New Zealand and Australia's rivalry in sports spreads across many codes and has done so for many years. This week, that Trans-Tasman rivalry was seen and felt in Tauranga as part of the annual Trans-Tasman
Squash: The Bay players who helped New Zealand win their eighth Trans-Tasman competition in a row
The New Zealand team is selected from players nominated based on their performances at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships, which were held earlier this month.
Among those selected were three Western Bay of Plenty players - Tauranga Boys' College's Joe Smythe and Taylor Bettelheim in the Senior Boys' and Katikati College's Katie Templeton in the Senior Girls' teams. All three locals won their final games against Australian representatives yesterday.
"It's the pinnacle of secondary school squash," Webb said.
This year was Joe's second competing in the Trans-Tasman competition and went through unbeaten as an individual, winning all seven matches. He said being able to play on his home courts was a highlight.
"We've done pretty good. It's been cool, especially at the club I play at, you know what the courts are going to do," Joe said.
The 15-year-old, who found squash about nine years ago through his father who played socially, said there was a lot of talent from both countries on show during the five days with the highlight being experience international competition in the sport.
Taylor, 18, won six of his seven individual games during the event, and enjoyed his first experience at the series.
"I thought it was a good opportunity to represent the country."
Western Bay squash players:
Joe Smythe (Tauranga Boys') - Senior Boys.
Taylor Bettelheim (Tauranga Boys') - Senior Boys.
Katie Templeton (Katikati College) - Senior Girls.