Squash: Doubles pair punish Aussies for 'defector' taunt

By MARK GEENTY

It may have sounded strange to the uninitiated to hear an Australian accent declare an intention to "stuff the Aussies" on the squash courts yesterday.

But a fired-up Carol Owens, eyes blazing and left fist clenched, made true her word when she and Leilani Rorani produced a slick doubles exhibition over Australian sisters Rachael and Natalie Grinham to book a gold-medal match.

And it got even better in the transtasman duels later when Rorani backed up with Glen Wilson to beat Australians Robyn Cooper and Joe Kneipp 15-11, 15-11 in the mixed doubles semi.

They will meet Malaysian pair Beng Hee Ong and Nicol David in the final.

It set Rorani up for double gold after missing the medals in Kuala Lumpur four years ago, while for Wilson it was a chance to better his bronze with Sarah Cook in 1998.

Owens has been on a crusade to topple her former countrywomen in Manchester and that just intensified after her loss in the singles final to Sarah Fitz-Gerald.

Neither is apparently on the other's Christmas card list.

Yesterday she and Rorani complemented each other superbly to finish off a 15-13, 15-8 win over the top seeds, booking a final against England pair Tania Bailey and Cassie Jackman.

"I had so much adrenaline going, I just wanted to beat the Australians," a beaming Owens said

"I was on a mission to beat them after losing to one in the singles final.

"With me having departed there's a bit of animosity out there, so I was very fired up.

"I don't feel what I've done is wrong, but there's been some bad publicity in Australia about me 'defecting,' which isn't a word I'd use."

The Grinham sisters from Toowoomba were gracious afterwards.

While there was notable tension on court, they were adamant it was not coming from them.

"That's just Carol," they echoed, adding they could not see the New Zealand pair being beaten in the final.

Rorani and Owens have rarely played doubles together this year because of Rorani's six-month layoff with a snapped achilles tendon - hence their fifth seeding.

Owens, born in Melbourne but resident in New Zealand for the past four years, and Rorani were falling over themselves to complement each other afterwards.

The match started with the Grinhams hitting the ball almost exclusively to Rorani, who was well out of touch when losing to Rachael Grinham in the singles quarter-finals.

But Rorani, who last week lost her long-held New Zealand No 1 ranking to Owens, responded brilliantly with her reliable backhand, and the Australian tactics had to change.

Owens then took over and controlled the second game, and it was all over in little more than 30 minutes as Owens jubilantly enveloped her team-mate in a bear hug.

Despite playing three matches in a day, Rorani said there was still petrol in the tank.

The chase for gold was spurring her on, she said.

"I'd like to think after six months off I've got plenty to run off.

"It's funny what a situation will do for you.

"When you see that gold in front of you it's such an amazing opportunity."

Both said the doubles took little physical toll and it was more the mental battle with such long rallies and tactics playing a big part.

- NZPA

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