Dyer and Walters battle hard for Welsh Squash
PHOTO:
The Wales Masters squash team that included Nick Dyer and James Walters from Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire squash players Nick Dyer and James Walters travelled to Aberdeen recently for the Masters Home Internationals. Both were selected for the Wales O45 team, Walters making his international debut, and Dyer captaining Wales for the first time.
The opening match was against Scotland, widely tipped to provide the greatest danger to England. Wales were led out at 5th string by Walters who overcame game balls against in the first two games and recorded a magnificent 3-0 win. His shot making and low kills were devastating and caused a wave of concern through the Scottish ranks. Wales then won a tough match at number 3 to put them 2-0 up in the tie (3 matches wins the tie with 5 players in each team).
Next up at number 1, Dyer faced former professional Frank Ellis, whose strength and precision gave him the lead at 1-0 then 2-1, but Dyer wasn’t done and swung the momentum completely in the 4th, before Ellis’ movement and power returned to ensure a 3-2 win and a foothold for Scotland back in the tie. But Wales then sealed the victory by winning at number 4. This was a great start and an overturning of the odds.
England were next. Wales were already 2-0 down in the tie by the time Dyer played the English number 1 and recent runner-up in the O45 British Open. This was a tough encounter, although Dyer should have won the second game and did manage to win the third, before losing 3-1. James Walters couldn’t stem the English tide, losing 3-0 to another player with a decent world ranking ‘back in the day’.
Walters was rested for the next tie versus Ireland, but when Dyer went on court Wales were 2-0 up knowing that a win would take 2nd place in the tournament. For over an hour, the match swung back and forth until Dyer, running on fumes now, sealed the 5th, settling the tie and the nerves for Wales.
This was a fantastic effort from both players, and an honour for Pembrokeshire to have provided two players in the squad of six.
Walters said “I really enjoyed the event. It was great to play and meet good players from the other countries. The standard was another level.”
Dyer was keen to add that, “the coaching and training that Peter Crook has provided for us has made a huge difference; we couldn’t have been better prepared. Our thanks to all the guys at the club, juniors and seniors, who have been training alongside us, as we definitely feel part of a ‘family’ where everyone is helping each member to be the best possible.”