British Open: No day of final reckoning for Yorkshire duo

NICK Matthew and James Willstrop came up just short of setting up a dream all-Yorkshire British Open - both suffering semi-final heartache at Hull’s Kc Stadium.
By Phil Harrison at KC Stadium
Published 25th May 2013, 16:27 BST
FINAL HURDLE: Nick Matthew could find himself up against long-time rival James Willstrop in Sunday's final if he overcomes Gregory Gaultier. Picture: squashpics.comFINAL HURDLE: Nick Matthew could find himself up against long-time rival James Willstrop in Sunday's final if he overcomes Gregory Gaultier. Picture: squashpics.com
FINAL HURDLE: Nick Matthew could find himself up against long-time rival James Willstrop in Sunday's final if he overcomes Gregory Gaultier. Picture: squashpics.com

Sheffield-born Matthew, 32, and Willstrop, from Pontefract, produced a memorable duel in the 2009 final of the prestigious event in Manchester, when the former eventually triumphed after a tempestuous, two-hour plus classic.

But neither made it through to Sunday’s final, Matthew losing a niggly affair against fourth seed Gregory Gaultier before Willstrop went down in straight games to Ramy Ashour.

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Earlier on Saturday afternoon, Nicol David - a four-time winner of the event - made it through to the women’s final again after defeating England’s No 4 seed, Alison Waters, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 in under 30 minutes.

She will meet second seed Laura Massaro, from Cheshire, after she overcame Egypt’s Raneem El Weleily, seeded three, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 in 48 minutes.

Weleily had defeated Harrogate’s Jenny Duncalf in Friday’s quarter-final stage when all eighth matches were played indoors at the nearby Hull and East Riding Squash Club due to the poor weather conditions.

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Related topics:YorkshireHullSheffieldPontefract