Midlands’ player Darnell Lima follows through during the Canterbury vs Midlands competition in Rakaia on Saturday. Photo Robyn HoodIt was a topsy-turvy battle, however it was Canterbury who did enough to claim bragging rights.

Canterbury edged Midlands 17-15 in the inter-region squash competition in Rakaia at the weekend, with the junior event proving to be the difference.

Midlands were dominant in the masters category as the home team won by 10 matches to 2.

However their Canterbury counterparts turned the tables in senior action with a reversal of the ledger.

Earlier in the competition, Canterbury edged Midlands 5 matches to 3 in the junior competition, as the visitors claimed a 2-0 sweep in the second round of the junior women courtesy of wins for Canterbury’s Caitlin Evison and Ella Knutson.

All three of the other junior matchups finished 1-1, following first round wins to Midlands pair Liam Direen and Brooke Cornish-Madden and then Jacob Ryan in the second round.

Midlands’ outgunned Canterbury in the masters off the back of a 3-1, 3-1 win for the men’s team of Lee Barker, Agustin Maunier, Aaron Bungard, Steve Leckie and Wayne King.

The women’s pair of Karlie McQueen and Andrea Naylor also ran out comfortable 2-0, 2-0 winners over Canterbury, to set Midlands up for the senior phase.

Unfortunately for Midlands it was not to be.

Chris van der Salm’s 3-0 win over Scott Gardiner in round 1 and a 3-1 win over Joe Williams in round 2 would be the only joy for the home team in senior action.

The result was all but sealed when Canterbury’s Sarah Blair and Emma Cormack proved too good for Midlands’ Katrina Palmer and Lily Rae across two rounds of squash.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 12 August 2020