White & Lengthorn-Massaro In Dublin British Double

Two thrilling five-game finals brought the 2008 Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open to a resounding climax at the Fitzwilliam Club in Dublin - with Scottish favourite John White winning the men's $25,000 PSA Tour title and England's third seed Laura Lengthorn-Massaro claiming the $25,300 women's WISPA World Tour crown to make it a British squash double for the second year in a row.

John White, the US-based Australian-born former world number one, was playing London-based Malaysian Mohd Azlan Iskandar, who is almost a decade his junior.

White reached the 32nd Tour final of his career after despatching Welshman Alex Gough, the defending champion, in a marathon five-game semi-final - while Iskandar fought back from a game down to upset England's second seed Adrian Grant in the other semi.

The Scot won the first game of the final easily enough, although his lethal "kills" were not functioning quite as well as usual, with Iskandar chasing the most impossible of balls.

The Malaysian deservedly got the edge in the second game, but it looked as if White was on his way to victory when he wrapped up the third game for the loss of just four points. That was to underestimate Iskandar's determination as he gave as good as he got in the fourth game, often leaving the older man sprawling.

With the match finely-balanced at two games each, Iskandar took three points for a 6-3 lead in the decider before a brilliant couple of kills by White put him back in the match. When White evened the match at 8-8, Iskandar clearly disagreed with the call and let out an anguished howl. White showed no mercy, mopping up with next three points - and with it the match 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8 after 75 dramatic minutes.

"I don't know what happened at eight all, but whatever it was, I'm glad," said world No15 White in accepting the Cannon Kirk Trophy - and the 13th PSA Tour title of his career.

Equally close was the all-English women's final between Lengthorn-Massaro and No2 seed Alison Waters - the pair's first meeting since contesting the British National Championship final, won by Waters, in February.

Underdog Lengthorn-Massaro had the edge in the first game, taking full advantage of a series of unforced errors by Waters to win for the loss of just a single point. Londoner Waters replied by wrapping up the second in a whitewash in just eight minutes.

The third game proved a marathon, with service changing hands frequently before Laura reclaimed the lead. Waters was on top in the fourth, and drew level.

In the decider, Waters pulled away to a 7-4 lead but Massaro clawed her way back into the match to put her in touch when Waters earned won her first match ball. Dogged resistance from Massaro found her regaining serve, evening the scores and then going ahead after a saving a second Waters' match ball.

With the match finely-balanced, Massaro finally then converted her third match ball to win 9-1, 0-9, 9-6, 2-9, 10-8 in 67 minutes.

"This was my third time playing Alison this year, so I'm glad at last to have won!" said a delighted Lengthorn-Massaro after celebrating the fourth WISPA title of her career.

It was the new champion's second upset in the event, after beating Lancashire and England team-mate Vicky Botwright, the top seed, in the semi-finals. The other women's semi also saw the end of local star Madeline Perry's bid to win the crown for a fourth successive year.

Men's Final:
[1] John White (SCO) bt [3] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8 (75m)

Women's Final:
[3] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG) bt [2] Alison Waters (ENG) 9-1, 0-9, 9-6, 2-9, 10-8 (67m)