Wanganui win third title in a decade

Harvey Round Motors Wanganui has won the 2013 Central Districts Premier Squash series after a thrilling final in Palmerston North that went right to the wire and beyond.

On Tuesday night Wanganui met Squash Gym Blue in the final of the Central Districts premier men's squash series and the outcome was unclear until the final set of the final match. Even then officials were forced to go to a points countback system to find the winner. Wanganui finished the series on 149 points, while Squash Gym Blue had 145. In fact, Wanganui led the series throughout despite losing its top-ranked player Rod Bannister through injury after the second round.

First up for Harvey Round Motors Wanganui on Tuesday was Arno Benadie, up against up-and-coming junior Daniel Foster. Benadie won the first set 7-11, but Foster came back to win the next three sets 11-8 11-8 11-7.

Next up was Wanganui's No2 Matt Ratcliffe against Brent Foster. This was a particularly close match with Ratcliffe winning the first set 11-6, but losing the next two 7-11, 9-11. In the fourth set Ratcliffe was down match ball twice, but bounced back to win that set 12-10. The final set was also close with Ratcliffe winning 11-8.

Third up was Steven Bennett, Wanganui's No1 for the series following Bannister's exit. Bennett was pitted against Victor Romano, a professional tennis coach who was too good winning in four sets 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, 11-3.

But Bennett did get a set, which was crucial to the team. After three matches Squash Gym Blue had won eight sets and Wanganui only five.

This meant the final match between Ant Rountree and Squash Gym Blue's Jason Burton-Brown needed to go to Rountree in three sets to force a points countback.

Rountree won the first set 11-6, took the second 11-4, but going into the third set Squash Gym Blue was still ahead 139-138 on points countback.

Rountree went on to win the third set 11-6 also winning the match in three sets, which meant the teams were tied eight sets all. Wanganui finished on 149 points Squash Gym 145 points to claim the title for the third time in 10 years. Wanganui had first won the title in 2004 and then in 2007.