Kiwis dominate in QueenslandÂ
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad Correspondent
New Zealand’s Megan Craig beat home hope Lakeesha Rarere in the final of the Women’s Australia Day Challenge to win the WSA Challenger 5 squash event at Ipswich PCYC Squash Centre in Ipswich in the Australian state of Queensland without dropping a game.
While the top-seeded Kiwi reached the final after brushing aside Malaysia’s Aika Azman in just 18 minutes, 17-year-old Rarere – the third seed – pulled off a notable upset in the other semi when she outlasted higher-ranked compatriot Lisa Camilleri, the No.2 seed, 11-7, 11-8, 4-11, 11-13, 11-9 in 47 minutes.
“It’s great to get an early win, it gives me a bit of confidence going into a bit of a break,” said 22-year-old Craig after her 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 title triumph in 23 minutes.
“It was pretty hot out there, I didn’t want to be out there too long.
“It’s a great tournament,” added the 2011 runner-up from Blenheim who crashed out at the quarter-final stage last year. “I’m glad I came back now.”
RESULTS: Women’s Australia Day Challenge, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
1st round:
[5] Jasmine Chan (AUS) bt Susan Williams (AUS) 11-9, 11-6, 11-2 (23m)
[6] Samantha Calvert (AUS) bt Kirsty Freeme (AUS) 11-9, 11-8, 11-6 (20m)
[7] Natalie Newton (AUS) bt Taylor Jones (AUS) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4 (25m)
Aimee Slatter (AUS) bt [8] Jordan Russell (AUS) 11-4, 11-2, 11-5 (28m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Megan Craig (NZL) bt [5] Jasmine Chan (AUS) 11-2, 11-3, 12-10 (22m)
[4] Aika Azman (MAS) bt [6] Samantha Calvert (AUS) 11-4, 12-10, 11-7 (22m)
[3] Lakeesha Rarere (AUS) bt [7] Natalie Newton (AUS) 11-7, 11-5, 11-4 (22m)
[2] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) bt Aimee Slatter (AUS) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (20m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Megan Craig (NZL) bt [4] Aika Azman (MAS) 11-1, 11-3, 11-5 (18m)
[3] Lakeesha Rarere (AUS) bt [2] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) 11-7, 11-8, 4-11, 11-13, 11-9 (47m)
Final:
[1] Megan Craig (NZL) bt [3] Lakeesha Rarere (AUS) 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (23m)Â
Picture courtesy of WSAÂ