Latest Tournament News - Peter Nicol vs. David Palmer

Welcome to the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006 presented by Logic and hosted by Endurance - a festival of squash hosted in paradise.

April 6th 2006

Peter Nicol vs. David Palmer

Robert Edwards talks about the junior programme and how well it has helped the young people on the island. He introduces two slightly older players for a match. Mel Caines - a local business owner, and Sam Stevens - journalist for the Royal Gazette. Whilst they warm up Edwards talks about the difference of playing on an all-glass court. He also talks about Patrick Foster from the BSRA about the aim of growing the junior programme. The exhibition match then begins between Mel and Sam. Sam the Journalist wins 11-8.

Edwards introduces the two players for the main event tonight - Peter Nicol and David Palmer. This is the rematch of the Gold medal match at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne this year. Edwards talks about the fact that both players have won everything - and with real style with panache. They also always are genuine and down to earth. Edwards talks about them playing 'with respect'. Both players, he says, deserve the right to be mentioned amongst the top players in history.

Game 1

  • Nicol serving
  • A long, tactical first rally. Palmer wins it with a drop. 1-0.
  • Nicol plays it down. 2-0.
  • A great boast from the back left from Nicol. 1-2.
  • A good rally ends in a Palmer winning shot front left. 3-1.
  • A winning line drive down the left from Nicol. 2-3.
  • A drop from the back right from Nicol is tight to the wall. Palmer cannot retrieve. 3-3.
  • A Palmer boast from the left is too good for Nicol. 4-3.
  • A Palmer line drive winner down the left. 5-3.
  • A superb Nicol winner. 4-5.
  • Palmer under pressure early on in the rally, Nicol controlling the tee. He capitalises and moves to 5-5.
  • A marathon rally - Nicol finishes it with a cut drop shot to the front right. 6-5.
  • A cross-court drop from Nicol wrong-foots Palmer. 7-5.
  • Palmer plays the ball down. 8-5.
  • A backhand cross-court from Nicol goes past Palmer. 9-5.
  • Nicol controls the tee and plays a superb boast. 10-5 game ball.
  • A disguised drop into the front right from Nicol wins the first game 11-5.

Game 2

  • Nicol serving.
  • Fantastic first rally has Nicol dropping winner front left. 1-0.
  • Deep ball to back right from Nicol beats Palmer. 2-0.
  • Cross-court from Nicol too good. 3-0.
  • Palmer hits the tin attempting a drop front right. 4-0 Nicol.
  • Great cross-court from Palmer. 1-4.
  • Very tight rally, again Nicol's control of the tee makes the point. 5-1.
  • Nicol tins an attempted drop front left. 2-5.
  • Palmer tins a shot. 6-2.
  • Unbelievable skill from both players. Ends with a Nicol mistake. 3-6.
  • Palmer tins a shot down the right. 7-3 to Nicol.
  • Quick point for Nicol. 8-3. Then he plays the ball down. 4-8.
  • Palmer denied a let. 9-4 to Nicol, who then serves an ace. 10-4.
  • Palmer plays the ball down - Nicol takes the second game 11-4.

Game 3

  • Nicol serving
  • Crowd giving support to both players.
  • Palmer cannot retrieve a tight ball agaisnt the right wall. 1-0.
  • Quick point for Nicol. 2-0.
  • A great pick-up on a down the libe from Palmer to cross-court deep for a winner. 1-2.
  • Palmer misses opportunity for drop. 3-1 Nicol.
  • A great overhead volley from Palmer is too good. 2-3.
  • Tight drop down the right from Palmer. 3-3.
  • Another overhead from Palmer down the right. 4-3.
  • Disguised boast from Nicol from back right. 4-4.
  • Nicol plays the ball down. 5-4 Palmer.
  • Palmer skies the ball. 5-5.
  • Agressive play from Nicol ends with a cross-court pass. 6-5.
  • Nice tee control from Palmer takes it to 6-6.
  • Quick point for Palmer. 7-6. Then a hard drive left. 8-6.
  • Nicol under more pressure. Palmer capitalises with cross-court to back left. 9-6.
  • Serve is down from Palmer. 7-9.
  • Drive from Palmer too good on the right 10-7.
  • Crowd gasping at the audacity of the shots from both players. Nicol edges the rally. 8-10.
  • Quick point for Nicol. 9-10.
  • Fantastic recovery from Nicol with a cross-court drop. 10-10 tie-break.
  • Palmer plays superlative drive down the right, leaving Nicol stretching. 11-10.
  • Palmer left at the front as Nicol drives. 11-11.
  • Cross-court from Nicol too well-disguised. 12-11. Match ball.
  • Final rally ends with a fantastic set of shots. Nicol wins it with a disguised drive down the left line. 13-11.

Our Summary
A commanding display by Nicol, with Palmer only really getting into the match in the third game. Nicol's control of the tee and great disguise put Palmer under a lot of pressure, and Nicol really looks to be in great form. Both players played a clean match with the crowd in awe at their skills on many occasions. Nicol now plays Gaultier in the semi-finals.

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