Joel And Peter Clash In PSA Battle Of Wales

Pembrokeshire’s Joel Makin won the battle of Wales, beating Rhiwbina Squash Club’s Peter Creed in straight games.

Makin, aged 23 and from Haverfordwest, lifted the Tring Open title thanks to an 11-4, 11-5, 11-3 win in 45 minutes against Caerphilly-born Creed in the final.

It was an impressive performance by Makin in the Professional Squash Association tour event and he said: “I’ve won five tour titles and this is the biggest.”

Mike Workman from Squash Wales pictured with Joel Makin (right) and Peter Creed.

Wales number one Makin, ranked 43 in the World, swept to title glory without dropping a game in four rounds at the $15,000 Arnold Homes Tring Open, saying: “That’s a really big deal.

“I’ve been guilty of getting into long matches during early rounds and that makes things difficult in later rounds.”

Creed, in contrast, battled through some marathon on his way to the final, spending two minutes short of four hours on court in competitive squash action in Tring.

Joel Makin

He defeated Spain’s Carlos Cornes 11-6, 6-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-4 over 77 minutes in the first round, won 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7  against Mahash Mangeonkar (India) in 74 minutes and earned his place in the final thanks to a 3-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-2, 13-11 victory against Adrian Waller (England).

That win against top seed Waller saw Creed battle back from two games down to earn his win in an hour and 27 minutes.

Makin, who lives in Birmingham and plays out of West Warwicks Squash Club, lifted the trophy thanks to a clinical display in the final.

http://https://youtu.be/i1_gwTkQv1c

He captured his maiden Professional Squash Association World Tour title at the City of Greater Bendigo International in Australia three years ago and now has earned five championship successes.

Makin represented Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and again on the Gold Coast in Australia this year.

North Wales will host a first PSA women’s World-ranking tournament next month. The event will attract some of the World’s leading players and is to be played at Bangor University between Wednesday, June 20 and Sunday, June 24.

It is a massive coup for Squash Wales following the success of Rhiwbina’s men’s PSA event which has been held in Cardiff for the last two years.