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SEMI FINALS THURSDAY MARCH 13 2008

Martin Bronstein reporting from Canary Wharf,London

Beachill was tough but Willstrop was tougher. (photo:©2008 Fritz Borchert)

GREAT YORKSHIRE SQUASH FROM WILLSTROP AND BEACHILL

Well, it was all British, all English and all Yorkshire, this first semi-final and they did us proud, did  Lea Beachill and James Willstrop. They did the venue proud and this East Winter Garden is doing squash proud.  The buzz around the venue is the best I’ve come across in England since the golden days of the Hi-Tec British Opens at the Wembley Conference Centre when Jahangir Khan was king.

The Winter Garden is smaller than Wembley (which held 3,000 spectators) but the 350 spectators are around three sides of the court, close to the court, which I think is one of the most important aspects of any venue. The lighting is excellent and the music  is well chosen. And for once, a decent PA system. Alan Thatcher is a good MC, asks intelligent questions of the players, a wonderful change from that old Welsh windbag Robert Edwards. So all in all, a great place to watch top squash.

As I said the two Yorkshireman provided that.  Importantly they have known each other forever, almost like brothers,  Willstrop’s father, Malcolm having also coached Beachill from before his teenage years.

They both know how to move on the court, they know the rules of obstruction and as lifelong buddies would not dream of trying to get an unwarranted stroke by fishing. So the match was clean, with almost no contact and very little resort to the referees.

The first game was a textbook demonstration of how a first game should be played; each player ensuring he was well played in and comfortable with the ball and court before he tried to get too clever with shots.

Nothing went wrong for Willstrop in the third. (photo:©2008 Fritz Borchert)

This game was also a lesson in hitting length. I don’t think Beachill could hit a bad length even if he tried. Regardless of pressure his length was near perfect. My eat was behind backwall, my nose right on the left wall so I was able to see not only the length but also the tightness as they battled for supremacy on the backhand. It was marvellous, the ball rarely more than three inches from the wall.

The game consisted of good percentage squash without being boring but it was Willstrop who dictated play to lead 5-3 with all of Beachill’s points coming from Willstrop errors.

Beachill stayed in touch and was starting to use his short game as the score got towards 11 but it was  Willstrop who played slightly better to win 11-8.  Beachill  did not allow that to affect his mental state and he came back to dominate the second game to lead 9-3. It was a good mental game as they know each other’ game inside out so it was rare that one could fool the other or send him the wrong way. Willstrop would not let go, got back to  6-9 and then 8-10  but had to grit his teeth as Beachill got lucky with a cross court that nicked by the right service box to end the 12 minute game.

Fortunes changed radically in the third game. Suddenly nothing went wrong for Willstrop and nothing went right for Beachill. From dominating the second game he was behind the eight ball from the start of this game and suddenly he was 6-1 down. Willstrop did not loosen his grip and his constant attack, finding offensive shots even when stretched , coupled with his usual  elastic-armed defense  saw him through to win 11-5 in under nine minutes.

Cameron Pilley looked good. (photo:©2008 Fritz Borchert)

Beachill once more marshall his forces and  this fourth game was the most closely contested  with both players now going for winners  more often. Willstrop had the edge to lead 9-5. But Beachill  is anxious to prove he’s back on the scene and  pulled back to 9-8 before Willstrop pulled another of fantastic winners out of the hat – a forehand crosscourt nick to get to match ball. He was denied a let on the next rally to put Beachill one point behind. Then followed the rally of the match, all over the court for about 70 shots. Alex Gough was sitting next to me and said “If Beachill wins the this he’ll win the match….Willstrop is tired.”  Beachill wanted it badly, he was playing carefully and not risking a bad attempt at a winner, but when he played a drop to the front  Willstrop went forward and while Beachill was pedalling backwards to the left, Willstrop hit a perfect low drive down the right wall to win the rally. Beachill threw his racket into the corner in frustration at all that hard work going to waste and Willstrop did the same thing to show fellowship.

A fine squash match by two mature, uncomplaining players. Beachill did not play badly, but  right now Willstrop is full of confidence.

PILLEY LOOKING GOOD

Willstrop will face another six footer in the final, Australia’s Cameron Pilley, who was surrounded by Englishman in the semis but prevented an all-English final with his wonderful consistency.  He beat Alistair Walker who was a little better today thatn yesterday, but still playing woeful length on his backhand for much of the match.  The fact was he at no time put Pilley under real pressure and Pilley quite rightly emerged a 3/0 winner after 41 minutes.  Walker said he was  not moving well and was always chasing the ball. I think his stunning victory over Gregory Gaultier in the quarters  had affected him both physically and mentally. We shall be watching him in the next tournament to see what affect that victory has on his play.

Semfinal results:
James Willstrop (ENG) bt Lee Beachill (ENG)11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9. (58mins)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Alistair Walker (ENG) 11-1, 11-10 (2-0) 11-5 (41mins)

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