England No 1's Nick Matthew and Jenny Duncalf reach British National Squash finals

Nick Matthew and Jenny Duncalf, respective England No 1's, made it through to Sunday’s British National finals in Manchester but good old-fashioned sportsmanship nearly scuppered both players bids to simultaneously defend their titles for the first time in the event’s history.

The Yorkshire pair, though, had a few teething problems as Matthew, the world No 2, beat last year’s finalist Adrian Grant 11-6, 13-11, 11-5 in 70 minutes while Duncalf held off Ireland’s Madeline Perry 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 11-5.

Up one game and 11-10 in the second, a Matthew return hit the glass door handle and plopped down at an angle for a clear winner. The referee called game at 12-10 and the blaring music started. One more needed for Matthew.

But the Yorkshireman and the Londoner were resolute on court. Matthew had called a let and such was Grant’s aching end to the game he wasn't going to complain about his opponent's exceptional sporting play. A few moments passed before applause rang out and the players resumed battled. It mattered little as Matthew won 13-11.

Grant was playing well enough to suggest, at one-game all, that he might have gone on to win. The world No 10 was mixing up his pace against Matthew’s loose strokeplay in the opener, but errors ultimately played their part as Matthew won five points in a row to take it 11-6.

The second was a tighter affair. Grant seemed in control at 8-5 but a dogged Matthew kept determined with his pick-up and retrieval play to level at nine-all. A dive from Grant kept both players off court as the Londoner’s finger was blood-bandaged before Matthew’s sportsmanship ensued.

Whether the England No 1’s call caught Grant off guard in the third is debatable as the Londoner looked flat and injured. Matthew breezed the third 11-5.

Earlier, Madeline Perry gave Duncalf, 27, a few scares before the Harrowgate-born player advanced to her third national final. Perry is no stranger to major semi-finals after the Irishwoman beat world No 1 Nicol David in the British Open on the same court last September.

But nerves and consistency clearly played their part in the final and the semi-final here as errors held back her bid for a first final appearance. Perry did manage to clinch the third but Duncalf’s length and ability to create space for winners proved the difference.