Favourites claim spoils in Wellington

Herne Bay and North Shore have defended their titles at the Mitchell Park Squash Club

The top seeds have prevailed at the annual battle for squash club supremacy at Mitchell Park Squash Club in Wellington this weekend.

Herne Bay has defended its title in the men's Cousins Shield, with a comprehensive 3-nil win over fellow Aucklanders Henderson in the final.  Chris Lloyd put Herne Bay on the front foot with a comfortable 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 victory over Phil Buscke in the opening match of the tie.  However, the second match was a much closer affair, with Matiu Te Kani-McQueen and Cameron Jamieson going toe to toe in a five game thriller, before Te Kani-McQueen finally emerged victorious 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 4-11, 11-6.
Campbell Grayson then confirmed the title for Herne Bay with an 11-7, 11-3, 11-9 win over Paul Coll.

It was a different story in the women's Mitchell Cup with North Shore forced to battle hard to retain the title they won in 2011.  Lisa Cowlard got the defending champs off to the perfect start in the final against Mitchell Park, winning the opening match against Liz Day 11-6, 11-7, 12-10.  However, Mickayla Kerr squared the ledger for Mitchell Park in front of a parochial home crowd, beating Sue Kim 11-7, 11-6, 13-11.  Michelle Heron then restored North Shore's one match advantage with a 4-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-4 victory over Renee Walkinshaw, leaving Nicky Durling having to win to keep Mitchell Park's title hopes alive.  Durling nearly delivered, going 2-1 up against Mandy Kennedy, but was eventually beaten 11-8, 6-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6 as Kennedy wrapped up a 3-1 victory for North Shore.

Final Results

Cousins Shield (men)
1)Herne Bay def 2)Henderson 3-0
Chris Lloyd def Phil Buscke 11-5, 11-6, 11-4
Matiu Te Kani-McQueen def Cameron Jamieson 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 4-11, 11-6
Cambell Grayson def Paul Coll 11-7, 11-3, 11-9

Mitchell Cup (women)
1)North Shore def 2)Mitchell Park 3-1
Lisa Cowlard def Liz Day 11-6, 11-7, 12-10
Sum Kim lost to Mickayla Kerr 7-11, 6-11, 11-13
Michelle Heron def Renee Walkinshaw 4-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-4
Mandy Kennedy def Nicky Durling 11-8, 6-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6

Full results/draw...http://www.mitchellpark.co.nz/