minutes. And with none of the nastiness that marked yesterday's Power/Price wrestling match. To those people who blamed Power for it, I now say who really caused the unpleasantness?

DON'T GO BY LOOKS - WATCH THE RACQUET

Faced with Gentleman Pete, Power was impeccably behaved. The two respect each other and while Power had a couple of his usual earnest discussions with the officials, this match was played at the highest level the way squash should be played. Power looked like death with red-rimmed eyes and started the match in a very subdued mood. Nicol, near -shaven head, looked all business and at 12-7 seemed ready to make my prediction come true, but Power was warming up and tied it up at 14-14, his volley drops on both sides of the court were working a treat and Nicol was having to do some pretty heavy lungeing in order to get his racket near them. Nicol called set three and once they had taken a point each there followed two decisions on which the appeals referee reversed the original decision. As they both went against Power, he had reason to feel peeved by them but he walked off court without any histrionics.

THAT OLD MAGIC IS BACK

I think Power is the most talented player I have seen. His combination of shots, inventiveness, reading of the game and speed makes him unique. This game showed him at his best and as much as I admire Nicol, he could do nothing to contain Power's superb ball distribution and final killing dropshots. Power took the game 15-9 in 13 minutes and Nicol had been made to do a lot of work. The third game was even more dramatic as Power chopped and flicked, raced and chased, smashed and dropped to a 15-6 win in under 13 minutes. At this rate he was going to run out a 3/1 winner without raising his heart rate. But Nicol refused to be intimidated and recovered from 1-3 in the fourth to tie at 6-6 which is when the Power touch went walkabout: four errors on the run, a let denied, a Nicol hallmark wrongway cross court cut, a Power error and then a Nicol back hand drop and it was game ball 14-6. Power smacked the next serve into the nick but Nicol was too strong and took the game 15-7 to force a fifth.

Power started the fifth showing how badly he wanted this hometown win and led 4-1 and then 6-4. Nicol responded by stringing six points together to lead 10-6. Power stopped the run with a tight forehand drop, but Nicol ignored the interruption and worked his way to match ball 14-8. Impossible situation for Power? Not a bit of it, he played his usual squash and point by worked his way back into the game, to the point where you felt he would snatch this one the way he did against Price yesterday. He got to 13-14 and Nicol was looking far from happy. But then Power went for his bullet forehand straight drop - which had given him so many points tonight -and it hit tin. It was finally over. Nicol screamed Yes! And Power threw his racket high over the back wall. One hour and 43 minutes of sheer joy. Thank you Peter, Thanks Jonathon. I'll carry your bags any day.