YORK Railway Institute player Chris Rusling produced a dominant display to brush aside Dunnington’s Nathan Hill 3-0 in the York men’s squash open final.

The tournament number one seed, who was playing on his home court, justified expectations as he reproduced his winning form from throughout the winter season in the York and District League.

Hill, seeded at two, just could not compete with Rusling’s accurate shotplay.

The first set was a tight and tense affair, both players looking nervous as they sounded out each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Hill produced a mammoth fight-back from 8-3 down to level at 8-8 but, having forced the tie-break, he lost the momentum and Rusling’s hard-hitting accuracy pinned his opponent in the backhand corner and allowed two comfortable volley drop finishes for Rusling to steal the set 10-8.

From then on Rusling looked comfortable around the court easing to a 9-2 victory in the second set and then a 9-3 win in the third.

It was his first York Open victory and he was glad to succeed on his home courts. Said the new champion: “Nathan played superb patient squash in his quarter and semi-finals which gave me no doubts about how hard I’d have to fight for victory.

“It’s great to be included in the list of York Squash Open winners.

“Defending the title will be a tough ask, but the trophy will look awesome behind the bar in the RI with my name on it and to win it here in front of great support from my club is the perfect way to become champion.”

Earlier saw Anthony Baines and Duncan Cook (both of Stillington Squash Club) battled it out for the York Men’s Open plate competition for first round losers.

In a lighter-hearted event, the younger and more agile Baines defeated the more experienced Cook in a comfortable 3-0 conquest.

The first set was always going to be difficult for Baines as Cook came out fighting and was unfortunate to lose it 9-7 to Baines in a set which should have gone either way.

Errors crept in to Cook’s game that released the pressure he had fought hard to build on his opponent’s backhand game.

But after that long first set, endurance dominated experience as Baines eased to a comfortable 9-3 win.

He did not need to get out of second gear as he defeated Cook 9-4 in the third and final set.