Peter Nicol Gets Pinkied
By Martin Brontein
May 10, 2005 All content © 2004 Squashtalk
[last update was 11-may-05 ]

Beachill Survives an All-Out Attack

Willstrop and Beachill in pursuit of the all-out attack Tuesday night at Broadgate (photo © 2005 Fritz Borchert)

When James Willstrop plays Lee Beachill, it is like the young brother challenging big brother. Although they are not related, they are both mentored and coached by James’ pop, Malcolm, and they have virtually grown up together. Needless to say Willstrop has yet to beat Beachill but whenever they meet he gives it a bloody good try.

Today he decided to go all out for attack – come to think of it, he always plays that way, but in this first game he seemed to increase his efforts in the short game. Willstrop’s favourite shot – he can almost patent it – is when he bends low and hits a volley drop to an inch above the tin. It is a very good shot but its value to his game is that he does it so often and it always seems unexpected. Suddenly his opponent finds himself hustling to the front to pick up the shot when he was expecting another drive to length. The other Willstrop shot is the Egyptian Drop, when he reaches up high to volley the ball into the front corner nick. The Egyptians, especially Shabana, jump up and slams it into the nick; Willstrop’s approach is softer but just as effective.

Willstrop doesn’t play himself in – he goes for winners from the first serve; a volley drop and he was 1-0 up and then two forehands found the tin. Two errors in three rallies but he never let up, constantly looking for the nick and keeping Beachill on the alert. And so the first game went on for 13 minutes, Willstrop probing and Beachill playing percentage with both players doing a lot of work. Willstrop hit five errors and four winners to lose the game 7-11.

Willstrop still finds Beachill a tough bridge to cross. (photo © 2005 Fritz Borchert)

The second game was a huge struggle with Willstrop starting well, hitting winners and taking a 4-1 lead. Beachill was workmanlike and alert and despite Willstrop’s seven outright winners, after 23 minutes of hard, all-court squash it was Beachill who came off the 16-14 winner. Willstrop had his chance at 9-8 but hit the critical error when he tried an Egyptian drop and hit the tin making the score 9-9 rather than putting him at game point. They then fought point for point, the tension mounting, Willstrop knowing that if he won this hard game he would have the mental surge to try in the third. At 13-13 he slammed a cracking straight nick to go to game ball once more but Beachill evened the score with a volley drop of his own. The next point was Beachill with a crosscourt nick and Willstrop – game to the end - tried a low forehand slam which found the tin and it was all over, 16-14. Willstrop had been made to work - Beachill admitted later that this was part of his game plan – and the second game had emptied his tank. The third game was over in seven minutes and although Willstrop led 8-6, the rallies were short and he was no longer in a mood to indulge in long rallies. Beachill had played the perfect match, had made just a handful of errors in the 49 minutes and once more little brother left the court the loser. It was, as usual, great entertainment; you cannot take your eyes of this skinny young guy for a second. If there were prizes for audacity, Willstrop would sweep the board.

NICOL GIVE POWER THE FINGER

The Power - Nicol match was good for six minutes. ("I was going to f**## thump him, Nicol exclaimed.") (photo © 2005 Fritz Borchert)

The seats were packed: here was another Nicol versus Power meeting and it never fails to raise expectations and get the pulse racing. Peter Nicol started with brio and looked good. He took the first point with authority and then had to hang about as a Power incident took place. The referee called a Power shot down three shots too late. Power was outraged ( a normal state of affairs) saying that the call should have been made immediately after the shot. The referee said: “ Yes, I should have made the call earlier and I apologise.” Power was left speechless for a nanosecond and then said: “So what do you want me to do, shake hands with you or something?”

They finally resumed play and Power hit a bad error and screamed at himself in anger. Nicol led 4-0 and looked eager and confident. Power got his first point with a stroke and his second on a delicate backhand drop after Nicol had dived towards the back wall to make a backwall boast. He held up his racket hand to show a bleeding finger and left the court to have the wound bandaged. It took longer than expected and then it was announced that Power had agreed to resume the match later in the evening. Sadly after the Palmer/Matthew match the announcement came that the cut was took bad for Nicol to continue and he forfeited the match to Power.

Nicol showed me the swollen finger, the pinkie, and the cut was quite deep. Had he had it bandaged it would have affected his grip, so he hopes to continue tomorrow. I said that he had started well. “I was playing bloody well,” he said with conviction. “I knew I was going to fucking thump him tonight.” Could I quote him? “As long as you say fuck,” he replied with a grin.

PERFECT PALMER PLAYS PERCENTAGE PATIENTLY

David Palmer in complete charge on Tuesday night against Matthew (photo © 2005 Fritz Borchert)

I had the feeling that David Palmer did not want to lose twice in a row (even had a quid bet with Tim Garner) and I was right (for a change). He took charge from the beginning and the looseness that he had shown in Bermuda and last night was gone. He was all concentration and after hitting the first ball out of court ranto a 4-1 lead which he never relinquished. Matthew, however did not lie down and showed that he was his opponent’s equal in all parts of the court. In fact they have similar games, both having a good combination of attack and defense. Matthew pulled up to 8-9 but Palmer had the bit between his teeth and did not let go to win the game 11-9.

Matthew took hold of the second game and looked to run away with it at 6-2 but it was Palmer’s turn to play catch up which he did finally getting even at 9-9 with a lightning fast reaction shot at the front of the court that left Matthew stranded. Palmer committed one of his few errors on an easy drop to put Matthew at game ball but got a stroke to pull level. Then it was point for point to 12-12 when Matthew had his obligatory blowup at the referee when denied a let. Palmer took the next point with a forehand drive to close out the 20 minute game 14-12.

In the third Palmer started constructing rallies – which neither had done up till now – finishing off with either a fine drop at the front or a clinging backhand drive. Strangely, they were both hitting beautifully on the backhand and gaining points with pace and tightness. Matthew’s error count rose but still he managed to level the game at 8-8. Palmer got to game ball with an obvious stroke which the angry Matthew described as ‘fishing’ and it was all over as he hit a backhand cross court into the tin to give the game to Palmer 11-9 after 54 minutes. Palmer was relieved and will now have to face yet another Yorkshireman, James Willstrop, in tomorrow’s final round robin.

LINCOU PULLS THROUGH

Lincou, in the end, exhausted Amr Shabana (photo © 2005 Fritz Borchert)

It looked as though Amr Shabana also wanted to expunge the first night’s defeat and he played superbly to take the first two games from Thierry Lincou. Shabana used his wonderful short game to make Lincou do a lot of work, but after those two scintillating games it was Shabana who was the worse for wear and Lincou took the last three games in 21 minutes for the loss of ten points. It was good squash with hardly a boring moment – except for the final game when Shabana once more exhibited signs of wanting to go to bed.

HARROW GROUP [complete results]
Lee Beachill (ENG) bt James Willstrop (ENG) 11-7, 11-10 (6-4) 11-9 (49MINS)
David Palmer (AUS) bt Nick Matthew (ENG) 11-9, 11-10 (4-2) 11-9 (54mins)

FLEET GROUP [complete results]
Jonathon Power (CAN) bt Peter Nicol (ENG) 2-4 retired in jured. (6mins)
Thierry Henry (FRA) bt Amr Shabana (EGY) 6-11 6-11 11-5, 11-4, 11-1 (50mins)

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