A match report by Mike Harris, Head of Squash and Racketball for the Exeter Golf and Country Club Men’s and Ladies Professional Squash Challenger $3k Tournament from 5th – 7th November.
Ladies Final: Alison Thomson vs Katie Maliff. 3/0 – 15/13, 11/7, 11/6. 46 mins.
Another title for Thomson!
The first game was very nip-tuck, with both players just looking to try and settle in to the match, finding their lengths and trying to move the ball around without making mistakes. It was virtually point for point all the way through with both players having game balls, but Thomson kept her head and closed it out.
The second and third games were a different story. While Maliff was always in the game and played some quality stuff, Thomson kept a slender lead throughout, converting opportunities well at the back end of each game to take the title
A great weekend’s effort from Thomson and brilliant to see the U19 Maliff coming through the draw so well. Plenty more wins store from the youngster going forward!
Mens Final: Tom Walsh vs Simon Herbert. 3/2 – 4/11, 11/2, 11/7, 8/11, 11/6. 70 mins.
Walsh gets his first PSA title!
The first two games of the match were seesaw affairs, with both players looking to find their rhythm and control of a quick bouncy ball. Herbert’s positive hard low hitting taking the first, but then Walsh ran through the second in one hand after going 0/2 down. Really controlling his line nicely and putting Herbert under pressure.
After that both players settled into the match, finding consistent lines and length and both looking to press up and hunt across the middle. Points mainly coming from pressured errors or from well worked rallies, rather than outright winners.
Walsh getting a better run of points toward the end of the 3rd, Herbert to the end of the 4th.
The 5th game was tight at the start to 3/3, however from there Walsh upped the intensity of his hitting, taking the ball early and at pace and really stretching Herbert around the court well, causing him to make some forced errors and concede some strokes. This game him a 6/3 lead and from here the players went virtually point to point, with Walsh always a couple ahead, eventually seeing the game out 11/6after 70 minutes of hard fought high intensity Squash.
A fantastic match, massively appreciated by the packed out crowd at the club who haven’t seen quality Squash at that level for a number of years.
Congratulations to Tom for taking his first PSA Tour Title, thoroughly deserved. Hard luck to Simon, who seems to be improving every time I see him at a PSA, and will continue to fly up the rankings over this next period.
A message from Mike Harris, Head of Squash and Racketball
“Thanks to everyone who tuned into the live streaming on Twitter and Facebook over the weekend, most of the matches will be uploaded to our “Squash Events at Exeter Golf and Country Club” YouTube channel to be watched back at your leisure!
Thanks to all of our tournament sponsors, without who this couldn’t have happened at all, also to the PSA, whose tournament grant enabled us to run both a Men’s and a Ladies $3k at full prize money.
A great first full PSA at the club and we look forward to hosting more in the near future!”
