300416aw03bop PFA Tournament pro squash at Tauranga Boys High School Gym. 30 April 2016 The Bay of Plenty Times Photograph by Andrew Warner.
300416aw03bop PFA Tournament pro squash at Tauranga Boys High School Gym. 30 April 2016 The Bay of Plenty Times Photograph by Andrew Warner.
Top seed Evan Williams and third seed Adam Murrills have made their way through to today's finals of the Pak'n Save PSA and Open in contrasting styles.
As expected in the first match, it was a high intensity encounter between Lance Beddoes (NZ) and Adam Murrills (Eng).
It was atight first game with players going point for point. Murrills in particular showed superb agility to put pressure on the second seed Beddoes. Murrills has quickly warmed to the Kiwi crowds during his time in Tauranga, particularly with the juniors at the Devoy Squash Club so he was not lacking any support.
Beddoes edged the first game 11/9. The second game saw much of the same with long rallies, front court nicks and quality shot selection once again saw play going point for point with Murrills sneaking the second game 11/9. Beddoes entered the court for the third with a renewed energy and pushed ahead to a 4-0 lead.
Some loose play by Murrills gave Beddoes some cheap points to extend the lead and win 11/6. Down 7-4 in the fourth game, Murrills played a great tactical game to storm back to win 11/7 denying Beddoes any further points and levelling the match 2-2. Murrills upped the pace in the fifth game attacking the ball and closing out the match 11/9.
Murrills was well chuffed with his performance saying "I'm very happy to make the final, it was a close match and very tense at the end with potential strokes on match point. I haven't been in a final for a while, so I'm happy to get a shot at my first PSA title".
The second semifinal again saw a matchup between Kiwi and English opponents. Top seed Evan Williams (NZ) was determined to have a good performance against the spirited Joe Green, who knocked out Tauranga local Ben Grindrod in yesterday quarterfinal 6/11, 11/6, 11/7, 11/5.
Defending champion Williams confidently won the first game 11/5. The two left handed players had some scrappy play in the second game but Green was no match for the determined Williams who took the second game 11/4. The fifth seed Green put up a fight in the third game, tightening up his play and making some good decisions but eventually succumbed to the in-form Evans 11/8 in the third.
The PSA finals begins on the Carrus Court at 2.00pm in the Tauranga Boys' College Gym, entry off Devonport Road.
Full results https://psaworldtour.com/tournaments/view/6360?tab=mens_main All games are being live streamed http://livestream.com/NZSportTV/events/5280459
