Stage set for gripping finale in junior teams championships

The big guns in the Australian Junior Teams championships flexed their collective muscles today, setting the scene for a thrilling final day of competition at Squashworld Mirrabooka in Perth's northern suburbs.

Going into the afternoon rounds, WA topped the table on 46 points, one point ahead of Queensland, with NSW third (32 points), followed by Victoria (27), South Australia (9) and the ACT (3).

A lot more than bragging rights were on the line as hosts WA faced off with Queensland, the winner more than likely to be in the box seat in the charge for the championship title during Sunday's final round robin clashes.

Queensland's youngest stars, Jasmin Dumbleton, Claudi Burger, and James Boswell got their state off to a blistering start, swatting aside their WA opponents for a 3-0 start.

U15's Lilly Wilson added to WA's pain with a 3-0 win over Jasmin Legge, Joel Roshan Raj defeated Alexander Marsh 3-0 and Sarbani Maitra shutout Grace Gelman 3-0 to blow Queensland's lead out to 6-0 and leaving the Sandgropers without a point in the bank and a mountain to climb to get back into the contest.

But Eric Marsh (B2-U15) stopped the rot for WA with a gritty four-game (11-5 10-12 11-8 11-7) win over Liam Fascetti.

His WA teammates Isla Harris, Hannah Slyth and Aiden Finlay-Mulligan then all notched 3-0 wins over their Sharks' rivals (the latter using his reach and powerful groundstrokes to stop a gallant Flynn Bartlett) and the Wasps were on the board and back in the hunt.

Kurstyn Mather (QLD) stopped Caitlin Pratt in three to get the Sharks back on track, stretching their lead to 7-4 with five matches remaining.

Jack Hansen added another point to the Sharks' tally, taking out Waldo Vorster 3-1.

U19 individual champion Madison Lyon, continuing her imperious form at the championships, then was too slick for WA's Erin Classen, winning 11-7 11-5 11-6 to give Queensland an unassailable lead.

However WA struck back in two of the last three matches of the day, banking what could be two invaluable points in their championship chase.

WA's Daniel Marsh took down Joshua Rahul Raj in four games and U19 champ Oscar Curtis kept things tight in his three-game win over Luke Eyles.

Dylan Classen chased hard for a third point for the Wasps but Brendon MacDonald played some great angles in his 10-12 11-4 11-6 11-8 triumph, Queesland taking the match 10-6 and banking 12 points.

Going into the final day Queensland top the ladder on 57 points, followed by WA (52), NSW (49), Victoria (40), South Australia (14) and ACT with 4.

In the day's other clashes, NSW and Victoria battled tooth-and-nail in their morning match finishing 8-8 but with NSW a game up overall, enough to give the Blue Tongues the points.

NSW backed up in the afternoon crushing ACT, who didn't win a match in their morning bout with WA, 15-1 (ACT is fielding only nine players but points totals include the six 'empty' age group slots).

U19's Harry Burgess scored the only point for the ACT.

The Victorians, still smarting from their narrow loss to their southern rivals, put the accelerator down to smoke South Australia 11-5, notching up 13 valuable points.

While the under-strength ACT side may be propping up the rear of the six-team ladder, ACT head coach Tayla Mounter says just the experience of competing in Perth is a golden opportunity for her young charges.

"We've got nine players for the team this year; all playing well and representing ACT well; throughout COVID the ACT really struggled with numbers, so we are just getting everything back up to scratch,'' she said.

"Our U13 team is made up of under 11's and it's really all about trying to expose them as much as possible to this environment so when they get to the u13 category they're ready," Mounter said.

The coach said the Perth tournament had been a very positive experience overall, despite "a few tears" from some of the youngest ACT team members.

"We've just said go out and practise your shots against the players; it's very rare to get the opportunity to play the No 1 in u13s and No 2 in u13s, so they're doing well with that. We've also been having activities outside the courts, escape rooms and mini golf and it's all about giving them that team feeling. Everyone is supporting each other, we've got u11s coaching u19's so it's always good to see that."

Mounter said the ACT had been working hard to get young people back into squash, as well as staging a new professional event to lift the sport's profile in the national capital.

"ACT has made a really big push on 4, 5, and 6-year-olds trying to push those through. All the clubs are doing it but it will take time to get back to the top level of squash again."

The tournament continues Sunday October 2 from 9am.

https://www.sportyhq.com/league/view/Australian-Junior-Championship-Teams-Event

Team standings after four rounds

1 Queensland - 57 points

2 Western Australia - 52 points

3 New South Wales  - 49 points

4 Victoria - 40 points

5 South Australia - 14 points

6 ACT - 4 points

Matches Sunday October 2, all from 9am

QLD v Vic

NSW v WA

SA v ACT