Balzan fights off stiff Grech Orr challenge

The Malta Union Club played host to a Malta Squash ranking tournament last week with over 20 players taking part. Malta Open 2004 champion Bernard Bugeja started as favourite, but former national team player Karl Grech Orr had something to say about...

The Malta Union Club played host to a Malta Squash ranking tournament last week with over 20 players taking part.

Malta Open 2004 champion Bernard Bugeja started as favourite, but former national team player Karl Grech Orr had something to say about that.

The two met in the semi-finals, and what most expected to be an ideal 'warm -up' for the final, turned out to be an early shower for Bugeja!

Grech Orr adopted a cautious low-risk game and walked off court after over 60 minutes as the 3-0 winner.

Ivan Balzan, the current Maltese no.1, reached his second consecutive final of a Malta Squash ranking tournament with a very impressive 3-0 win against surprise semi-finalist Clifford Pace.

The final was a hard-fought contest with Balzan eventually claiming the honours 3-1 for his first victory over Grech Orr in an official event.

Johanna Rizzo, competing in the men's event, was still strong enough to make it to the top eight to maintain her top ranking in her class.

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