MANOR Park's top player Keith Young is again the Nationwide Malvern Open squash champion.

In front of an enthusiastic and noisy gallery he beat number one seed Nigel Long in four games.

In spite of the strenuous effort of the organising committee to generate publicity the tournament produced only 16 entries from the two clubs which in no way diminished the quality of the final between these extremely skilful players.

With both of them nervous and tentative Nigel was the one who seemed to settle first as he was able to anticipate more, easily volleying away Keith's fierce cross shots and forcing his opponent into uncharacteristic errors.

At 8-8 Nigel looked in complete control as he ran his opponent savagely from corner to corner yet Keith survived the onslaught and held on to win the game 10-8.

Although there was much fine play to follow this was probably the defining point in the match for however Nigel varied his game Keith's outstanding fitness was decisive. In the second game Nigel's touch had returned and his tight drop shots and the trademark high cross court back hand to the nick forced errors from a pressured opponent.

At one game all the momentum was with the top seed as he nudged ahead in the third game. But the two players were both now working very hard with Nigel controlling most of the rallies, Keith surviving as a result of some hard running.

At this point Keith's extra fitness work in preparation for the tournament was beginning to pay dividends while Nigel could find no energy for a final assault.

As his opponent slowed perceptibly Keith took the final five points of the third game in one hand and then found in the fourth game that his ferocious cross court drives, which had seemed so obvious earlier, were no longer being cut off. Nigel's pride kept him competitive up to 4-4 but he had little more to offer and Keith's backhand sealed the championship in some style.

RESULT: Keith Young (Manor Park) bt Nigel Long (Malvern) 10-8, 5-9, 9-6, 9-5.