AD Long Cup Champions Crowned

Hamilton Tennis and Squash Club have claimed the AD Long Cup at Mount Maunganui with a hard fought battle over Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre.

It was always going to be a busy weekend at the Mount Maunganui Squash club with a record number of 20 teams for the AD Long Masters Club Team Event. Mount Maunganui was ready to show off their recent upgrades and the teams were ready for a big weekend of squash ahead of them. 

In Division 1 the first round all went to plan with all of the teams managing to keep their seedings and the teams progressing safely through. Round 2 seemed to be keeping to plan when Hamilton managed to claim the win over Whakatanes top team 3-1. However the game between Devoys top team and North Shores top team saw some very tense moments for all involved. The first game started out being as close as it could get with Sue Kim of North Shore showing she can match it with the men when she went up against Marcus Niles of Devoy. With some mammoth rallies and great shots the fifth game looked as if it could go in either players favour but Niles managed to clinch victory 21/19 in the fifth. This was the win Devoy needed with the other players in the team following suit and Gary Duberly being the only player to secure a win for North Shore.

The final in Division 1 was as tight as it could possibly get with both teams managing to win 2 games each it was thought that on a count back it would be a clear win for either team, however with both teams tied at 9 games each the calculators came out and the score sheets double checked to see who was going to be the winner on a points countback. With both teams eagerly awaiting to see who would be the victor the results swung in Hamilton favour with a score of 241 points to Devoys 233 points. 

In Division 2 the first round saw no upsets but the tight fought battles between each team saw the championship round having each team with a win. This again saw a countback for who would be the winner. With the calculators in full force today it ended up being Whakatane 2's day and they claimed the top spot in division 2 whilst Mount 2 claimed the plate draw. 

Division 3 was a much easier affair with Whakatane 3 showing they had what it took from the start and they never looked back winning all of their ties over the weekend. Devoy 3 came runner up whilst Te Puke 3 took out the plate side.

Full results from all ties over the weekend can be found on the Squash New Zealand Facebook page here