NZ 'C' Grade National Club Champions go to North Island teams

Kawaroa Park and Ashhurst Pohangina won the titles at the 'C' Grade Nationals which concluded on Saturday at the Otago Squash Club. Kawaroa Park,  from New Plymouth, won a cliffhanger against the Pirates Cub who were representing the Otago region. The final went down to the decisive 5th match and Anna Stokes gradually wore down Stacey Hitchcock in 4 sets to clinch the title. Earlier, Pirates had beaten Katikati, Rangiora and Squash City (Invercargill) in pool play before accounting for Hamilton in the semi final. Hitchcock along with 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 4th match to set up the finale. Kim Hutton also played a crucial part in the team's progress and was unbeaten in her 3 matches at number 5.
The men's draw was very competitive throughout pool play and eventual winner Ashhurst Pohangina, a club just north of Palmerston North, only qualified for the final on a 3 way countback against 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 score line led to the countback after Ashhurst Pohangina had earlier beaten Upper Hutt 3-2. The local hopes were condemned to the playoff for 5th and 6th which was a cruel outcome after being so close to the final. They bounced back to claim 5th place against Te Rapa with yet another 3-2 score-line.  Paul Grant and Makaia Sutton went through unbeaten for the local team. In the final, Ashhurst Pohangina defeated Hawkes Bay 3 - 2 after winning 3 of the first 4 matches.  The winners were spearheaded by Brayden Bryce who won all 5 matches at number 1.
Of the other Southern teams, Oamaru finished 7th and Squash City 9th in the men's draw while Squash City females finished 7th.