Semi-Finals
Sat 16th Aug at the Crucible[3] John White (Sco)
bt [5] Anthony Ricketts (Aus)
15/9, 15/12, 14/15, 15/8
[4] Jonathon Power (Can) bt [2] David Palmer (Aus)
15/9,14/15,15/6,15/12
WILLSTROP'S WORDS
Views from the Crucible Compere
POWER'S REVENGE
IN PALMER DRAMA
Jonathon Power
bt David Palmer
15/9, 14/15, 15/6, 15/12 (94m)
Jonathon Power moved into the final of the Prince English Open, gaining
revenge for his World Open semi-final by David Palmer.
Power, speedy and comfortable in the first,
found enough winners and forced enough errors to reach 14-9. Palmer barged
Power into the back corner in a desperate, but vain attempt to reach the
ball. First game to Power.
Palmer was warned about 'excessive physical contact' at the start of the
second, but he started it well, only allowing Power to pull back at the
death. Power reached game ball, and when he lost it inevitably called for
one. "I've never called for three, ever," said Power afterwards, "and I
never will."
For the second time Power ended the game on
the floor, this time diving in vain. One all.
Power was thoroughly in control in the
third, taking it 15/6, and was in charge of the fourth, leading 9-4. At this
point the game descended into a seemingly endless succession of lets, with
both players screaming in frustration at every decision. Palmer clawed his
way back, but Power stayed ahead and eventually took it 15/12 to reach the
final.
"It was a really tough game," said Power, "but I felt I was in charge most
of the way. "I felt like I wore him down, and he's one of the fittest guys
around, so that's good for me."
Both players were less than impressed with
the others' style of play.
Power claimed that Palmer "takes away my
best positions by not allowing me to go forward." You mean he blocks? he was
asked. "Yeah."
Presented with this Palmer responded: "I
block? No, he blocks! I feel I have to run four times as far, win four
rallies to get one, and when he kicks up a fuss the refs give him the next
four decisions. It's very frustrating, but I just need to be fit and strong
to cope with it, and I'm not at that level yet."
Power probably summed it up best. "It's
always going to be a physical game between us," he said. "He's bigger than
me though, so it's hard, but I like it. I like a drama."
There's sure to be drama tomorrow ...
WHITE GIVES
THE GAME AWAY
John White bt Anthony Ricketts
15/9, 15/12, 14/15, 15/8 (84m)
John White dropped his first game of the
tournament in reaching the semis with a 3/1 win over yesterday's hero
Anthony Ricketts, but he didn't need to ...
Leading two games to love, White reached
14-13 match-ball, and played a drop to the forehand corner which Ricketts
didn't reach.
"15-14, match to White", intoned the
referee. Ricketts however, was sure it was down and demonstrated where the
ball had hit.
"I wasn't sure," said White after the match.
"I said to Anthony, let's play a let, but some players courtside were
shaking their heads so I assumed it must have been down."
So White gave the point to Ricketts, the
match was back on and he called 'set one'.
White's boast on the next rally was
definitely down, and Ricketts was back in the match.
White had taken the first two, pulling away
once scores reached double figures, then gave away the scrappy third, but
normal service was resumed in the fourth as White maintained a lead
throughout to reach the final.
"I felt Anthony was tired from last night,"
said White. "He was slower at the front and wasn't getting to my drops as
quick as he normally does.
"After a 15-13 in the fifth with Peter
[Nicol] he should be tired. I decided to go home after my match last night,
ordered a take-away pizza, turned on the scoreboard and saw it was 13-all in
the fifth. 'That'll do lads, keep going', I said to myself!"
White can enjoy a slightly longer rest again
tonight, awaiting David Palmer or Jonathon Power in the final ...
See the video of the end
of the third game
in the Video Vault ...
WILLSTROP'S WORDS
Views from the Crucible Compere
|
