Devoy Squash defend the Cousins Shield

Cousins Shield champions, back left to right, Ben Grindrod, Josh Oakley, Alex Oakley and John Oakley. Front, Jamie Oakley and Josh Larkin. Photo / Supplied

Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre created history by defending their Cousins Shield title at the Hamilton Squash Club over Queen's Birthday weekend.

The back-to-back victories are the first since 1988 for a Bay of Plenty club at the prestigious men's club event competed for by teams of five players, including one international player.

Devoy Squash fielded the same team that won the title last year, with a remarkable Tauranga sporting family at its core.

Brothers Alex, Josh and Jamie Oakley, sons of former world champion squash player Susan Devoy, formed the nucleus of the side with dad John the team manager.

Tauranga's Ben Grindrod, who was the same year at Tauranga Boys' College as Alex, and Australian import Josh Larkin made up the No 1 seeded team.

They began in ominous form with 5-0 wins over 17th seeds Papakura and eighth seeds Henderson. In the semifinals they faced local club Lugton Park, which was seeded fourth, and dropped one match in securing a repeat of last year's final.

Second-ranked Herne Bay Ponsonby from Auckland was a powerful unit and expected to push Devoy Squash all the way.

Josh and Alex Oakley set up a 2-0 lead with excellent wins leaving just one more victory to take the Cousins Shield. Larkin was up against Malaysian professional Mohammad Syafiq Kamal, ranked 80 in the world, and won 3-0 to clinch the title.

The three brothers look forward to getting together to team up at the Cousins Shield every year.

Josh and Jamie Oakley are on squash scholarships in the US. Josh is three years into his degree in upstate New York and Jamie has finished two years of his degree in Washington DC. Alex is finishing off a degree in engineering at the University of Waikato.

Josh says winning last year "was pretty incredible so to do it twice was amazing".

"We are chuffed. We did it with just five this year and didn't have a reserve so any injuries we would have been in a bit of trouble. But the chemistry in the team is unbelievable, especially having my two brothers there helps with the support.

"This is the only tournament I am playing in while I am home so we kind of train for this event on Queen's Birthday every year. We coach each other between sets. There is always a lot of arguing but at the end of the day it is pretty special when there is three of us in a team of five and our dad as the manager."

Katikati Squash also entered a men's team in the Cousins Shield. Unfortunately visa issues meant their overseas professional could not make it which was a major blow. The team finished 17th overall.

Devoy Squash member Michael Dunston and Glenn Templeton, who has recently been announced as a non-travelling reserve for the NZ world junior squad competing in India during July, were in the team.

In the women's Mitchell Cup, the Devoy Squash team of Joanna Shanks, Camden Te Kani-McQueen, Becky Clarke, Lauren Clarke, Ashleigh Dunston, and reserves Shari Ball and Katie Templeton, took fourth place.