Third time lucky For Harford and Richards

May 8 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

IT was third time lucky for Jonathan Harford and Tom Richards in yesterday’s men’s qualifying finals of the Dunlop British Open at Liverpool Cricket Club when the pair made it through to the main draw.

Originally from Stroud and now based in Leeds, Jonathan Harford was facing fellow Gloucestershire-born Robbie Temple, ranked 23 places lower in the world.

Eager to make up for the disappointment of failing to qualify for the past two years, Harford battled for 61 minutes against his 21-year-old opponent before coming through an 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5 winner.

“We actually grew up together – I met him the first time when he was three,” explained Harford. “He is such a talented player.

“Did you see the shots he got – from behind him, from everywhere? He really is one of the players I want to see do well.

“Last year, I lost 3/2 in the finals of the qualifiers, so I’m so happy to qualify this year for my first British Open, and so looking forward to tomorrow.”

Tom Richards, a former England junior international from Surrey, is fighting back to full fitness after undergoing knee surgery a year ago. The 21-year-old world No.64 dispatched compatriot Scott Handley – a 33-year-old from Oxfordshire making his eighth attempt to qualify – 11-3, 11-4, 11-10 (3-1).

“He was just awesome,” said Handley, a former world No.41, after the quickest men’s match of the day.

“He’s the best player I’ve played in a long time. “

RESULTS: Men’s qualifying finals: Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) bt Ben Ford (ENG) 11-4, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7 (57m), Jonathan Harford (ENG) bt Robbie Temple (ENG) 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5 (61m), Wade Johnstone (AUS) bt Mark Fuller (ENG) 11-6, 11-9, 11-10 (3-1) (38m), Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Shaun le Roux (ENG) 11-4, 11-9, 11-9 (46m), Jesse Engelbrecht (RSA) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 4-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-10 (5-3), 11-3 (68m), Scott Arnold (AUS) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (51m), Tom Richards (ENG) bt Scott Handley (ENG) 11-3, 11-4, 11-10 (3-1) (30m), Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4 (45m) Women’s 2nd qualifying round: Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Joshna Chinappa (IND) 9-4, 10-8, 9-1 (25m), Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt Lauren Briggs (ENG) 9-1, 9-6, 3-9, 10-8 (64m), Engy Kheirallah (EGY) bt Delia Arnold (MAS) 9-5, 3-9, 9-3, 10-8 (85m), Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG) 9-0, 9-1, 9-2 (43m), Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt Lauren Siddall (ENG) 10-9, 9-2, 9-0 (46m), Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) bt Louise Crome (NZL) 9-5, 9-3, 4-9, 9-1 (56m), Annelize Naude (NED) bt Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) 9-6, 10-8, 4-9, 9-2 (67m), Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Dipika Pallikal (IND) 9-2, 9-0, 9-1 (24m)