Ohakune third at Squash Nationals

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 657, 8 October 1996, Page 16

Ohakune third at Squash Nationals

Ohakune' s first team to qualify for a national teams final, the F-Grade womens team, has performed well to finish in third place ahead of their fifth seeding. They were representing the Wanganui/Manawatu region after wining the eliminations event for that region. There were nine other regions represented - Northland, Auckland, W aikato, B ay of Plenty, Gisborne, Wellington, Canterbury, Midlands and Southern. Their first match was against the Clutha club who were representing the Southern region. In a very close encounter, Ohakune managed a 3-2 win with Katrina Marsh, Jenny Murdie and

Sarah Lind all recording wins. On Thursday they had to face Auckland's representative team from the Herne Bay club who were fourth seeds. Jenny, Sarah and Katrina again all won as did Ali Hamlin in an excellent game in which she came back from being 2-0 down. Final score was 4- 1 to Ohakune. On the Friday morning they played Fraser Park, Wellington' s representatives. Katrina, Jenny and Sarah again had wins as did Francis Wharry who had a win playing at number one. With this 4-1 win Ohakune and Waerenga-a-Hika from Gisborne were the only unbeateri teams in pool A. They then played each other on the Friday afternoon, with the winner to contend the National title pn Saturday with pool B winner. W aerenga-a-Hika were too strong and won, going to the final, which they won 5-0. Ohakune played Wellsford, who were representing Northland, for third place. This was an exciting final with Wellsford'splayer taking the first game against Ali Hamlin. Jenny Murdie then levelled the match with a very strong game. Francis

Wharry lost against a strong number one to leave Ohakune trailing 2- 1 . Under greatpressure Katrina Marsh came back from 1 -0 down to win 31 tying the match up 2-2. Sarah Lind had the decider to play and played one of her better games* completely dominating throughout to clinch the match and give Ohakune its first and best National placing of third overall. Coach/manager John Laurenson said he was extremely proud to have been associated with the team who had given their best throughout.