Squash: Central in hunt for hat-trick

Rod Bannister will be a key player when the Central Senior Squash team defend the Newbigin Shield against Eastern Districts. Photo/File

A slightly under-strength Central Senior Squash team will attempt a hat-trick in the annual Newbigin Shield competition against Eastern Districts in Hawke's Bay this month.

The team, named at the end of the North Island Champs in Palmerston North at the weekend, does include the in-form Rod Bannister as men's No1 for the one-day clash on June 28.

This year's fixture will be at the Hastings Squash Club, where each team member will play two matches - best of five games up to 11 points scored at a point a rally - on the day.

Wanganui's Bannister plays his first full rep match for the Central Districts senior men for some two decades.

Team manager Kent Darlington, from Wanganui, said Central had won the last two shields, but would head into this season's match-up missing some high-seeded players.

"We are probably missing about three of our better players who have bigger tournaments to contest," Darlington said.

"In saying that we do have a bit of strength, especially with Rod in the team.

"He has been winning everything around here lately and in masters competition."

It was a good chance for players to build for the Central Open in three weeks, he said.

The team is:

Men - Rod Bannister (Wanganui), Ben Calvert (Palm Nth), Victor Romero (Palm Nth), Stephen Bennett (Hawera), Jason van der Walt (P Nth), Min Bristol (Taihape).

Women - Danielle Fourie (Palm Nth), Jackie Tapp (Taihape), Emily Nash (Palm Nth), Kaitlyn Watts (Palm Nth), Loni Martin (Taihape), Rebecca Clifford (Palm Nth).

The team will be coached by Grant Watts from Palmerston North.