Barrington Battles To Maiden Home Tour Title

England's Joey Barrington celebrated his first PSA Tour title on home soil when he beat French qualifier Mathieu Castagnet in the final of the Hithercroft Open at Hithercroft Squash Club in the English county of Oxfordshire.

The 27-year-old from Glastonbury in Somerset had been in fine form throughout the week in the 1-star Tour event in its second year at Hithercroft.

Castagnet made his breakthrough in the event after upsetting England's No2 seed Bradley Ball in the opening round - and went on to reach the biggest final of his career.

Barrington took the opening game for the loss of just four points - but his 20-year-old opponent from Le Mans forged a 9-6 lead in the second as the packed crowd sensed a further upset.

But Barrington stuck to his game-plan and restored his advantage to run out an 11-4, 11-10 (2-0), 11-5 victor.

"There is a lot of pressure being No1 seed," said the new champion later. "Other seeds fell, so it was up to me to push on through. I came back from 10-7 in the second and that finished him off really.

"I came here to win it, so job done. I'm pleased to be back after injury and I am playing by best squash again now, so I hope to carry it through the summer and look forward to next season," added Barrington after securing the fifth PSA Tour title of his career.

Final:
[1] Joey Barrington (ENG) bt [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-4, 11-10 (2-0), 11-5