Inspire Net take early series lead

It was a tough opening for the Doyle & Associates Accountants Wanganui team in Wednesday evening's first round of the 2013 Protecta Insurance Central Squash Players Series.

Keenly anticipated for the start of the 14th Players Series was the match of the round between Wanganui's Rod Bannister and five-time NZ champion Kashif Shuja, who won the contest for his Inspire Net team in three tight sets.

Inspire Net went on to beat Doyles Accountants 3-1, making a hard start for Bannister and teammates Ant Rountree and Matt Doyle, but a successful beginning for Wanganui's Matt Radcliffe as the No3 for the current competition leaders.

Representing their Higgins team, Wanganui's Ken Mair and John Roestenburg were beaten as a pair in a narrow team loss to GSA Design who, led by their doubles combo Jason Burton-Brown and Croyden, won the meeting on a sets countback when it was tied up at two matches all.

And in the final matchup, new team sponsor More FM went right to the wire against MacDougalls Farm Supplies when matches were tied, with MacDougalls sneaking through on a points countback 141 to 135.

The next round will be next Wednesday at Palmerston North's Squash Gym courts.

As the clear winner of their tie, Inspire Net have taken a early lead followed closely by GSA Design and MacDougalls.

Results

Team Inspire Net beat Doyles Accountants Wanganui 3-1.

Kashif Shuja bt Rod Bannister 11-1, 11-2, 13-11; Jason Fletcher bt Dylan Tasker 11-8, 11-6, 11-7; Matt Radcliffe bt Ant Rountree 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9. Doubles: Blake Koolen & Brandon Keenan lost to Marius Fourie & Geoff Spencer 8-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-6.

GSA Design beat Higgins on countback, 7 sets to six sets, 2-2 matches.

Regan Smith lost to Tom Nash 4-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4; Matt Spooner bt Grant Smith 11-3, 11-4, 11-9; Danny Foster lost to Danielle Fourie 11-5, 11-4, 11-6. Doubles: Jason Burton-Brown & Croyden Rutherford bt Ken Mair & John Roestenburg 11-4, 11-5, 11-7.

MacDougalls Tararua beat More FM on countback 141 points to 135 points, 2-2 matches, 7-7 sets.

Matt Nation bt Ben Calvert 11-9, 11-9, 11-7; Luke Jones bt Brent Foster 9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9; Tyron Fourie lost to Jake Tasker 4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7. Doubles: Mike Stagg & Dean Gray lost to Mark Gunning & Nick Reed 15-13, 12-10, 11-5.

Points table (after round 1): 1. Inspire 15 points; 2=. GSA Design 10; 2=. MacDougalls 10; 4. More FM 9; 5. Higgins 8; 6. Doyles 5.