Rhiwbina Ace Simon Powers To Ross Scaccia Open Win

Rhiwbina SRC’s Simon Dews is the first Ross Scaccia Open champion – and he also lifted the main trophy.

There were four sections in the Scaccia tournament and the player with the biggest winning margin in their final was declared overall winner.

Top seed Dews defeated Gary Fry 11-7, 13-11, 11-2 to win the A event title and the trophy.

“Anybody in the tournament could have won overall,” said organiser Stuart Divry. “It went to the player who won their final with the biggest points differential.

Llanishen players James Jackson (left) and Chi Yau clash in the C finaL

“The reason for deciding the main winner in that way was because Ross was a strong believer in promoting up and coming squash players and not just looking after the elite.”

Dews won three matches in two days, beating James King 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-3 and Sarah Clode 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 before overcoming Fry.

Paul Hinchey and Franco Gallo played each other in the D event plate final.

Justin Nemeth won the B event, beating top seed Carlton Chivers 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 in the final.

Chivers had battled through his semi-final in five games, recovering from two games down to win 6-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-8, 15-13.

Llanishen SRC club-mates Chi Yau and James Jackson played each other in the C final.

Yau won 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 12-10 in his semi-final against Jeff Taylor, while Jackson defeated Phil Mutter 11-4, 11-7, 11-5.

The Ross Scaccia tournament trophy.

In the final Yau won the C title 11-8, 11-6, 11-9.

Les Stamp came out on top in the D final against Ollie Cann.

The tournament was organised in memory of Llanishen and St Mellons team player Scaccia, who passed away last December aged 66.

Matches were played at Llanishen Leisure Centre and St Mellons Country Club.

Welsh squash official Byron Lloyd Lewis was a friend of Ross and said: “He was a friend of mine and a friend of squash.

Trophy winners at the Scaccia Open.

“In my eyes and in his own way he was a legend of squash. Fond memories of a great guy.”

Ross Scaccia Open tournaments, results of main finals:

A event: Simon Dews beat Gary Fry 11-7, 13-11, 11-2.

B event: Justin Nemeth beat Carlton Chivers 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8.

C event: Chi Yau beat James Jackson 11-8, 11-6, 11-9.

D event: Les Stamp beat Ollie Cann.

Plate finals:

A event winner: Corey Kearns.

B event: Keith Miller beat Chris Baker 11-9, 11-7, 11-3.

C event: Lawrence Barry beat Julie Gibbins 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-1.

D event: Paul Hinchey beat Franco Gallo 11-8, 11-6, 11-8.