Will Ellison retains National Singles title

News

National Singles Championship

St. Paul’s School, Barnes, December 5/6th 2015

STOP PRESS
Will Ellison has mounted a successful defence of his national singles championship, sealing the title with a typically narrow win over Dan Tristao in what is already being regarded as one of the greatest finals ever.

There was perhaps no surprise that the seedings held true – as they had done pretty much throughout the event – to produce an Ellison/Tristao final; but, the crowd that gathered was treated to a match that exceeded even their high expectations. Will won a tight first game, before Dan struck back to take the second game easily against an apparently tiring opponent.

That led into a deciding game, which ebbed and flowed, with umpteen changes in momentum and never more than a few points between the players. First, Will was able to capitalise as Dan tired and cramped up, but Dan would not admit defeat and came back to lead 13-10, seemingly with one hand on the magnificent Jesters trophy, only for Will to score an unanswered run of five points that made him the national champion.

These words scarcely do justice to the the drama of the match and the efforts of the players; and, ahead of a full report, we recommend that everyone read the sequence of Tweets that was published during the final – which you can do by clicking on this link. Even when you know the result, they make a superb read.

 
RESULTS

1st round: D.Tristao bt A.Boyd 15-5, 15-6 ; J.Aquilina bt R.Murby 14-16, 15-2, 15-7 ; M.Cavanagh bt T.Parker 15-3, 15-10 ; E.Kay bt H.Buchanan 15-3, 15-2 ; D.Grant bt O.Arnold 15-9, 15-7 ; D.Butler bt C.Brooks 15-9, 7-15, 15-3 ; T.Maconie bt H.Jefferies 15-5, 15-3 ; W.Ellison bt P.Hanton 15-2, 15-10
Quarter-finals: Tristao bt Aquilina 15-3, 15-2 ; Kay bt Cavanagh 15-8, 11-15, 15-13; Grant bt Butler 15-4, 15-12 ; Ellison bt Maconie 16-14, 15-0
Semi-finals: Tristao bt Kay 2-15, 15-9, 15-11; Ellison bt Grant 15 -8, 15-10
Final: Ellison bt Tristao 15-13, 3-15, 15-13
Plate: Arnold