EAST Lancashire squash club skipper Nigel Willis battled through to the quarter-final of the Men’s Over 45 section at the British National Championship before finally bowing out.

Willis beat Scotland’s Colin McMullan before thumping Welshman Ian Fenner-Evans 9/1 9/5 9/4 in just 37 minutes in his third round clash.

That put Willis into a semi-final against Number 2 seed Eamonn Price, who beat the local 3/1 in 56 minutes, although Willis did have the satisfaction of thumping Price 9/1 in the third game.

Price went on to claim the title after an epic battle yesterday.

He beat Peter Gunter 3/9, 9/7, 9/3, 6/9, 9/5 in a battle royale that lasted some 104 minutes to claim the crown.

Laura Massaro’s husband Daniel Massaro also had a run in his category, the Men’s Over 35 tournament.

Massaro, who also represents East Lancashire, received a bye in the first round before thumping Matt Fiveash 3/1 in just 27 minutes.

However, his hopes of further progress were ended by Stephen Siveter of Merseyside, who ran out 3/1 winner after a 50 minute battle in front of a big crowd.

There was to be no title for Siveter, however. He was beaten in straight games by Lancashire’s Number 1 seed Nick Taylor.