McMurtrie, Williams lead squash series

Press, 24 June 1986, Page 29

McMurtrie, Williams lead squash series

Anthony McMurtrie (Hamilton) and Joanne Williams (Eden-Epsom) head the points lists in the Moro players squash series after seven of the 12 qualifying events. This is in spite of neither making the finals of the Auckland championships at the week-end. Both McMurtrie, the No. 2 men’s seed, and Williams, the No. 2 women’s seed, were eliminated in the semi-finals

in straight games, losing to Stephen Cunningham, (College Rifles) and Liz Irving (Australia) respectively. However, McMurtrie retains a lead of more than 200 points in the men’s series, while Williams took enough points for finishing third to move past the American, Alicia McConnell, on the women’s list. The titles were won by the world champion, Susan Devoy

(Henderson) and Cunningham. Devoy beat Irving, 3-0, but Cunningham had a 65min five-set battle with the Hamilton player, Rory Watt. The top men’s seed, Paul Viggers (Sumner) was toppled by Rod Hayes (Manurewa) in the quarterfinals, managing to collect only five points, but went on to win the special plate. Another Christchurch player, Robbie Burnett, took

the consolation plate, but has slipped from fifth to seventh position on the table. Sumner’s Justine Marriott was runner-up in the women’s consolation plate, and stayed in the top 10 on the points list. Results of the Auckland championships: Men: Semi-final: R. Watt (Hamilton) beat R. Hayes (Manurewa), 9-0, 6-9, 9-0, 9-1; S. Cunningham beat A.

McMurtrie (Hamilton) 9-3, 95, 9-7. Final: Cunningham beat Watt, 6-9, 9-5, 9-0, 2-9, 92. Play-off for third: Hayes beat McMurtrie by default. Women: Semi-final: S. Devoy (Henderson) beat D. Gurran (Remuera), 9-5, 9-2, 9-3; L. Irving (Australia) beat J. Williams (Eden-Epsom), 9-1, 9-7, 9-4. Final: Devoy beat Irving, 9-3, 9-4, 9-1. Play-off for third: Williams beat Gurran, 9-3, 9-4, 9-1.