James and Parker to contest AJ Bell England Squash Championships final

Commonwealth Games Bronze Declan James and World No.42 George Parker will contest the final of the AJ Bell England Squash Championships in Manchester tomorrow after prevailing in today’s riveting semi-finals.

24-year-old Parker, who captured the England Squash Challenge title three months earlier on the same court, overcame a stern test from World No.134 Nick Wall in a dramatic last four clash which went the full distance.

After sweeping aside top seed James Willstrop in straight games in the previous round, 20-year-old Wall refused to go down without a fight.

The duo battled for a gruelling 69 minutes but it was Parker’s experience and physicality that came to the forefront in the last game to prevail 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6.

Meanwhile, World No.23 Declan James claimed an equally thrilling four-game battle against World No. 53 Richie Fallows. Profiting off a series of strokes from his opponent, James’ consistency and steely determination kept Fallows at bay to close out 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5 in 74 minutes.

In the women’s, top seed Sarah-Jane Perry and England Squash Challenge champion Georgina Kennedy will go head-to-head in the final after topping their respective groups following a clean sweep of victories.

British National champion Perry has been rarely tested all week, and put on a clinical masterclass in her last group match against World No.99 Grace Gear, storming to a 11-2, 11-5, 11-1 (18m) victory.

Kennedy meanwhile outmanoeuvred and stunned second seed Millie Tomlinson in a hard-fought four-game encounter to prevail 11-6, 11-6, 5-11, 11-2 (41m).

The finals start at 5pm on Friday 12th February. Watch all the action from the all-glass court and side courts live on englandsquash.tv and Facebook. For draws and results visit: englandsquash.com/englandsquashchampionships