WIGGINTON’S Jonny Duffield beat Sam Burton to win his first York & District Men’s Squash Open Championship.

The number one seed beat Dunnington’s Burton, the number three seed, 3-2 (6-9, 9-4, 3-9, 9-2, 9-0) in front of a large crowd at York RI.

The first game of the match was controlled by the younger Burton, who dominated with clever use of pace and length, giving Duffield limited opportunity to extend the rallies, winning 9-6.

The second continued in very much the same vein, with Burton going 3-0 up before Duffield finally managed to impose his more attritional game.

The extended rallies began to take their toll on Burton, which allowed Duffield to win eight unanswered points before closing out the game 9-4.

After receiving a conduct warning, Burton finally regained some self-control in the third game.

Playing the same controlled, tight squash that served him so well in the first game, he won 9-3 to take a 2-1 lead.

However, Duffield extended the rallies and kept the tempo of the match high.

The pace took its toll on the younger player, who abandoned his stylish and skilful game in favour of a disrupted one, constantly looking to play the man rather than the ball in an attempt to frustrate Duffield.

Dufffield took every opportunity to play the ball, accepting the interference that Burton was creating, and won the fourth and fifth games 9-2 and 9-0 to take the title.

The main event was preceded by the finals of the veterans’ tournament and the plate competition.

The veterans’ final, the longest match of the night, saw York’s Marc Thomas beat RI’s Rod Erridge 9-5 in the fifth in 80 minutes.

Thomas’ slightly more attacking play and speed to the front proved the difference in a quality match between two well-matched players.

RI’s James Rollinson beat Stillington’s Thomas Howell 3-2 in the plate final.

Rollinson’s experience helped him to come back from 2-1 down to defeat his 16-year-old opponent.