Wheadon win gives him hat-trick

[caption id="attachment_34557" align="alignright" width="300"] SMASHING GAME: Gary Wheadon, left, and Adrian Hansen during the Brian Bands NMMU Open squash tournament at NMMU. Picture: FREDLIN ADRIAAN[/caption]

GARY Wheadon made it a hat- trick of titles and Lizelle Goosen showed positive signs in her comeback after having a baby as they triumphed in the Brian Bands NMMU Open squash tournament at NMMU yesterday.

In a gruelling 45-minute men's final, Wheadon, who is based in Cape Town but still plays for KwaZulu-Natal, beat his provincial colleague Adrian Hansen 3-1 to make it three in a row at the event.

Goosen's final against friend and Londt Park club rival Jacqui Ryder lasted two minutes less and was a fascinating encounter in which the champion triumphed 3-2.

After winning the first game, Ryder trailed 2-1 but then showed what a tough competitor she is by upping her intensity in the fourth, using the volley with accuracy and power to level the match.

The final was in the balance at 5-5 in the decider, but Ryder uncharacteristically clipped the tin with two drives and mishit a backhand volley to hand Goosen the advantage.

Ryder held off one match point at 10-6, but then hit a shot too close to her body to concede the stroke, handing Goosen a hard- earned win.

The left-handed Wheadon was probably disappointed at losing the first game 13-11 after leading 10-8, but his great retrieving ability and accurate strokeplay meant Hansen expended much energy in the comeback.

This, perhaps, worked in Wheadon's favour as he then took a 2-1 lead, but Hansen refused to go away quietly and some punishing drop shots pushed him to a 5-1 lead in the fourth.

Wheadon, however was determined to make his older rival earn every point and he grittily fought his way back into the game, eventually moving ahead 10-8. Hansen saved one match point, but another tight Wheadon drop forced a final error as he completed another successful visit to Port Elizabeth. - Neale Emslie