Kawaroa Park and Ashhurst Pohangina won the titles at the New Zealand C grade championships at the Otago Squash Club at the weekend.
Kawaroa Park, from New Plymouth, won a cliffhanger against the Pirates club, who were representing the Otago region in the women’s tournament.
The final went down to the decisive fifth match. Anna Stokes gradually wore down Stacey Hitchcock in four sets to clinch the title.
Earlier, Pirates had beaten Katikati, Rangiora and Squash City (Invercargill) in pool play before accounting for Hamilton in the semifinal.
Hitchcock, Alana Graham and Yasmin McLean suffered their first losses of the tournament in the final, while Hollie Thomas had her first win in the final.
The other winner for Pirates in the final was Georgia McKenzie, who won the crucial fourth match to set up the decider.
Kim Hutton also played a crucial part in Pirates’ progress and was unbeaten in her three matches at No 5.
The men’s draw was very competitive throughout pool play, and eventual winners Ashhurst Pohangina, a club just north of Palmerston North, only qualified for the final on a three-way countback with Otago University and Upper Hutt.
The combined students and Otago club team had beaten the eventual winners 3-2 in pool play but a loss to Upper Hutt in their final match by the same scoreline led to the countback after Ashhurst Pohangina had earlier beaten Upper Hutt 3-2.
The local hopes were condemned to the playoff for fifth and sixth, which was a cruel outcome after being so close to the final. They bounced back to claim fifth place against Te Rapa with yet another 3-2 scoreline.
Paul Grant and Makaia Sutton went through unbeaten for the local team.
In the final, Ashhurst Pohangina beat Hawke’s Bay 3-2 after winning three of the first four matches.
The champions were spearheaded by Brayden Bryce, who won all five matches at No 1.
Of the other Southern teams, Oamaru finished seventh and Squash City ninth in the men’s draw, while the Squash City women finished seventh.
