Willstrop claims another
Cleethorpes Crown
Malcolm Willstrop reports
The Cleethorpes Invitation is in its 14th year, which is
testimony to Mike Hallam and his team and in winning
his seventh title, James Willstrop has annexed half
of them.
 Willstrop's
final opponent, Adrian Grant, came from 2-0 down to
beat Chris Simpson in his first match and then withstood a
strong challenge from Laurence Delasaux, a player who
most certainly has not made full use of his ability, 3-1 in
the semi final.
Delasaux had put out British champion and recently married
Daryl Selby in his first match, a surprise, no doubt,
but in all the circumstances certainly not a shock.
Willstrop made his way to the final somewhat more easily,
beating Eddie Charlton 3-1, and teammate Saurav
Ghosal 3-0, in a match the quality of which augured well
for both of them.
The final, played on the same day as the semi finals - an
exacting prospect in these early days of matchplay - did not
reach any great heights and Willstrop controlled the first
two games, winning them comfortably, assisted by errors from
Grant.
He led 2-0 in the third, but Grant then raised his game,
attacked with some purpose, reduced his error rate and
sailed into a 10-2 lead, much more down to his play than any
inadequacy on his opponent's part.
Willstrop resisted to 10-5,when Grant clinched the game.
Willstrop was never behind in the fourth, but a fortified Grant remained
competitive until 8-6 when Willstrop asserted and won the
game and the match 11-6.
Both players, along with Ghosal, soon head for Canberra and
the Australian Open, emphasised in their post match
interviews the value of the match play the event provided.
It is hard to imagine a friendlier or more welcoming venue
than Cleethorpes squash club. Small wonder that players
return year after year.
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Pontefract ace Willstrop faces strong challenge at
Cleethorpes
Without a main sponsor this
year local companies came to the rescue to enable to keep
the event going including:
Card Processing, Bring Logistics, Wilton Cobley, Cleethorpes
Bowling, Total UK, Bidlift U.K , Broadburns Chemists, and
Harrow Sports. It would not be possible to hold such an
event without their support.
Mike Hallam
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