Aussie Open Runner Up

Unfortunately I couldn't get the last 2 points of the match in my Australian Open final against Stewart Boswell. The match went the distance and at 9 all in the 5th it was there for the taking. In the end, Boz played the final 2 points better and got the win. It was 98 mins of solid squash and although there weren't too many lets, there were a few stoppages due to the slippery floor. Boz took the first then we traded games for the rest of the match. It was a good clean match with only poor refereeing getting in the way sometimes. Boz now has 4 Australian Open Titles to his name which is pretty bloody good! I think he won his 1st in 2002.

I somehow copped a conduct stroke at 6-5 in the 5th for trying to get the refs to make a call. It seems like a growing habit of refs to not call a ball that is out, down or double bounce. They seem to wait and see what the players are going to do about it. Example: Boz clips the out line on a straight drive. I look out at the refs as I'm going back to play it. The refs stare back blankly. Boz hits the next one in the tin because he knows it was out. Boz gets up the ref for not calling it out, I'm frustrated too so I start getting up them once Boz is done having his say. 'Conduct Stroke Mr Pilley'. Oh ok, cheers. I'm not sure if the refs just aren't confident in their calls - which seems to be the case - or they simply don't know what going on. They've got the best seat in the house to watch the game so there shouldn't be any excuses of, 'I couldn't see it'. Anyway,that's my 2 cents worth.

I have just finished playing in the World Games here in Chinese-Taipei (formally Taiwan). After winning my first 2 rounds I went out to Azlan 3-0. The game scores weren't too bad but to be honest he was all over me. Want a re-match soon!!!

Aussie Open update...

Today I won my Semi final against Beng Hee 3-2. I went on pretty focused and up for the match today. It seemed to pay off as I went out to a 2-0 lead and leading about 8-5 in the 3rd. Bengy realised that things weren't looking the best for him and totally changed his game. He started going short on almost every chance he had and was hitting some great shots. He took 6 points on the trot and won it 11-8 and followed it up in the 4th winning a comfortable 11-5.

I haven't got the bet 5th set record so I said to myself right, get a good start and hold the lead. Bengy went out to a 7-3 lead. Just what I was after. It was my turn to change tactics and I started slow balling it down the backhand wall, waiting for a loose one to take in short. Not the most fun way to play but I had to shut down the angles I was giving Bengy! In the end I got there 12-10!

Bozza won the other semi 3-1 against The Momenator. It was a pretty tough match and as Boz said afterwards, playing Tarek is like playing a different sport! The angles he hits, where he stands on court, his speed....You have to be sharp against him and Boz was! Final tomorrow is at 12:30pm.

Aussie Open update

I won my Quarter final today against Aaron Frankcomb 3-0. The 2nd game was pretty tight (11-9) as I stepped of the gas abit and Frank reduced his unforced errors. The 1st and 3rd were fairly comfortable score wise, though each rally was pretty well competed. I can't say I'm too impressed with the floor on the glass court. The sweat just sits on the floorand doesn't get absorbed at all! When a player goes to kick the sweat away it just spreads it all over the place. Luckily, we have a great bloke sweeping the court who is all over it! He loves it!

Playing Bengy tomorrow who had a close one with Kiwi Martin Knight. A big 5 setter and Marty even had a few match balls in the 5th! Great effort from the choice bru kiwi. Other results went as seeded - Boz beat Campbell and Tarek beat Bruce Reid (Scott Arnold).

Australian Doubles and Singles!

Well last week myself and Bozza took out the Men's Australian Doubles Title, beating the choice bro Kiwi team of Campbell and Martin 2-0. It was a pretty tough final and those 2 boys are a solid doubles pairing. They don't blast you off the court with an array of shots but they play error free squash which makes you work hard for every point. In the mixed, Amelia and I came in 6th. It was a good week in Melbourne and as well as winning a title, I didn't even get Swine Flu!

I'm now in Clare (Clare Valley - great little part of Oz for wines!) with the main draw event starting today. Matches start at a sleepy eyed 11am and run throughout the day. I've got a 2pm match against wild card Justin Beard. Top seedsfor the event are Bengy, Bozza, myself and The Momenator (Tarek Momen). It's a strong draw this year and the biggest prizemoney on offer for years although I'd love to see it get back up to Super Series level!

Australian Doubles Champs

So I'm in Melbourne now at the Australian Doubles Championships. Playing in the Men's with Bozza and the Mixed with Amelia Pittock. It goes for 3 days and then next week the Australian Open starts (singles). Looking forward to that event but concentrating on the Doubles first. We've had 2 days of practice and I think my shoulder is about to fall off. Trying to hit the dot's off the ball make's your arm sore I've found out. But it should be a good week, there's a lot of team's competing and it'll be fun. I'm taking the backhand side in both events - a chage from 2 years ago when I was a forehand specialist! I'll post some results each day for all those Doubles lovers out there!