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[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

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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 ...

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