Squash: Court success for Northland stars

Two of Northland's rising squash stars have stamped their mark on two national championships claiming four titles between them and collecting a swag of silverware.

Sam Sayes and Abbie Palmer both clinched North and South Island junior age group titles within days.

Whangarei's Sayes won both the South Island and North Island boys Under 15 titles, while Palmer won both titles for the Under 15 girls.

They headed a team of young Northland players who first competed in Timaru then hit the road to Hamilton.

The wins were particularly encouraging for Sayes who clinched the wins after a two-and-a-half month lay off because of injury.

Sayes, who has just moved to attend Auckland Grammar School, was happy with the double win. "It's a good feeling," he said.

Now he has his sights set on the New Zealand Secondary Schools competition in Tauranga in a few weeks.

Sayes is a member of the Under17 New Zealand development squad aiming for the world championships in two years.

Northland's presence at the two championships was outstanding with players winning titles in the under 19, under 17, under 15 and under 13 and under 11 grades.

The Trimble brothers, Max and Finn, put in excellent efforts, while Jacinta Matson was fourth in her age group at the North Islands; and Zoe and Sam Dykzeul had excellent results at the South Island event and a good placing for Olivia Brookland at the North Island championships.