Protecta Insurance Challenge Series
Squashgym hosted round one of the Protecta Insurance Challenge Series on Wednesday night. It is the tenth year of this Central Squash Challenge Series that draws together the top 30 players in the Central District to play in what is arguable the strongest interclub series of it kind in New Zealand.
Tonights action saw Automotive Direct take on Higgins Contractors, with Higgins coming out on top after solid 3 nil wins first up to Malcolm Wyeth over Ant Rountree, and Justin Brown over Danielle Fourie. In the match between Glenn Carson and Tim Preston, Carson took a 2 nil lead which was enough to secure the win for Higgins but despite holding a match ball in the forth set couldn't hold on and lost in five sets. Preston picked up the player of the night award for his efforts. The doubles also wen't to Automotive direct with the experience of Croyden Rutherford and Alan Rigby proving too much for Ken Mair and Regan Smith, in another five setter.
In the match between Speights and Inspire Net saw Speights run out the winner 3/1 and saw some particularly hard fought matches with Jason Fletcher and Ben Murphy fighting out a tough 5 setter with Fletcher coming out on top after battling for over an hour. Yeshan Ekanayake had a 3 nil win over Geoff Spencer, and Tom Nash ground out a good 3 nil win over the improving Matt Spoone . The doubles also went to Speights with a solid 3/1 win to experienced campaigners Dave Clifford and Phil Blumont over Roger McLeod and Marius Fourie to secure a 3/1 win for Speights.
The final match of the night saw Doyle and Associates take on GSA Design. In another close match, that went down to the wire, GSA Designs Josh Greenfield was too clinical for Kent Darlington winning in 3 sets, Doyle and Associates Dylan Tasker continued his recent good form to win a hard fought 4 sets against Warren Mant while Mike Stagg won another tight four setter over GSA's Jarrad Boyle to give Doyle and Associates a 2/1 lead going into the doubles. Grant Smith and Rob Brownrigg needed to win in 4 sets or less to secure the in for GSA Design which they did in 4 sets, to take the tie by a single set on a countback.
Match Results:
Higgins Contractors beat Automotive Direct - 2/2 matches, 10-6 sets
Glenn Carson lost to Tim Preston 13/15, 7/11, 11/9, 12/10, 11/7
Malcolm Wyeth beat Ant Rountree 11/6, 11/5, 11/7
Justin Brown beat Danielle Fourie 12/10, 11/4, 11/4
Regan Smith/Ken Mair lost to Croyden Rutherford/Alan Rigby 11/9, 10/12, 12/10, 5/11, 11/7
Speights beat Inspire Net - 3/1 matches
Matt Spooner lost to Tom Nash 13/11, 11/8, 11/6
Jason Fletcher beat Ben Murphy 12/10, 7/11, 11/9, 9/11, 11/6
Yeshan Ekanayake beat Geoff Spencer 11/7, 11/8, 11/8
Dave Clifford/Phil Blumont beat Roger McLeod/Marius Fourie 11/8, 7/11, 11/7, 11/7
GSA Design beat Doyle and Associates - 2/2 matches, 8-7 sets
Josh Greenfield beat Kent Darlington 11/6, 11/4, 11/9
Warren Mant lost to Dylan Tasker 11/7, 11/5, 7/11, 11/5
Jarrad Boyle lost to Mike Stagg 11/8, 11/2, 7/11, 11/9
Grant Smith/Rob Brownrigg beat Daniel Juno/John Rostenburg 11/13, 11/9, 11/5, 13/11
Player of the Night: Tim Preston
Steinie “Pure moment of the Night”: John Rostenburg
Harvey Round Motors $50 petrol voucher random draw: Maruis Fourie
MVP Points: Tim Preston 5pts
Jason Fletcher 4pts
Grant Smith/Rob Brownrigg 3pts
Croyden Rutherford/Alan Rigby 2pts
Glenn Carson 1pt
The points Table after week 1 is as follows;
1st = Speights 13 Points
1st = Higgins 13 Points
3rd GSA Design 11 Points
4th Doyle and Associates 9 Points
5th Automotive Direct 8 Points
6th Inspire Net 7 Points
Round two is to be played at Wanganui Squash Club on Wednesday 4th August, 7pm start.
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